Melissa Hirose Wong
Biography
B.A., University of Colorado, Boulder, 1987
Ph.D., Wake Forest University, 1994
Post-doctoral fellowship, Washington University School of Medicine, 1995-2001
Assistant Professor, Oregon Health and Science University, Department of Dermatology,
Cell and Developmental Biology, 2001-present.
Research Overview
My laboratory is interested elucidating the molecular mechanism(s) that regulate epithelial proliferation and differentiation. We have focused on the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, that bridges cell adhesion and cell communication. In addition, ß-catenin plays a critical role in both intestinal development and disease. Preliminary data indicates that ß-catenin signaling is important for maintaining the intestinal stem cell niche during development, likewise it is also implicated in formation of intestinal adenomatous polyps that can progress colorectal cancer. Using inducible gene expression systems that allow for temporal knock-in or knock-out of ß-catenin signaling we can temporally evaluate epithelial stem cell selection during development as well as also induction of disease in the adult epithelium.
In addition, we are interested in elucidating molecules that regulate the intestinal stem cell. We are currently engaged in exploring the ability of stem cells from other organ systems to engraft into a damaged intestine.
Selected References
Wong, M.H., Saam, J.R., Stappenbeck, T.S., Rexer, C.H., and Gordon, J.I. (2000) Genetic mosaic analysis based on cre recombinase and navigated laser capture microdissection. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97:12601-12606.
Hooper, L.V., Wong, M.H., Thelin, A., Falk, P.G., and Gordon, J.I. (2001) Molecular components of intestinal function and maturation modulated by a normal resident bacterium. Science. 291:991-994.
Wong, MH, Huelsken, J, Birchmeier, W, and Gordon, JI. (2002) Selection of multipotent stem cells during morphogenesis of small intestinal crypts of Lieberkuhn is perturbed by stimulation of Lef-1/beta-catenin signaling. J. Biol. Chem. 277:15843-15850.
Wong MH (in press) Regulation of Intestinal Stem Cells. J. Invest. Derm.
Bailey, AS, Jiang, S, Afentoulis, M, Baumann, CI, Schroeder, DA, Olson, SB, Wong, MH, and Fleming, WH. Transplanted adult hematopoietic stems cells differentiate into functional endothelial cells. Blood. 103:13-19.
Rizvi AZ, Bailey AS, Swain JS, Decker AD, Fleming WH, and Wong MH. (in preparation) Intestinal epithelium supports transdifferentiated adult hematopoietic stem cells.