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Melissa Hunter, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
201 Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute
473 West 12th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
Phone: (614) 247-7707
Focus:
Understanding the role of microvesicles and microRNA in survival and maturation of innate immune cells under normal homeostasis with the long-term goal of applying this knowledge to inflammatory lung diseases as well as other inflammatory diseases including heart disease and lung and breast cancers.
Research Interests:
Project 1: Microvesicles facilitate communication between cells. Many cells including macrophages, platelets, and tumors release small microvesicles containing nucleic acids and/or proteins with or without activation into the peripheral blood and tissue environment. Processed mRNA is thought to be contained within these vesicles. These mRNAs encode transcription factors which are known to regulate angiogenesis, cell growth, and differentiation.
We are investigating the function and content of subpopulations of microvesicles in the peripheral blood. We predict that specific subpopulations may increase in certain diseases as well as have altered content. We are also examining in vitro derived microvesicles from macrophages to understand the mechanisms for their release. We are examining how these vesicles influence cell survival and differentiation of immature immune cells. The knowledge gained from these studies will be invaluable to understanding inflammation.
Project 2: MicroRNAs are small RNAs that regulate protein expression by either the degradation of mRNA or the inhibition of protein translation. Many of these microRNAs are encoded within clusters within the genome. Notably, several of these microRNA clusters are predicted to regulate proteins that are associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Ongoing work in our laboratory has found changes of microRNA expression in pulmonary fibrosis. Current studies are underway to design therapies to modulate the expression of the microRNAs.
Recent Publications:
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Lichtenberger FJ, Montague C, Hunter MG, Frambach G, Marsh CB.NAC and DTT Promote TGF-?1 Monomer Formation: Demonstration of Competitive Binding, Journal of Inflammation 2006, 3:7.
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Montague CR, Hunter MG, Gavrilin, MA, Phillips GS, Goldschmidt-Clermont PJ, Marsh CB. Activation of estrogen receptor alpha reduces aortic smooth muscle differentiation. Circ Res. 2006 Sep 1;99(5):477-84.
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Wang Y, Zeigler MM, Lam GK, Hunter MG, Eubank TD, Khramtsov VV, Tridandapani S, Sen CK, Marsh CB. The role of the NAPDH oxidase complex, p38 MAPK, and Akt in regulating human monocyte/macrophage survival Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2007 Jan;36(1):68-77.
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Baran CP, Opalek JM, McMaken S, Newland CA, O'brien Jr JM, Hunter MG, Bringardner BD, Monick MM, Brigstock DR, Stromberg PC, Hunninghake GW, Marsh CB. Important Roles for M-CSF, CCL2 and Mononuclear Phagocytes in the Pathogenesis of Pulmonary Fibrosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 176::78-89, 2007.
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Mazerik J, Hagele T, Ciapala V, Butler S, Kuppusamy ML, Hunter MG, Marsh CB, and Parinandi NL. Phospholipase A2 activation regulates cytotoxicity of methylmercury in vascular endothelial cells, Accepted International Journal of Toxicology 2007.
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Opalek JM, Ali NA, Lobb JM, Hunter MG, Marsh CB. Alveolar Macrophages Lack CCR2 Expression and do not Migrate to CCL2. Journal of Inflammation 4(1):19, 2007 [Epub ahead of print].
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