Candidate: My career goals are to become a leader in the study of intestinal development and development of translational therapies for patients with short gut syndrome. To achieve this I will undergo intensive training in the basic sciences in developmental biology, epithelial-mesenchymal signaling as well as ethics in the conduct of research. This will include formal coursework, one-on-one mentorship presentations at lab meetings, department and University-wide seminars and national meetings. I will lead a nascent team of investigators in the study of intestinal atresia to develop a scientific foundation for understanding the mechanisms of longitudinal intestinal growth. I will begin a comprehensive clinical program for patients with short gut syndrome in order to establish a clinical component that will complement my scientific interests. I will submit an R01 application no later than year 3 of the award period. Finally, I will seek leadership positions in national organizations in order to enhance collaborative efforts in this area as well as direct attention and resources towards developing therapies and solutions for this problem. All of these steps will facilitate my successful transition to independence. Environment: The University of Wisconsin is one of the premier research institutions in the United States with over 800 biologists on campus. The Department of Surgery enjoys a reputation as one of the top in the country in terms of federal funding and career development of surgeon-scientists. The Department has mobilized its significant resources in making an iron clad commitment to Dr. Nichol's career development including guarantees for 3 years of salary, start-up funds ($300,000) and 9 months of protected time per year. In addition, Dr. Nichol will be mentored by two of the premier developmental biologists and most successful mentors on this campus (Drs. Bushman and Fallon) as well as other outstanding faculty. These components will provide him with an optimal research environment that will ensure that his transition to independence is successful. Research: The long term goal of this research is to understand the etiology of intestinal atresias and to establish the scientific foundation for regenerative therapies to address the features of short gut syndrome that often accompany atresia. Intestinal atresia arises from a segmental defect in intestinal development. This results in a loss of intestinal continuity and obstruction. FGF signaling is a critical regulator of intestinal growth and development. Our preliminary studies indicate that conditional mutation of Fgfr2IIIb in the colonic epithelium produces a segmental atresia in mice equivalent to the human defect. The formation of atresia is preceded by a failure in epithelial differentiation and a subsequent disruption in radial and longitudinal growth of the mesenchyme. We have identified loss of Foxf1 expression as a specific biomarker for this event within the segment that will undergo atresia. Foxf1 is a critical mesenchymal organizer and target of the hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. We hypothesize that atresias arise from a segmental disruption in epithelial-mesenchymal signaling during a critical developmental period when these signals direct both radial and longitudinal growth of the mesenchyme. Specifically, we postulate that epithelial hedgehog signaling is a critical regulator of this mesenchymal growth and that sustained Hh signaling is dependent upon cell autonomous differentiation of the epithelium by activation of the Fgfr2IIIb receptor. Accordingly, loss of epithelial Fgfr2IIIb expression is predicted to result in a failure in cell autonomous differentiation, disruption of Hh signaling, failed mesenchymal growth and subsequent atresia formation. We will test these predictions in following aims:
Specific Aim 1 : Test the hypothesis that Fgfr2IIIb mutation disrupts epithelial differentiation leading to alterations in growth, proliferation and Foxf1 gene expression in the mesoderm.
Specific Aim 2 : Test the hypothesis that loss of epithelial differentiation in the Fgfr2IIIb conditional mutants is a cell autonomous event due exclusively to a loss of Fgfr2IIIb expression.
Specific Aim 3 : Test the hypothesis that the reduced mesenchymal growth in the Fgfr2IIIb conditional mutant is a direct result of loss of epithelial Hedgehog signaling. We will employ a conditional mutagenesis strategy in mice to delineate specific interactions between epithelium and mesenchyme and the function of the Fgfr2IIIb receptor in epithelial cells in normal intestinal development and atresia formation. This approach will provide clean, high resolution data and permit us to directly test our hypotheses in a mammalian genetic model that closely recapitulates development in the human.

Public Health Relevance

We anticipate that the research proposed will provide novel and critically important insights into the molecular mechanisms that stimulate radial and longitudinal growth of the intestinal mesoderm during normal development and unveil opportunities for intervention in short gut patients in the postnatal period.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
1K08DK087854-01
Application #
7871855
Study Section
Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases B Subcommittee (DDK)
Program Officer
Podskalny, Judith M,
Project Start
2010-05-01
Project End
2015-03-31
Budget Start
2010-05-01
Budget End
2011-03-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$161,622
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Surgery
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
Zaremba, Krzysztof M; Reeder, Amy L; Kowalkowski, Anna et al. (2014) Utility and limits of Hprt-Cre technology in generating mutant mouse embryos. J Surg Res 187:386-93
Reeder, Amy L; Zaremba, Krzysztof M; Liebl, Rebeca M et al. (2014) Exogenous Sonic hedgehog protein does not rescue cultured intestine from atresia formation. J Surg Res 187:14-8
Nichol, Peter F; Tyrrell, John D; Saijoh, Yukio (2012) Retinaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 is down-regulated during duodenal atresia formation in Fgfr2IIIb-/- mice. J Surg Res 175:82-7
Reeder, Amy L; Botham, Robert A; Franco, Marta et al. (2012) Formation of intestinal atresias in the Fgfr2IIIb-/- mice is not associated with defects in notochord development or alterations in Shh expression. J Surg Res 177:139-45
Botham, Robert A; Franco, Marta; Reeder, Amy L et al. (2012) Formation of duodenal atresias in fibroblast growth factor receptor 2IIIb-/- mouse embryos occurs in the absence of an endodermal plug. J Pediatr Surg 47:1369-79
Reeder, Amy L; Botham, Robert A; Zaremba, Krzysztof M et al. (2012) Haploinsufficiency of retinaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 decreases the severity and incidence of duodenal atresia in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2IIIb-/- mouse model. Surgery 152:768-75; discussion 775-6
Nichol, Peter F; Corliss, Robert F; Yamada, Shigehito et al. (2012) Muscle patterning in mouse and human abdominal wall development and omphalocele specimens of humans. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 295:2129-40
Nichol, Peter F; Corliss, Robert F; Tyrrell, John D et al. (2011) Conditional mutation of fibroblast growth factor receptors 1 and 2 results in an omphalocele in mice associated with disruptions in ventral body wall muscle formation. J Pediatr Surg 46:90-6
Nichol, Peter F; Botham, Robert; Saijoh, Yukio et al. (2011) A more efficient method to generate null mutants using Hprt-Cre with floxed alleles. J Pediatr Surg 46:1711-9
Nichol, Peter F (2011) Gastroschisis. BMJ 343:d7124

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