Smelter, Dan F.2009-05-222009-05-222009-04-08https://hdl.handle.net/11299/50313Additional contributors: J.A. Jude; T.F. Walseth; Mathur S. Kannan (faculty mentor).CD38 is a cellular protein found throughout the mammalian body. It is involved in calcium signaling and innate immunity. Its expression is augmented by the presence of multiple contractile agonists that occur in the development of asthma, and it is implied that CD38 expression is involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. However, CD38's role in human asthma has not been described. In my studies, I wanted to determine whether CD38 expression is involved in human asthma. To test this, I studied the effects of TNF-alpha-induced augmented CD38 expression in airway smooth muscle cells obtained from asthmatics compared to non-asthmatics. Also, I tested the intracellular calcium response to contractile agonists in cells from asthmatics and non-asthmatics following exposure to TNF-alpha.en-USCollege of Biological SciencesBiochemistryCollege of Veterinary MedicineDepartment of Veterinary and Biomedical SciencesAcademic Health CenterDepartment of PharmacologyPresentation