Research

Mentor: Dr. Olga Guryanova
University of Florida, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Started in the laboratory September 2023
Research Focus: Working under Qingchen Yuan, a graduate student at the University of Florida, my work is directed to solve the mystery of how Clonal Hematopoiesis (CH) affects interactions between the immune system and solid tumors, specifically colitis-associated colon cancer (CAC). Working with an in vitro model, we aim to understand how mutations of the epigenetic regulator gene DNMT3A in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) affects the phenotype of the specific immune components they differentiate to. Specifically, it is hypothesized that the type of macrophages produced under mutated DNMT3A cells may increase tumor growth and provide immune resistance.
Project Responsibilities: To understand how DNMT3A mutations affect the immune components HSCs produce, I am tasked with culturing colonies of DNMT3A mutated and wild-type DNMT3A monocyte cells, from the THP-1 cell lineage. I am also culturing colon cancer cells from mice in our laboratory. I perform drug treatments on the monocyte cells, which differentiates them into the necessary type of macrophages which we need to study. First I use PMA to differentiate monocytes into macrophages, and following a rest period, macrophages are polarized into either M1 or M2 macrophages, which are thought to differently interact with tumors. To understand these interactions, we analyze the cellular receptors present in these macrophages using qPCR. This involves utilizing reverse transcription of mRNA present in the cells. I am also in the process of learning how to use Western Blot to analyze which proteins monocytic cells secrete. I am also being trained on how to use an incucyte incubator. This will let me utilize imaging technology to understand how the presence of M1 or M2 macrophages affects CAC tumor growth.
Furthermore, at the lab, I help with any tasks where my help is needed. This may include extracting cells from mice, helping dissect mice, preparing medium, or any other procedure where my help is needed.