Date of Award
Spring 2019
Document Type
Open Access Dissertation
Department
Biomedical Engineering
First Advisor
Mitzi Nagarkatti
Second Advisor
Prakash Nagarkatti
Abstract
Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol compound found in red wine, the skins of grapes, and other plant products, has been used as a traditional medicine for thousands of years throughout human history, but current research has revealed this natural component is capable of modulating a variety of immunological, microbial, and epigenetic mechanisms to improve overall health and well-being of hosts that consume it. Colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by chronic inflammation in the colon and rectum, which has been associated with colon cancer. This cancer incidence is rising in younger adults in the US. Thus, newer approaches to prevent colitis and colon cancer are critical. In this dissertation, data and evidence is presented which demonstrate that resveratrol, natural polyphenol can attenuate murine models of colitis and prevent colitis- associated colon cancer. In addition, in-depth mechanistic studies will provide evidence that resveratrol suppresses inflammation in the colon by regulating the host-gut microbiome, as well as inducing epigenetic changes via modulation of small noncoding RNA molecules that target key gene transcripts involved in key immunologic processes.
Rights
© 2019, Haider Rasheed Daham Alrafas
Recommended Citation
Alrafas, H.(2019). Beneficial Effects of Resveratrol Against Colitis and Colorectal Cancer Mediated by the Host Microbiome, Epigenome, and Immune Response. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/5206