Presenter(s)

Sarah E. Lamb, Mackenzie Taylor Martin

Comments

Presentation: 9:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m., Kennedy Union Ballroom

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Description

This project investigates the relationship between human macrophages and breast cancer cells. This project analyzes these differences through the measurement of macrophage migration through artificial channels under different cancer conditions. Macrophages are immune cells that travel around the body and engulf foreign particles. Macrophages can recognize cancer cells as foreign invaders and destroy these dangerous cells. This macrophage migration data preliminarily show that cancer condition media produces a unique macrophage migration response, suggesting that biomarkers released from cancer cells influence macrophage behavior. This project further investigates the differentiation of monocytes into specific macrophage phenotypes based on the expression of specific biomarkers. The most common macrophage phenotypes include an M1 phenotype which promotes an inflammatory response and initiates an immune system attack and an M2 phenotype that promotes angiogenesis and starts an anti-inflammatory response. Macrophage phenotypes were identified using fluorescence imaging. In this project, the most commonly identified migrating macrophage phenotype was the M2 phenotype which was identified by the CD163 marker. This project presents preliminary findings of macrophage and breast cancer interactions that can be extrapolated to what happens clinically in the immune response of a cancer patient and possibly lead to the discovery of new cancer therapies.

Publication Date

4-20-2022

Project Designation

Independent Research

Primary Advisor

Loan T. Bui, Yvonne Y. Sun

Primary Advisor's Department

Biology

Keywords

Stander Symposium project, College of Arts and Sciences

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Good Health and Well-Being

How Macrophages Respond to Cancer Conditions

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