The Wnt proteins are a family of extracellular signaling molecules highly conserved, involved in many biological processes like cell adhesion, differentiation, and migration. Recently Wnt has been described as playing role in cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases.

My laboratory is working in three different models (diseases) to define the role of Wnt signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of each of them.

1. Atherosclerosis. The goal is to elucidate how inflammation is involved in pathogenic mechanisms of atherosclerosis.

Recently, we described the expression of Wnt5a (a member of this family), in murine and human atherosclerotic lesions. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 294:6; 2864-70, 2008

My current research focus concerns the role of Wnt5a in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

In this model our interest is to observe the kidney alterations due to diabetes. In this field we have a collaborative research with Dr Karen Coschigano and Dr Felicia Nowak about histopathological alterations in the kidney in animal model. Endocrine 35: 89-100, 2009

3. Cancer

Wnt family has been described in different types of cancer. My research is focused in the expression and role of Wnt5a in bladder urothelial carcinoma, its relationship with adhesion molecules and its role in the progress/aggressiveness of this cancer.

Anthony Schwartz, Ramiro Malgor, Eric Dickerson, Ashani Weeraratna, Andresz
Slominski, Jacobo Wortsman, Norikazu Harii, Aimee D. Kohn, Randall T. Moon, Frank Schwartz, Doug Goetz,Leonard D Kohn, and Kelly D McCall. Phenylmethimazole Decreases Toll-like Receptor 3 and Non-Canonical Wnt5a Expression in Pancreatic Cancer & Melanoma Together with Tumor Cell Growth & Migration Accepted for publication in Clinical Cancer Research March 2009.

Yuriy Slyvka, Sharon R, Inman, Ramiro Malgor, Edwin J. Jackson, Jennifer Yee, Olusayo Oshogwemoh, John Adame and Felicia V. Nowak. Protective Effects of Antioxidant Fortified Diet on Renal Function and Metabolic Profile in Obese Zucker Rat. Endocrine 35: 89-100, 2009.

Christman II M.A., Goetz D. J, Dickerson E., McCall K.D., Lewis C.J, Benencia F., Silver M.J., Kohn L.D., and Malgor R. Wnt5a is Expressed in Murine and Human Atherosclerotic Lesions Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 294: H2864-H2870, 2008.

Deosarkar S.P., Malgor R., Fu J., Kohn L.D., Hanes J., Goetz D.J. Polymeric Particles Conjugated with a Ligand to VCAM-1 Exhibit Selective, Avid and Focal Adhesion to Sites of Atherosclerosis. Biotechnolgy and Bioengineering 9999:1-8, 2008.