Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of blood disorders which affect over 100,000 people in the United States. A common complication of SCD is the blockage and subsequent damage to vascular endothelial tissue, leading to vaso-occlusive crises. These symptoms are accompanied by chronic pain, inflammation, and stress. Currently, the only FDA-approved treatment for these patients is Hydroxyurea (HU), a cytotoxic agent. When used long-term, HU can cause several health issues, the most serious of which is bone marrow suppression. Researchers are searching for alternative treatments. Quercetin is a plant-based polyphenol that acts as both an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant. This project aims to ascertain: 1) the efficacy of Quercetin in reducing vascular endothelial inflammation caused by SCD; and 2) the metabolic pathways related to sickle cell inflammation are affected by Quercetin. We hypothesize that Quercetin combined with HU will be the best way to reduce inflammation, using an in vitro mouse cell model to represent in vivo vascular endothelial tissue. We will measure how different treatment combinations of HU and Quercetin affect simulated inflammation. Using PCR and Western Blot techniques, we will qualitatively examine which pathway products are most evident and if the QCT/HU combination is the most effective treatment.
