Effect of Tff3 protein deficiency on expression of neurodegeneration-associated genes in hippocampi of aged mice

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Učinak nedostatka proteina Tff3 na ekspresiju gena povezanih s neurodegeneracijom hipokampusa u mišjem modelu starenja
• Author: Lucija Anušić
• Mentor: Mirela Baus Lončar (mentor)
• Mentor: Sofia Ana Blažević (sumentor)
• Committee member: Sofia Ana Blažević (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Inga Urlić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Marin Ježić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Petra Peharec Štefanić (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science; (Department of Biology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2021-09-24, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Biology

Abstract

The increase in the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases is a reflection of complex cumulative
processes during aging which involve the interactions of numerous organ systems. Decreased
levels of Trefoil factor 3 (Tff3) protein in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Alzheimer’s
disease indicate its possible role in neurodegenerative processes. Tff3 is involved in a variety of
processes such as healing of mucosal surfaces in the gastrointestinal tract and apoptosis, migration,
and angiogenesis, while its role in neural tissue is still unknown. In this paper, we hypothesized
that Tff3 protein deficiency leads to a greater affinity of mice for the development of
neurodegenerative processes, which we measured through the relative expression of the following
genes:brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf), exchange protein directly activated by cAMP 2
(Epac2), epidermal growth factor receptor (Egfr), neurofilament light protein (Nfl) and L1
cell adhesion molecule (L1cam). Two - year - old mice of the Tff3 -/- C57Bl6/NCrl genotype
and appropriate Wt controls were used in this study. Our results showed that Tff3 protein
deficiency does not affect the expression of the observed genes involved in neurodegenerative
processes.

Abstract (croatian)

Porast incidencije neurodegerativnih bolesti odraz je kompleksnih kumulativnih procesa tijekom
starenja te one uključuju interakcije brojnih organskih sustava. Smanjena razina Trefoil factor 3
(Tff3) proteina u likvoru Alzheimer pacijenata ukazuje na njegovu moguću ulogu u
neurodegenerativnim procesima. Tff3 u gastrointestinalnoj mukozi sudjeluje u apoptozi, migraciji
i angiogenezi, dok je njegova uloga u neuralnom tkivu gdje je prisutan još nepoznata. U ovom
radu, postavili smo hipotezu da nedostatak proteina Tff3 dovodi do veće sklonosti miševa prema
razvoju neurodegenerativnih procesa, koje smo mjerili putem relativne ekspresije gena Bdnf,
Epac2, Nfl, Egfr i L1cam. U ovom radu korišteni su miševi stari dvije godine genotipa Tff3-/-
C57Bl6/NCrl te odgovarajuće Wt kontrole. Naši rezultati pokazali su da nedostatak Tff3 proteina
ne utječe na ekspresiju promatranih gena uključenih u neurodegenerativne procese.

• Keywords: Bdnf; Egfr; Epac2; hippocampus; L1cam; neurogenesis; neuroplasticity; Nfl
• Keywords (croatian): Bdnf; Egfr; Epac2; hipokampus; L1cam; neurogeneza; neuroplastičnost; Nfl
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:217:200779
• Study programme: Title: Molecular Biology; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra molekularne biologije (magistar/magistra molekularne biologije)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access; Embargo expiration date: 2022-09-24
• Created on: 2021-10-05 12:47:54