Cutting-Edge Research Labs at Boys Town: Unraveling Auditory System and Genetic Mysteries

1. Boys Town National Research Hospital (BTNRH)Genetic & Molecular Biology Labs Auditory Neurobiology Lymphatic Research Neurochemistry Cell Signaling & Angiogenesis Retinal Neurobiology Gene Expression Vestibular Neurogenetics Gene Marker & Identification

2. Auditory Neurobiology LabEdward Walsh, JoAnn McGee Goal is to understand the basic mechanisms underlying auditory system development in normal and pathological systems. • Role of thyroid hormone in cochlear development • Role of Vlgr1 in stereociliary bundle development • Development of amino acid neurotransmission among neurons of the caudal brainstem dB SPL Hz

3. Auditory Neurobiology LabEdward Walsh, JoAnn McGee Techniques • Single cell electrophysiology • Evoked potential • Sensory cell transduction • Inner ear and CNS histology and ultrastructure • Immunocytochemistry and histochemistry • Otoacoustic emissions • Microiontophoresis

4. Cell Signaling & Angiogenesis LabSudhakar Akulapalli Goal is to identify the molecular and biochemical mechanisms by which endogenous angiogenesis inhibitors prevent tumor development and growth • Identify the mechanism through which the carboxy terminal of type IV collagen, specifically, the noncollagenous domain 1 of the 1 chain of type IV collagen (1(IV)NC1), inhibits angiogenesis and tumor growth (type IV collagen is the major component of vascular basement membranes) • Determine mechanism whereby 1β1 integrin regulates hypoxia-associated factors associated with the antiangiogenic activity of 1(IV)NC1 • Identify the cell signaling pathway involved in the non-integrin mediated antiangiogenic activity of a1(IV)NC1 • Identify natural proteins that can be used as therapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer

5. Cell Signaling & Angiogenesis LabSudhakar Akulapalli Techniques • In vivo tumor burden studies • Cell culture systems (mouse lung endothelial cells, mouse lung fibroblast preparations) • Migration and proliferation assays • Immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting to study protein interactions • Immunohistochemistry Sudhakar et al. (2005)

6. Gene Expression LabDominic Cosgrove, Velidi Rao Study of molecular mechanisms underlying progressive pathologies resulting from mutations in basement membrane proteins; the role(s) of cell adhesion and integrin signaling proteins, cytokines and chemokines • Alport Syndrome (Type IV collagen) • Renal pathology • Inner ear pathology • Usher Syndrome Type IIa (Usherin) • Retinal pathology • Inner ear pathology

7. Gene Expression LabDominic Cosgrove, Velidi Rao Techniques • Gene knockout mouse models for Alport syndrome and Usher syndrome type IIa • Immortalized cell lines derived from the retina, the stria vascularis, and the renal glomerulus of both normal and mutant mice • Biochemical and molecular techniques • Treatment strategies

8. Gene Marker & Identification LabBill Kimberling, Dana Orten, Phil Kelley Identification of genes associated with hearing loss and localization to the human gene map • Syndromic: • Usher Syndrome (Type I, Type II and Type III) • Branchio-Oto-Renal (BOR) Syndrome • Cleft Palate • Nonsyndromic: • Dominant Progressive Hearing Loss • Autosomal Recessive Hearing Loss (Auditory Neuropathy – otoferlin) • Usher Syndrome • USH1b – myosin VIIa • USH1c – harmonin • USH1d – cadherin 23 • USH1f – protocadherin 15 • USG1g - sans • USH2a – usherin • USH2c – vlgr1 • USH3 – clarin1 • Hereditary Hearing Loss • Syndromic (20%) • Usher Syndrome • Nonsyndromic (80%) • Dominant (15%) • Recessive (80%)

9. Gene Marker & Identification LabBill Kimberling, Dana Orten, Phil Kelley Techniques • Construct physical maps of the critical region of the human genome associated with hearing loss, identify candidate genes in that region, and search for mutations in candidate genes • Linkage mapping and haplotype mapping to identify regions of human genome linked to hearing loss genes • Positional candidate cloning strategy to identify genes causing hearing loss • Treatment strategies

10. Lymphatic Research Laboratory Richard Tempero Study of the lymphatic system as it relates to human inflammatory and malignant disease. Study of the molecules and mechanisms that contribute to lymphatic growth assessed by lymphangiogenesis Lymphatic vessels drain extracellular fluid and improve the capacity for pathogen surveillance by directing fluid towards regional lymph nodes

11. Lymphatic Research Laboratory Richard Tempero Techniques • Murine model of respiratory inflammation (e.g., Mycoplasma pulmonis infection) • Study molecules and mechanisms important for lymphangiogenesis • Confocal image of normal mouse trachea • lymphatics (LYVE-1 red) • blood vessels (CD31 green)

12. Neurochemistry LabBarbara Morley The role of neurotransmitters and receptors in the establishment of neural pathways and the formation of maintenance of synaptic connections. • The role of acetylcholine and acetylcholinesterase in the development and maturation of the primary neurotransmitters in the auditory brainstem. • Understanding how acetylcholine drives the auditory system before the onset of hearing. • Understanding how nicotinic acetylcholine receptors function in outer hair cells and spiral ganglion cells.

13. Neurochemistry LabBarbara Morley Techniques • Pharmacological and immuno-cytochemical characterization of neurotransmitter receptor subunits and assembled receptors • Expression of receptor subunits using in situ hybridization and real time RT-PCR • Construction of mice and cell lines that are have null mutations for cochlea-specific genes

14. Retinal Neurobiology LabYou-Wei Peng Molecular mechanisms of hereditary retinal degeneration, particularly retinitis pigmentosa • Mechanism of retinal degeneration in Usher syndrome type IIa; the role of usherin in cell signaling • Mechanism by which rod-specific genetic disorders lead to the degeneration of genetically-normal cone photoreceptors • Role of plasticity in bipolar cell connections during retinal degeneration

15. Retinal Neurobiology LabYou-Wei Peng Techniques • Immunofluorescence • In situ hybridization • Real time RT-PCR • Retinal histology and ultrastructure Rod marker, rhodopsin (red), Cone marker, cone transducin γ (green)

16. Vestibular Neurogenetics LabYesha Lundberg Study of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of otoconia development in the vestibular system Otoconia are composite crystals that overlie and provide optimal stimulus input to the sensory epithelium of the balance system. The crystals are critical for spatial orientation and balance. Deletion of Oc90 gene leads to abnormal otoconia formation and balance deficits

17. Vestibular Neurogenetics LabYesha Lundberg Techniques • Gene targeting • Protein biochemistry • Histological and ultrastructural analyses • Cell culture • Physiological studies (collaborative)

19. BTNRH: Genetic and Molecular Biology Laboratories • Lymphatic Research • R Tempero • Neurochemistry • B Morley • Retinal Neurobiology • Y Peng • Vestibular Neuro- genetics • Y Lundberg • Auditory Neurobiology • E Walsh, J McGee • Cell Signaling and Angiogenesis • S Akulapalli • Gene Expression • D Cosgrove, V Rao • Gene Mapping and Identification • B Kimberling, D Orten, P Kelley