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Faculty Caroline N. Dealy
Associate Professor of Oral Rehabilitation, Biomaterials and
Skeletal Development, Center for Regenerative Medicine and Skeletal
Development
dealy@nso2.uchc.edu
Areas of Interest:
A major area of interest in the Dealy lab is to investigate the
molecular regulation of limb development in the vertebrate embryo, from
early stages during which the limb bud is patterned, to later stages
when differentiation of the skeletal elements into cartilage and bone
occurs. We are particularly interested in the role that certain growth
factors play in these processes. We are using tissue-specific targeted
transgenesis, Cre-mediated gene deletion, and retroviral gene delivery
to test the roles of various growth factors and their receptors in
developing limbs and skeletal elements in mouse (and chick) embryos in
vivo.
Another area of interest is to investigate the signals and conditions
that control differentiation of human embryonic stem cells. We are
interested in directing the differentiation of human ES cells into
chondrocytes, with the eventual goal of testing the potential
therapeutic value of hES cell-derived chondrocytes for repair of damaged
or osteoarthritic joints. These studies are being carried out in the
context of a State of CT funded human ES cell initiative that utilizes
existing as well as new hES cell lines.
Understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate cartilage and bone
development is significant for human health, as the ultimate goal of
this research is to identify new targets for future medical intervention
in the treatment or prevention of human skeletal conditions such as limb
birth defects, cartilage or bone dystrophy, or degenerative joint
disease.
Lab Rotation Projects:
Students may participate in ongoing projects in the lab, including but
not limited to the following:
Examining the effects of targeted misexpression or genetic deletion of
growth factor receptors in the skeletal elements of transgenic mice.
Examining the effects of modulation of growth factor signaling during in
vitro differentiation of mouse chondrocytes.
Defining the signals that direct totipotent human embryonic stem cells
into the chondrocyte lineage.
Selected Publications:
Li, Y., Toole, B.P., Dealy, C.N., and Kosher R.A. 2007. Hyaluronan in
limb morphogenesis. Submitted.
Fisher, M.C., Li, Y., Seghatoleslami, M.R., Dealy, C.N. and Kosher,
R.A. 2006. Heparan sulfate proteoglycans including syndecan-3 modulate
BMP activity during limb cartilage differentiation. Matrix Biology, 25:
27-39.
Omi, M. Fisher, M., Maihle, N.J., and Dealy, C.N. 2005. Studies on
EGF receptor signaling in vertebrate limb patterning. Developmental
Dynamics, 233: 288-300.
Fisher, M. Meyer, C., Garber, G., and Dealy, C.N. 2005. Role of
IGFBP2, IGF-I and IGF-II in regulating long
bone growth. Bone, 37: 741-750.
Wang, C-K L., Omi, M., Ferrari, D., Cheng, H-C., Lizarraga, G., Chin,
H-J., Upholt, W.B., Dealy, C.N., and Kosher, R.A. 2004. Function of
apical ectodermal BMPs in developing mouse limbs. Dev. Biol. 269,
109-122.
Soufer, R., McQueeney, K., and Dealy, C.N. 2002. β-catenin-dependent Wnt
signaling in apical ectodermal ridge induction and FGF8 expression in
normal and limbless mutant chick limbs. Development, Growth &
Differentiation, 44: 315-325.
McQueeney, K., and Dealy, C.N. 2001. Roles of insulin-like growth
factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-I binding protein-2 (IGFBP2) and –5 (IGFBP5) in
developing chick limbs. Growth Hormone & IGF Research 11: 346-363. |
