Pulmonary Biology

Michael L. Mucenski, PhD

Appointment

Research Assistant Professor

Email

michael.mucenski@chmcc.org

Phone

513-636-3456

Fax

513-636-7868

Credentials

PhD: Molecular Genetics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1987

Postdoctoral Fellowship: Division of Basic Science Research, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio and Research Instructor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 1987-1991.

Awards and Honors

Leukemia Society of America Postdoctoral Fellow, 1990-1991
American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellow, 1989
Trustee Fellow, Division of Basic Science Research, Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1987-1988
LBI-FCRF Superior Performance Award, 1986

Research

My laboratory is interested in determining the role of the Wnt/beta-catenin signal transduction pathway in lung development, disease, and repair, using the mouse as a model system. We have generated mice that no longer express the beta-catenin gene or express an activated protein in specific epithelial cells of the lung. We have shown that beta catenin plays a critical role in proximal/distal patterning of the lung. Overexpression of an activated beta catenin protein causes airspace enlargement, tumorigenesis, goblet cell hyperplasia, and changes in the cell types that line the conducting airway. Through the use of microarray analysis we have identified a number of genes that may be directly regulated by beta-catenin. These studies will provide insight into signal transduction pathways that play key roles in the developing lung.

Publications, Most Recent

Ramsay, R.G., Micallef, S., Lightowler, S, Mucenski, M.L., Mantamadiotis, T., and Bertoncello, I.: c-myb heterozygous mice are hypersensitive to 5-fluorouracil and ionizing radiation.Mol. Cancer Res., 2004; 2(6): 354-361.

Reynolds, P.R., Mucenski, M.L., LeCras, T.D., Nichols, W.C., and Whitsett, J.A.: Midkine is regulated by hypoxia and causes pulmonary vascular remodeling.J. Biol. Chem., 2004; 279(35): 37124-37132.

Mucenski, M.L., Wert, S.E., Nation, J.M., Loudy, D.E., Huelsken, J., Birchmeier, W., Morrissey, E.E., and Whitsett, J.A.: Beta-catenin is required for specification of proximal/distal cell fate during lung morphogenesis.J. Biol. Chem.; 2003, 278(41): 40231-40238.

Reynolds, P.R., Mucenski, M.L., and Whitsett, J.A.: Thyroid transcription factor (TTF)-1 regulates the expression of midkine (MK) during lung morphogenesis.Dev. Dyn.; 2003, 227(2): 227-237.

Luchetti, M.M., Paroncini, P., Majlingova, P., Frampton, J, Mucenski, M., Baroni, S.S., Sambo, P., Golay, J., Introna, M., and Gabrielli, A. Characterization of the c-Myb- responsive region and regulation of the human type I collagen alpha 2 chain gene by c-Myb.J. Biol. Chem.; 2003, 278(3): 1533-1541.

Professional Organization Memberships

AAAS

Special Interests

Lung development, disease, and repair.

Presentations

Mucenski, M.L., Nation, J.M., Wert, S.E., Loudy, D.E., Harada, N., Taketo, M.M., and Whitsett, J.A.: Expression of an activated beta catenin protein disrupts normal patterning of the lung.Presented at the 100th Annual Meeting of the American Thoracic Society; May 21-26, 2004; Orlando, FL.

Mucenski, M.L., Nation, J.M., Wert, S.E., Birchmeier, W., and Whitsett, J.A.; Beta-catenin regulates proximal/distal patterning of the lung.Presented at the 99th Annual Meeting of the American Thoracic Society; May 16-21, 2003; Seattle, WA.