Date of Award
5-9-2016
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Zhi-Ren Liu
Second Advisor
Yuan Liu
Third Advisor
Susanna Greer
Abstract
Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) is a glycolytic enzyme expressed in highly proliferating cells. Studies of PKM2 have been focused on its function of promoting cell proliferation in cancer cells. Our laboratory previously discovered that extracellular PKM2 released from cancer cells promoted angiogenesis by activating endothelial cell proliferation and migration. PKM2 activated endothelial cells through integrin αvβ3. Angiogenesis and myofibroblast differentiation are key processes during wound healing. In this dissertation, I demonstrate that extracellular PKM2 released from activated neutrophils promotes angiogenesis and myofibroblast differentiation during wound healing. PKM2 activates dermal fibroblasts through integrin αvβ3 and PI3K signaling pathway. I also claim that extracellular PKM2 plays a role during liver fibrosis. PKM2 protects hepatic stellate cells from apoptosis by activating the survival signaling pathway.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/8513687
Recommended Citation
Zhang, Yinwei, "Functions of Extracellular Pyruvate Kinase M2 in Tissue Repair and Regeneration." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2016.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/8513687