Grants We Funded

Abstract
Regeneration of human tissue from muitipotential stem cells is a promising option for the treatment of a wide array of diseases. The mesenchymal stem cells derived from human adipose tissue have the potential to differentiate into a variety of mature tissues including muscle, bone, nerve and fat. While there has been rapid expansion in the understanding of stem cell induction there remains little knowledge of the factors which govern adipose derived stem cells (ADSC's) interaction with the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM). Furthermore, the plasticity of these interactions as stem cells differentiate is not known. The purpose of this focused study is to investigate the role that transmembrane proteins, known as integrins, play in ADSC attachment and migration. We hypothesize that integrin expression in these cells is dynamic, and will vary dependent on degree and direction of differentiation. Moreover, the timing and specificity of integrin expression will govern critical interactions with the extracelular environement, specifically, ECM dependent cell migration and attachment. This knowledge would contribute to the efforts to design targeted delivery of ADSC's to wounded tissue. To date, there has been little understanding of the expression and role of integrins in human ADSC' s.

Biography
Scott Hollenbeck, MD is an Assistant Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Duke University Hospital. Dr. Hollenbeck’s clinical focus is cancer related reconstruction of the breast, head and neck as well as lower extremity traumatic wounds. His practice emphasizes free tissue transfer techniques for management of complex wounds. A graduate of the University of Florida with Honors and The Ohio State University College of Medicine with Magna Cum Laude distinction; Dr. Hollenbeck attended general surgery training from 2000 to 2007 at The New York Presbyterian Hospital - Weill Cornell Medical College. While training in general surgery, he studied vascular biology for two years and the TGF-beta signaling cascade under an NIH T32 training grant. Additionally, he received the Association for Academic Surgeons and Association for Academic Surgeon Foundation Research Fellowship Award in 2002. Dr. Hollenbeck also received the Weill Cornell Medical College Resident Teaching Award from the graduating class of 2007 and the Michelassi Compassionate Care Award. In 2007, he returned to North Carolina to complete his plastic surgery residency at Duke University Hospital. During his training in plastic surgery he authored numerous papers and was selected by the Duke medical students for the Appleseed Teaching Award. Additionally, Dr. Hollenbeck was awarded a PSF pilot grant to study the effects of hypoxia on adipose cells. As a continuation of this basic science research, he is now studying the effects of obesity on breast cancer formation. He hopes to identify adipokine related biomarkers associated with obesity and breast atypia. Once established biomarkers are identified, Dr. Hollenbeck hopes to help at risk women achieve focused weight loss for prevention of breast cancer formation.