DOI

https://doi.org/10.25772/GAXM-PM48

Author ORCID Identifier

0000-0003-3232-6155

Defense Date

2018

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Biochemistry

First Advisor

Charles Chalfant

Abstract

The sphingolipid, ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P), directly binds and activates Group IVA cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2a) to generate eicosanoids. Due to the role of eicosanoids in wound healing, we choose to use our novel genetic mouse model expressing cPLA2a with an ablated C1P interaction site (KI) to examine the cPLA2a/C1P interaction in wound healing. Wound closure rate was not affected, but wound maturation was dramatically enhanced by loss of the C1P/cPLA2α interaction based on the following findings. Wounds in KI mice displayed: i) increased infiltration of dermal fibroblasts into the wound environment; ii) increased wound tensile strength; and iii) higher Type I/Type III collagen ratios. These findings were recapitulated in vitro as primary dermal fibroblasts (pDFs) from KI mice showed significantly increased collagen deposition and migration velocity compared to WT and KO pDFs. Additionally, the KI showed an altered eicosanoid profile of reduced pro-inflammatory prostaglandins (e.g., PGE2) and increased levels of specific HETE species (e.g., 5-HETE). Elevated 5-HETE levels promoted increased dermal fibroblast migration and collagen deposition. This “gain of function” role for the mutant cPLA2a was also linked to differential cellular localization of cPLA2α and 5-HETE biosynthetic factors. These studies demonstrate regulation of key in vivo biological mechanisms by a defined protein:lipid interaction and provide new insights into cPLA2a function.

Rights

© The Author

Is Part Of

VCU University Archives

Is Part Of

VCU Theses and Dissertations

Date of Submission

11-5-2018

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