Neurokinin Receptor Expression in the Lymphatic System
Abstract
Neurokinin Receptor Expression in the Lymphatic System. (April 2009)
Parth Vijay Khade.
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Texas A&M University.
Research Advisor: Dr. Dave C. Zawieja,
Department of Systems Biology and Translational Medicine.
The lymphatic system plays important roles in the maintenance of body fluid
homeostasis, lipid absorption and immune function. These functions are accomplished
by its contractile activities that result in the flow of lymph. One of the important
modulators of lymphatic function and lymph flow is Substance P (SP), a neuropeptide of
the tachykinin family that is associated with sensory innervation of lymphoid tissue. It
mediates its functions through G protein coupled receptors NK1R and NK3R. However,
it is unclear which specific receptors are involved in SP action in the lymphatic system.
This project specifically focused on the expression pattern of the two neurokinin
receptors in different rat lymphatic tissues and lymphatic cell lines measured by western
blots. The mean ratio of NK1R/GAPDH was found to be 1.766 ± 0.120 in rat mesenteric
lymphatic muscle cell lines and 1.443 ± 0.264 in rat thoracic duct muscle cell lines. The
mean ratio of NK3R/GAPDH was found to be 0.371 ± 0.051 in rat mesenteric lymphatic
muscle cell lines and 0.733 ± 0.063 in rat thoracic duct muscle cell lines. This molecular
information will be useful in our future studies to determine the specific mechanisms of
SP on lymphatics and to help elucidate the role of SP in the modulation of lymphatic
function.
Description
Research Scholars Thesis for Undergraduate Research Scholars ProgramCitation
Khade, Parth (2011). Neurokinin Receptor Expression in the Lymphatic System. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /93201.