{"689272":{"#nid":"689272","#data":{"type":"event","title":"MS Defense by Ashritha Yellanki","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAshritha Yellanki\u003Cbr\u003EBME MS Thesis Defense Presentation\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDate\u003C\/strong\u003E: 2026-04-06\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETime\u003C\/strong\u003E: 1PM\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELocation \/ Meeting Link\u003C\/strong\u003E: Price Gilbert 4222\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECommittee Members:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAhmet Coskun; Felipe Quiroz; Johnna Temenoff,\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETitle\u003C\/strong\u003E: Mitochondrial and Immunomodulatory Gene Signatures of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Relevant for Understanding Sj\u00f6gren\u2019s Syndrome\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbstract:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EPrimary Sjogren\u2019s Syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disease that degrades the body\u2019s salivary and lacrimal glands. Impacting almost 1% of the global population, an effective solution still does not exist. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown potential to alleviate symptoms associated with pSS, but requires further research to fully determine their efficacy. Recently, endogenous salivary gland MSCs (SG MSCs) have been identified. These cells contribute to homeostasis and saliva production in salivary glands, and their similar proliferative and regenerative capacities make them promising candidates for therapy and for improving our understanding of pSS pathophysiology. This study aims to explore the immunobiology of SG MSCs by characterizing their immunosuppressive potential, response to stressors, mitochondrial profile, and cellular interactions. SG MSCs were cultured from a positive control donor and treated with the cytokine IFN-\u03b3. SG MSC\u2013PBMC coculture systems were also established. To analyze biomarkers, hybridized chain reaction, immunofluorescence, mitochondrial staining, and both static and live imaging were performed. IL-10, HLA, TGF\u03b2, and COX4 were upregulated under IFN-\u03b3\u2013primed conditions, while oxidative stress disrupted the upregulation of IL-10. FOXP3 expression demonstrated the highest spatial correlation with neighboring cells, while TGF\u03b2 expression showed the strongest correlation with mitochondrial signal. Additionally, mitochondrial transfer from SG MSCs to PBMCs was observed. These results conclude that IFN-y simulates immunosuppressive cytokines in SG MSCs, however altered mitochondrial activity impairs this ability. SG MSCs also engage in paracrine signaling with adjacent cells, as evidenced by spatial correlation patterns and mitochondrial transfer. Together, this work highlights the link between metabolism and immunomodulation in SG MSCs.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMitochondrial and Immunomodulatory Gene Signatures of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Relevant for Understanding Sj\u00f6gren\u2019s Syndrome\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Mitochondrial and Immunomodulatory Gene Signatures of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Relevant for Understanding Sj\u00f6gren\u2019s Syndrome"}],"uid":"27707","created_gmt":"2026-03-31 17:55:06","changed_gmt":"2026-03-31 17:55:40","author":"Tatianna Richardson","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","field_event_time":{"event_time_start":"2026-04-06T13:00:50-04:00","event_time_end":"2026-04-06T14:00:50-04:00","event_time_end_last":"2026-04-06T14:00:50-04:00","gmt_time_start":"2026-04-06 17:00:50","gmt_time_end":"2026-04-06 18:00:50","gmt_time_end_last":"2026-04-06 18:00:50","rrule":null,"timezone":"America\/New_York"},"location":"Price Gilbert 4222","extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"221981","name":"Graduate Studies"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"111531","name":"ms defense"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[{"id":"1788","name":"Other\/Miscellaneous"}],"invited_audience":[{"id":"78771","name":"Public"}],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}