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Date of Award
2002
Document Type
Thesis - Pacific Access Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Science (M.S.)
Department
Biological Sciences
First Advisor
Thomas David
First Committee Member
Craig Vierra
Second Committee Member
Roshanak Rahimian
Abstract
The role of calcium in cell signaling has gained widespread attention due to its role in a number of pathological and physiological processes. Capacitative calcium entry, in which depletion of calcium from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stores induces the influx of extracellular calcium, is essential for proper activation of mammalian T lymphocytes. Although alterations in intracellular calcium homeostasis has been implicated in both proliferation and apoptosis of various cell types, large gaps still exist in the understanding of how these mechanisms are regulated. In order to gain further insight into calcium's role in T cell growth regulation these studies look at the effects of various pharmacological and physiological regulators of T cell calcium stores. The growth effects they have on Jurkat lymphocytes were determined with cell proliferation assays and calcium sensitive fluorescent assays were used to investigate the changes in intracellular calcium levels. Both phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and thapsigargin (TG) significantly suppressed cell growth and showed evidence of morphological and biochemical characteristics of apoptosis. It was found that the PHA treated cells had depleted ER calcium stores and appeared to have shifted calcium into the mitochondria. The shifting of calcium stores from the ER to the mitochondria may play a central role in the commitment to apoptosis.
Pages
54
ISBN
9780493965949 , 0493965947
Recommended Citation
Weil, Keri Rene. (2002). Growth regulation by T cell calcium stores. University of the Pacific, Thesis - Pacific Access Restricted. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/2741
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