Affiliations

Professor, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences

My laboratory studies the effects of the reelin signaling pathway in regulating cell migration during embryonic development. Reelin signaling is initiated by the secretion of reelin, a large extracellular matrix protein, from a variety of different cell types. Reelin interacts with two different receptor systems, the ApoER2/VLDLR low-density lipoprotein receptors, and alpha3/beta1 integrin. Stimulation of the receptors induces phosphorylation of the intracellular adaptor protein Dab1, which then initiates a cascade of events ultimately interacting with the cytoskeleton. We examine reelin signaling and its effects in the developing brain and spinal cord, as well as in the developing mammary gland. Reelin signaling has been widely recognized for a role in shaping layered structures in the brain, including the cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum. Mutations in reelin have also been linked with a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. We are currently examining how reelin signaling might be affected in neurodevelopmental disorders, and particularly how environmental factors, such as maternal stress or pesticide exposure can interact with the reelin signaling pathway. Our studies involve behavioral analysis of our animal models, along with characterization of anatomical changes occurring in the brain. Although reelin?s role in the brain is well established, there has been little research on the effects of reelin signaling in other parts of the central nervous system. We have identified several unique loci of expression of the reelin signaling pathway and are currently characterizing both the expression of pathway components in these regions and the effects of disrupting reelin signaling on these areas. Reelin also has roles outside the central nervous system and we have recently established that intact reelin signaling is required for normal mammary gland development. In the mammary gland, reelin regulates the migration of mammary epithelial cells, and we are currently characterizing the impact of disrupting reelin signaling on these cells. Reelin signaling appears to be reduced or absent during metastatic breast cancer, so we hope to identify how changes in reelin signaling might contribute to the invasiveness of breast cancer cells.

