- Royce Fellowship
Cynthia
Eleanya
Concentration
Human Biology
Award Year
2010
The Influence of Biglycan/decorin Expression on Matrix Metalloprotease (MMP) Activity and Its Implications for Preterm Birth
Faculty Sponsor: Beatrice Lechner
Cynthia characterized MMP expression in mice lacking biglycan and decorin. Pregnant mice lacking the proteoglycans biglycan and decorin deliver prematurely. MMPs, which cleave proteoglycans, have been implicated in premature rupture of fetal membranes leading to preterm birth. Cynthia hoped that this project would lead to the identification of the biglycan/ decorin-MMP pathway as a novel molecular target in the development of prophylactic drug therapies for preterm delivery.