Gasdermin B proteinin karakterizasyonu: Ekspresyon analizi, düzenlenmesi ve kanser tedavilerindeki rolü

Gasdermins are pore-forming proteins involved in pyroptosis, a form of necrotic programmed cell death. Gasdermin B (GSDMB), one of the least studied members of the family, was shown to be involved in different cancer types, autoimmune disorders, and inflammatory diseases. However, the exact mechanism of Gasdermin B's function on these different diseases is still ill-characterized. Because of Gasdermin B's high expression in cancer and its role in pyroptosis, understanding the regulation and function of this protein is crucial to develop new therapeutic strategies. In this thesis, we aimed to examine the role of GSDMB as a mediator of pyroptotic cell death in response to chemotherapeutic agents. Two main approaches were used: (1) assessing endogenous GSDMB expression and regulation in response to different inflammatory pathways, (2) examining the modulation of GSDMB in cancer cells upon treatment with a chemotherapeutic agent known to activate apoptosis. For this purpose, GSDMB expression was determined in cell lines from different cancer types and modulation of its expression was analyzed. Moreover, the impact of etoposide treatment on GSDMB expression was assessed by monitoring cell morphology, viability, and death. Overall, the outcomes of this thesis will generate supplementary insights into the function of GSDMB in cell death and its response to anticancer treatment. Keywords: Gasdermin B, Pyroptosis, Cancer, Treatment, Etoposide