Vosko Andrew, van Diepen Hester C, Kuljis Dika, Chiu Andrew M, Heyer Djai, Terra Huub, Carpenter Ellen, Michel Stephan, Meijer Johanna H, Colwell Christopher S Role of vasoactive intestinal peptide in the light input to the circadian system. The European journal of neuroscience. 2015; 42(2): 1839-48. Carpenter Ellen M, Llamas Carlos, Buck Billy E, Malinin Theodore I Induction of neural tissue markers by micronized human spinal cord implants. Journal of neuroscience research. 2015; 93(3): 495-503. Barrientos-Durán Antonio, Carpenter Ellen M, Zur Nieden Nicole I, Malinin Theodore I, Rodríguez-Manzaneque Juan Carlos, Zanello Laura P Carboxyl-modified single-wall carbon nanotubes improve bone tissue formation in vitro and repair in an in vivo rat model. International journal of nanomedicine. 2014; 9(4): 4277-91. Abadesco Autumn D, Cilluffo Marianne, Yvone Griselda M, Carpenter Ellen M, Howell Brian W, Phelps Patricia E Novel Disabled-1-expressing neurons identified in adult brain and spinal cord. The European journal of neuroscience. 2014; 39(4): 579-92. Mullen Brian R, Khialeeva Elvira, Hoffman Daniel B, Ghiani Cristina A, Carpenter Ellen M Decreased reelin expression and organophosphate pesticide exposure alters mouse behaviour and brain morphology. ASN neuro. 2013; 5(1): e00106. Rebustini Ivan T, Hayashi Toru, Reynolds Andrew D, Dillard Melvin L, Carpenter Ellen M, Hoffman Matthew P miR-200c regulates FGFR-dependent epithelial proliferation via Vldlr during submandibular gland branching morphogenesis. Development (Cambridge, England). 2012; 139(1): 191-202. Hirose Megumi, Niewiadomski Pawel, Tse Gary, Chi Gloria C, Dong Hongmei, Lee Alice, Carpenter Ellen M, Waschek James A Pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating peptide counteracts hedgehog-dependent motor neuron production in mouse embryonic stem cell cultures. Journal of neuroscience research. 2011; 89(9): 1363-74. Khialeeva, E., Lane, T. F., and Carpenter, E. M. Disruption of reelin signaling alters mammary gland morphogenesis. Development 2011; 138: 767-778. Khialeeva Elvira, Lane Timothy F, Carpenter Ellen M Disruption of reelin signaling alters mammary gland morphogenesis. Development (Cambridge, England). 2011; 138(4): 767-76. Ghiani Cristina A, Mattan Natalia S, Nobuta Hiroko, Malvar Jemily S, Boles Julie, Ross Michael G, Waschek James A, Carpenter Ellen M, Fisher Robin S, de Vellis Jean Early effects of lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation on foetal brain development in rat. ASN neuro. 2011; 3(4): . Hostikka, S. L., Gong, J., and Carpenter, E. M. Axial and appendicular skeletal transformation, ligament alterations, and motor neuron loss in Hoxc10 mutants. International Journal of Biological Sciences 2009; 5: 397-410. Misra, M., Shah, V., Carpenter, E., McCaffery, P., and Lance-Jones, C Restricted patterns of Hoxd10 and Hoxd11 set segmental differences in motoneurons subtype complement in the lumbosacral spinal cord. Developmental Biology 2009; 330: 54-72. Misra Mala, Shah Veeral, Carpenter Ellen, McCaffery Peter, Lance-Jones Cynthia Restricted patterns of Hoxd10 and Hoxd11 set segmental differences in motoneuron subtype complement in the lumbosacral spinal cord. Developmental biology. 2009; 330(1): 54-72. Hostikka Sirkka Liisa, Gong Jun, Carpenter Ellen M Axial and appendicular skeletal transformations, ligament alterations, and motor neuron loss in Hoxc10 mutants. International journal of biological sciences. 2009; 5(5): 397-410. Malinin Theodore I, Carpenter Ellen M, Temple H Thomas Particulate bone allograft incorporation in regeneration of osseous defects; importance of particle sizes. The open orthopaedics journal. 2007; 1(1): 19-24. Carpenter Ellen M, Gendler El, Malinin Theodore I, Temple H Thomas Effect of hydrogen peroxide on osteoinduction by demineralized bone. American journal of orthopedics (Belle Mead, N.J.). 2006; 35(12): 562-7. Choe Andrea, Phun Huy Q, Tieu David D, Hu Yan Hong, Carpenter Ellen M Expression patterns of Hox10 paralogous genes during lumbar spinal cord development. Gene expression patterns : GEP. 2006; 6(7): 730-7. Choe, A., Phun, H. Q., Tieu, D. D., Hy, Y. H., and Carpenter, E. M. Expression patterns of Hox10 paralogous genes during lumbar spinal cord development. Gene Expression Patterns. 2006; 7: 730-737. Hedlund, E., Karsten, S. L., Kudo, L., Geschwind, D. H., and Carpenter, E. M. Identification of a Hoxd10-regulated transcriptional network and combinatorial interactions with Hoxa10 during spinal cord development. Journal of Neuroscience Research. 2004; 75: 307-319. Hedlund Eva, Karsten Stanislav L, Kudo Lili, Geschwind Daniel H, Carpenter Ellen M Identification of a Hoxd10-regulated transcriptional network and combinatorial interactions with Hoxa10 during spinal cord development. Journal of neuroscience research. 2004; 75(3): 307-19. Lin Amy W, Carpenter Ellen M Hoxa10 and Hoxd10 coordinately regulate lumbar motor neuron patterning. Journal of neurobiology. 2003; 56(4): 328-37. Carpenter, EM Hox genes and spinal cord development. Developmental Neuroscience. . 2002; 24(1): 24-34. Anderson Tonya R, Hedlund Eva, Carpenter Ellen M Differential Pax6 promoter activity and transcript expression during forebrain development. Mechanisms of development. 2002; 114(1-2): 171-5. Anderson, TR Hedlund, E Carpenter, EM Differential Pax6 promoter activity and transcript expression during forebrain development. Mechanisms of Development. . 2002; 114(1-2): 171-5. Carpenter Ellen M Hox genes and spinal cord development. Developmental neuroscience. 2002; 24(1): 24-34. Wahba, GM Hostikka, SL Carpenter, EM The paralogous Hox genes Hoxa10 and Hoxd10 interact to pattern the mouse hindlimb peripheral nervous system and skeleton. Developmental Biology. . 2001; 231(1): 87-102. de la Cruz, CC Der-Avakian, A Spyropoulos, DD Tieu, DD Carpenter, EM Targeted disruption of Hoxd9 and Hoxd10 alters locomotor behavior, vertebral identity, and peripheral nervous system development. Developmental Biology. . 1999; 216(2): 595-610. Carpenter, EM Goddard, JM Davis, AP Nguyen, TP Capecchi, MR Targeted disruption of Hoxd-10 affects mouse hindlimb development. Development (Cambridge, England) . 1997; 124(22): 4505-14. Carpenter, EM Goddard, JM Chisaka, O Manley, NR Capecchi, MR Loss of Hox-A1 (Hox-1.6) function results in the reorganization of the murine hindbrain. Development (Cambridge, England) . 1993; 118(4): 1063-75.