UCSF DIABETES, ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM TRAINING PROGRAM FACULTY RESEARCH SUMMARIES

We are investigating oncogenic signaling processes leading to the growth of various solid tumors and their invasion and metastasis. One research focus is to establish the clinical utility of certain signaling molecules [e.g. hyaluronan (HA) and CD44 (a HA receptor)] as important tumor markers for early detection and/or diagnostic/prognostic tools. In addition, we are in the process of designing novel signaling perturbation strategies and potential therapeutic procedures as new drug targets to inhibit the spread and progression of various solid tumor cancers. Another area of our research interest is to investigate the role of HA- CD44 signaling in regulating epidermal keratinocyte and bone cell differentiation. We believe that the new knowledge obtained from these studies could provide useful insights into direct therapeutic treatments in both skin and bone disorders.    

Selected References

Bourguignon, LYW, Singleton PA, Diedrich F, Stern R and Gilad E. CD44 Interaction with Na + /H + Exchanger (NHE1) Creates Acidic Microenvironments Leading to Hyaluronidase-2 & Cathepsin B Activation and Breast Tumor Cell Invasion. J. Biol. Chem. 279:26991-27007 (2004).

Bourguignon, LYW, Singleton PA and Diedrich F. Hyaluronan/CD44 Interaction with Rac1-Dependent PKN? Kinase Promotes PLC?1 Activation, Ca 2+ Signaling and Cortactin-Cytoskeleton Function Leading to Keratinocyte Adhesion and Differentiation. J. Biol. Chem. 279:29654-29669 (2004).

Cao, J, Singleton PA, Majumdar S, Burghardt A, Bourguignon LYW and Halloran BP. Hyaluronan Increases RANKL Expression in Primary Osteoblasts through CD44. J. Bone Miner. Res. 20:30-40 (2005).

Bourguignon, LYW, Gilad E, Rothman K and Peyrollier K. Hyaluronan-CD44 Interaction with Cdc42-IQGAP1 Promotes Cdc42 and ERK signaling Leading to Actin Binding, ELK/Estrogen Receptor Transcriptional Activation and Ovarian Cancer Progression. J. Biol. Chem. 280:11961-11972 (2005).

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