Melissa C. Colbert, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
Contact Dr. Colbert
Melissa Colbert, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
Melissa.Colbert@cchmc.org
Phone: 513-636-7057
Fax: 513-636-5958Research Image
Research Description
My research focuses on neural crest and its role in heart development.
The neural crest is a unique population of embryonic cells. They have the potential to migrate to many different sites throughout the developing embryo and contribute cells to a variety of different organs and tissues. One of these target tissues is the heart. There the neural crest provides cells that separate the single outflow vessel into the aorta and pulmonary artery. Many children are born with cardiac defects related to the failure of these cells to reach the heart.
In my research, we use retinoic acid, a derivative of vitamin A, to study neural crest behavior. Neural crest cells are very sensitive to changes in retinoic levels. Too much or too little is harmful and will alter their ability to migrate and multiply normally. This system serves as a model in which to examine the mechanisms important in the normal behavior of neural crest and how they altered by drugs or mutations. Through an understanding of these interactions, we will have a better opportunity for counseling and prevention of neural crest-related heart defects.
Publications
Qian, J., Lorenz, J.N., Maeda, S., Sutliff, R.L., Weber, C. Nakayama, T., Colbert, M.C., Paul, R.J., Fagin, J.A. and Clemens, T.L. (1999) Reduced blood pressure and increased sensitivity of the vasculature to PTHrP intransgenic mice overexpressing the PTH/PTHrP-related protein receptor in vascular smooth muscle, Endocrinology, 140:1826-1833.
Muraoka, R.S., Sun. W.Y., Colbert, M.C., Waltz, S.E., Witte, D.P., Degen, J.L., and Degen, S.J.F. (1999).The Ron/STK receptor tyrosine kinase is essential for peri-implantation development in the mouse. J. Clin. Invest. 103: 1277-1285.
Hall, D.G, Morley, G.E., Vadya, D., Ard, M., Kimball, T.R., Witt, S.A. and Colbert, M.C (2000) Early onset heart failure in transgenic mice with dilated cardiomyopathy. Pediatr Res 48: 1-6.
Li, J., Molkentin, J.D. and Colbert, M.C.(2001) Retinoic acid inhibits cardiac neural crest cell migration by blocking c-Jun N-terminal kinase, Dev. Biol. 232: 351-361.
Melissa Colbert's publications as listed by PubMed.
