William Philbrick, PhD
Research & Publications
Biography
News
Research Summary
Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) is a multifunctional protein which plays a role in the inhibition of programmed differentiation in a number of systems. To explore the role of this peptide in development, we have taken a targeted overexpression approach using transgenic mice. In the epidermis, PTHrP delays hair follicle initiation, while in the mammary gland and bone, it acts as a potent inhibitor of branching morphogenesis and endochondral ossification, respectively. Current projects include further characterization of these systems both in vivo and in vitro and investigation of the role of PTHrP in the development of the lung and the immune system.
When overproduced by tumors, PTHrP can enter the circulation and react with classical PTH receptors in bone and kidney resulting in hypercalcemia. We have found that PTHrP gene expression is regulated by methylation of critical sites in the promoter, by the levels of specific trans-acting factors, and finally by stabilization of the tumor suppressor, p53. We are presently engaged in characterizing the nature of the DNA-protein interactions involved in all three mechanisms.
Specialized Terms: Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP)
Coauthors
Research Interests
Diabetes Mellitus; Endocrinology; Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein
Selected Publications
- Enhanced fasting glucose turnover in mice with disrupted action of TUG protein in skeletal muscle.Löffler MG, Birkenfeld AL, Philbrick KM, Belman JP, Habtemichael EN, Booth CJ, Castorena CM, Choi CS, Jornayvaz FR, Gassaway BM, Lee HY, Cartee GD, Philbrick W, Shulman GI, Samuel VT, Bogan JS. Enhanced fasting glucose turnover in mice with disrupted action of TUG protein in skeletal muscle. The Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2013, 288: 20135-50. PMID: 23744065, PMCID: PMC3711282, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M113.458075.
- NLRP6 inflammasome orchestrates the colonic host-microbial interface by regulating goblet cell mucus secretion.Wlodarska M, Thaiss CA, Nowarski R, Henao-Mejia J, Zhang JP, Brown EM, Frankel G, Levy M, Katz MN, Philbrick WM, Elinav E, Finlay BB, Flavell RA. NLRP6 inflammasome orchestrates the colonic host-microbial interface by regulating goblet cell mucus secretion. Cell 2014, 156: 1045-59. PMID: 24581500, PMCID: PMC4017640, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.01.026.