Education
A.B., , University of California, Berkeley 1980
Ph.D., , University of Wisconsin, Madison 1989
Research Interests
Many of the inductive events associated with vertebrate development are mediated by diffusible signals. The involvement of members of the transforming growth factor ß family of growth regulatory molecules in aspects of cell cycle control, gene expression, and cell-cell interactions is well established. Members of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) subgroup of TGFß-related molecules have been implicated in many key signalling events in vertebrates and invertebrates. We are using the mouse as a model organism to study the roles of these regulatory factors during vertebrate development. We are interested in identifying the cellular targets of action of TGFß-related genes in a developmental context. Our approach is to take advantage of the genetic capabilities the mouse system offers, including transgenic and gene targeting technologies. We are also using organ and cell culture strategies to define the molecular mechanism of action of TGFß-related molecules in a biologically relevant context. These efforts have been facilitated by the recent identification of receptors for specific BMPs. We are currently developing cell culture systems and in vivo models to study BMP-mediated receptor signalling.
Selected Publications
Pacheco, M.S., Reis, A.H., Aguilar, D.P., Lyons, K.M. and Abreu, J.G.. 2008. Dynamic analysis of the expression of TGFbeta/Smad2 pathway and CCN2/CTGF during early steps of tooth development Cells Tissues Organs 55: 1139-1147 .
Pala, D., Kapoor, M., Woods, A., Kennedy, L., Liu, S., Chen, S., Bursell, L., Lyons, K.M., Carter, D.E., Beier, F. and Leask, A.. 2008. Focal Adhesion Kinase/Scr suppresses early chondrogenesis: Central role of CCN2 J Biol. Chem 283: 9239-9247 .
Pogue, R. and Lyons, K.M.. 2008. BMP Signaling Pathways in the Growth Plate Current Trends in Devel. Biol 76: 1-48 .
Laurencin, C.T., Einhorn, T.A. and Lyons, K.M.. 2008. Fracture Repair: Challenges and Opportunities J. Bone Joint Surg : 1-2 .
Kawaki, H., Kubota, S., Suzuki, A., Yamada, T., Matsumura, T., Mandai, T., Yao, M., Maeda, T., Lyons, K.M., Takigawa, M.. 2008. Functional requirement of CCN2 for intramembranous bone formation in embryonic mice Buichem. Biophys. Res. Comm 366: 450-456 .
Sengle, G., Ono, R.N., Lyons, K.M., Bächinger, H.P., and Sakai, L.Y.. 2008. A new model for activation: type II receptors compete with the prodomain for BMP-7 J. Mol. Biol 381: 1025-1039 .
Nguyen, T.Q., Roestenberg, P., van Nieuwenhoven, F.A., Bovenschen, N., Li, Z., Xu, L., Oliver, N., Aten, J., Joles, J.A., Vial, C., Brandan, E., Lyons, K.M., and Goldschmeding, R.. 2008. CTGF inhibits BMP-7 signaling in diabetic nephropathy J. Mol. Biol 19: 2098-2107 .
Nishida, T., Kondo, S., Maeda, A., Kubota, S., Lyons, K.M., and Takigawa, M.. 2008. CCN family 2/connective tissue growth factor (CCN2/CTGF) regulates the expression of Vegf through Hif-1alpha expression in a chondrocytic cell line, HCS-2/8, under hypoxic condition Bone [epub ahead of print: - .
Huang, B.-L., Dornbach, L.M. and Lyons, K.M.. 2007. The 5' untranslated regions (UTRs) of CCN1, CCN2, and CCN4 exhibit cryptic promoter activity J. Cell. Commun. & Sign 1: 17-32 .
Nishida, T., Kawaki, H., Baxter, R., DeYoung, R.A. Takigawa, M., and Lyons, K.M.. 2007. CCN2 (Connective Tissue Growth Factor) is essential for extracellular matrix production and integrin signaling in chondrocytes J. Cell. Commun. & Signal 1: 45-58 .