SRIG 24-46: Thy-1 Expression and Potential Correlation with the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein in Human Splenic Fibroblasts

What was the issue being addressed?

The project addressed the lack of established methodologies for transfecting human splenic fibroblasts involving the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein construct. This gap limited our ability to explore the role of splenic fibroblasts in immune regulation, especially in the context of viral infection and recovery. By developing a transfection protocol, this project aimed to provide a valuable tool for studying spleen-specific cellular responses and identifying potential therapeutic targets.

Provide a brief, lay description of the work undertaken/initiative.

In this project, I created a protocol to introduce genetic material into the human splenic fibroblast cells. These cells, called fibroblasts, were exposed to a glycoprotein (Thy-1) and transfected with a plasmid carrying the viral spike protein from the COVID-19 virus, for the lack of biosafety level 3-4 (BSL3-4), I would like to clarify that virus wasn’t used in the lab or during this experiment. This was done to determine the effect of the glycoprotein on the expression of SP. Learning how to work with these spleen cells helps scientists better understand how the immune system behaves during and after infection. This work gives researchers a way to study the spleen in more detail and could help in future discoveries about viral effects on the immune system.

What is the expected impact this project will have on the community?

This project will have a lasting impact on the academic and research communities by enabling new studies focused on splenic fibroblast function in viral infections such as COVID-19. The optimized transfection protocol opens doors for future investigations into immune regulation, inflammatory signalling, and spleen-specific responses to viral proteins. Ultimately, these insights may guide the development of new treatments or interventions targeting immune dysregulation following infection. Additionally, this work contributes to future studies at KPU for students looking at trafficking/localization, signaling and vesicle formation in spleen cells.