Drinkall, Nicholas (2012)
M.Res. thesis, University of Birmingham.
Background: Histone modifications alter gene expression and histones can be acetylated and deacetylated, carried out by acetylases (HATS) and deacetylases (HDACs). HDACs can be inhibited and it is hypothesised epigenetic effects may be heritable. Aims: To investigate whether VPA and TSA induce changes in Hox B gene expression in differentiating embryonic stem cells and whether they are heritable. Results: VPA induced a heritable increase in Hox B5 gene expression. Continuous TSA application may induce Hox B2 expression. TSA reduced the number and size of differentiating embryoid bodies. Conclusion: The VPA induced Hox B5 gene expression increase provides a proof of concept for epigenetic heritability.
Mesenchymal Stem cells (MSCs) are an adult population of stem cells. First isolated from bone marrow, MSCs are also found within dental tissue. MSCs spontaneously express neuronal markers, leading to the hypothesis MSCs have neurogenic differentiation potential. As such In vitro manipulation of MSCs investigating their neurogenic potential demonstrate morphological changes, up-regulation of neural marker expression and functional neuronal analysis implying neurogenic differentiation. With the hypothesis dental derived MSCs provide a more useful source of MSCs than bone marrow, due to increased proliferation rates, accessibility and neural-crest origin. Furthermore, MSCs may be beneficial for a range of neurological diseases.
This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties.
The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged.
Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder.
Repository Staff Only: item control page