Date Completed: 1/16/09
Faculty Name: Dale Dickinson
UAB Department: Environmental Health Sciences
UAB School: Public Health
Campus Address: Ryals 530
Campus Zip: 0022
Telephone: 975-6341
Email Address: dadickin@uab.edu
Office Fax: 975-6341
Research Program Area: Cancer Chemoprevention
Project Title: The impact of acrolein in modifying cytoprotective Phase II gene expression and the initiation of lung cancer
Project Status: Already up-and-running
Proposed Start Date: April 20
Proposed End Date: July 31
Number of Weeks of Internship: 15
Number of Interns: 1
Other faculty, staff, or graduate students who may help supervise intern: Karen Lewis and Corinne Zaragoza (Research Assistants); Dr. Karen Iles (Assistant Professor)
Expected Number of Work Hours Per Week: 37.5 hours
Expected Work Schedule for Intern: Not very flexible, intern MUST be at work on certain days and times
Number of hours that preceptor will personally supervise or work with intern: 10
Category of Research: Laboratory Research
Cancer Research: Lung and Bronchus
Project Description: Lung cancer deaths, although currently declining, continue to be one of the most preventable cancers. a key modifiable risk factor for the development of lung cancer is cigarette smoking. Several important cytoprotective pathways against oxidative and electrophilic stress are under the control of the electrophile response element (EpRE). The possibility that reactive electrophiles in cigarette smoke inhibit signaling for this pathway has not been examined. To investigate this we will use a model system of cultured cells exposed to acrolein, a highly reactive electrophile found in cigarette smoke, followed by exposure to the cyclooxygenase derived cyclopentenone, 15-deoxy-D12, 14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2). At low concentrations, 15d-PGJ2 has been shown to protect cells from oxidative stress. This protection is associated with an increase in heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and glutathione (GSH) through an EpRE-dependent mechanism. We hypothesize that acrolein inhibits signaling for the induction of cytoprotective genes. In these studies cells will either be treated with 15d-PGJ2 alone, acrolein alone, or acrolein prior to treatment with 15d-PGJ2. The ability to induce HO-1, GCL (the rate limiting enzyme in GSH biosynthesis) will be determined at transcriptional, translational and post-translational levels. We hypothesize that the diminished ability of pulmonary cells to signal for the up-regulation of these key antioxidant proteins in response to stress could be a causative factor for the increased risk of lung cancer in smokers.
Intern's Anticipated Duties:
Duty 1: Performing experiments (with assistance, as needed, and supervision)
Duty 2: Analyzing and presenting data
Duty 3: Helping out with shared laboratory tasks
Preceptor will provide intern with access to the following: office or desk space; computer and printer; laboratory work bench space; equipment needed to complete project; supplies needed to complete project
Likelihood of authoring publications: Possible
Background, education, experience, or expertise preferred: Basic Knowledge of Lab Skills
This faculty member has been a CaRES Preceptor for two summers.
Intern 1: Taylor Poston