Kiely Hoyt '23 of Mahopac, NY, is a student in the Biomedical Science program at COLSA who presented her research into human tumor granulosa cells at the 2022 UNH Undergraduate Research Conference.
Kiely Hoyt: The Effects of Estradiol on the Angiogenic Factor CCN1 in Human Tumor Granulosa Cells.
Kiely: The hormone estradiol (E2) is produced by ovarian granulosa cells and is known to regulate the female reproductive cycle. It is also associated with certain cancers as it promotes angiogenesis or the formation of new blood vessels. In our lab, we found that the human tumor granulosa cell line, KGN, also expresses another angiogenic factor called cellular communication network factor 1 (CCN1). We wanted to know if E2 might affect CCN1 expression by KGN cells. Our objective was to determine the effect of E2 on CCN1 expression by KGN cells.
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Kiely: My research project examined how estradiol affects the expression of CCN1 and how that relates to angiogenesis.
Kiely: Based on my research, estradiol does appear to affect CCN1, however more replicates are needed to confirm this, as well as longer treatment times.
Kiely: It's a great experience and opportunity to be able to present one's work at a large conference like this. Additionally, participating in the research itself offered a fun challenge. I learned new laboratory skills that I would not have had if not for taking part in this research and I've also acquired new problem-solving skills, which my lab partners and I used to solve issues we were having with our cell culture lines.
Kiely: I worked with my research professor Dr. Paul Tsang and graduate student Donnelly Hutchings. We received funding through the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch Multistate Project Grant.
