HPD Research Day | February 16, 2018

40 Atrium – Poster 24 12:15-1:15 p.m. Methylation and D4 Dopamine Receptors in Autism and Schizophrenia Richard C. Deth, Ph.D., Professor, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University Yiting Zhang, Northeastern University Natasha Rose, Nova Southeastern University Timothy Carroll, BS, College of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University Malav S. Trivedi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University Objective. To evaluate the role of methylation in regulating the D4 dopamine receptor in autism and schizophrenia. Background. D4 dopamine receptors have the unique ability to catalyze methylation of membrane phospholipids, involving the vitamin B12 and folate-dependent enzyme methionine synthase. This process is proposed to be centrally involved in dopamine-mediated attention by synchronization of neural network activity. Impaired methylation has been reported in autism and schizophrenia. Methods. Levels of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) in postmortem brain samples were analyzed by HPLC. DNA methylation of CpG sites in intron 1 of the D4 receptor were measured by pyrosequencing and global DNA methylation was measured via an Elisa-based assay. Results. Vitamin B12 levels, especially methylcobalamin, were decreased in both autism and schizophrenia frontal cortex. Methylation of the D4 dopamine receptor was significantly higher in both autism and schizophrenia. Conclusion. Methylation status of the D4 dopamine receptor gene is abnormal in autism and schizophrenia, associated with lower levels of vitamin B12. Grants. This study was funded in part by the Autism Research Institute. Atrium – Poster 25 12:15-1:15 p.m. Histopathology of Neutrophil Infiltrate in the Walls of Asthmatic Airways Lori B. Dribin, Ph.D., Professor, College of Medical Sciences, Nova Southeastern University Andrew T. Mariassy, Ph.D., Professor, College of Medical Sciences, Nova Southeastern University Stephanus E. Haryadi, Barry University Abeny Chinkok, Barry University Background. Bronchial asthma is an inflammatory disorder of the airways involving an array of inflammatory cells and multiple mediators. Attempts have been made to define different asthma syndromes on the basis of preponderance of specific inflammatory cells found in bronchial infiltrates. Objective. To make a quantitative assessment, particularly of neutrophil (poly-morpho-nuclear cell, PMN) infiltration and marginated cells in the bronchial vessels in the fast onset syndrome asthma (<1 >h). Methods. Lung tissue was randomly sampled at autopsy from 19 cases of asthma, and 21 control subjects (death due to non-respiratory disease). Entire cross sections of bronchi were paraffin embedded, H&E stained and with light microscope, equipped with 60X objective, neutrophil number was assessed by cell count in the lamina propria, 100-300 um depth from basement membrane (BM). The counts were expressed as # of PMNs /mm of BM length. Results. In fast onset asthma (<1 >h) subjects, the average number of PMNs was ten folds higher (15.26 ± 14.52 STDV) when compared to control subjects (1.14 ± 2.01 STDV). From examined cases we found that high neutrophil infiltration was not seen in all cases of the fast onset asthma, however, the higher neutrophil infiltration closely correlated with the histopathological damage of the examined airways. Conclusion. The neutrophil pool of both tissue emigrated and blood vessel marginated cells indicate a likely role in the pathogenesis of asthma affecting the bronchial basement membrane denudation and epithelial loss, exposing the airway surface to further inflammatory process. Grants. NSU Faculty Research Grant. Atrium – Poster 26 12:15-1:15 p.m. Potential Physiological Impacts of Eccrine Glands on Skin Tissue Dielectric Constant (TDC) Benjamin Eisenman, Ph.D., OMS-II, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University Harvey N. Mayrovitz, Ph.D., Professor, College of Medical Sciences, Nova Southeastern University