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Assistant Professor, Baylor College of Medicine
B.S., University of Dong-A, Busan, South Korea, 2004
Ph.D., Dong-A College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea, 2009
Postdoc, Baylor College of Medicine, 2009-15
Elucidating mechanisms of gliogenesis in neural development and how its dysfunction can lead to neurodegenerative disease
In my laboratory, we plan to take an interdisciplinary approach to the study of neural development and eventually neurodegenerative disease. Glia play diverse roles in the functioning CNS and, consequently, are associated with numerous neurological disorders and malignancies. In spite of their vital role in CNS physiology and pathology, the molecular mechanisms that control their development and diversity remain poorly defined; accordingly, how these processes contribute to CNS pathology also remains undefined. Therefore, our studies focus on the identification of novel molecular signaling and regulatory pathway in glial cell development by manipulation both chick and mouse model systems and biochemical techniques combined with an array of complex CNS injury models. These studies will provide the foundation upon which we will translate developmentally relevant findings to demyelinating diseases and neurodegenerative disorders in an effort to develop therapeutic interventions.
Selected Publications
Lee HK, Chaboub LS, Zhu W, Zollinger D, Rasband MN, Fancy SP, Deneen B (2015) Daam2-PIP5K is a regulatory pathway for Wnt signaling and therapeutic target for remyelination in the CNS. Neuron 85:1227-1243.
Lee HK, Laug D, Zhu W, Patel JM, Ung K, Arenkiel BR, Fancy SP, Mohila C, Deneen B (2015) Apcdd1 stimulates oligodendrocyte differentiation after white matter injury. Glia 63:1840-1849.
Lee HK, Deneen B (2012) Daam2 is required for dorsal patterning via modulation of canonical Wnt signaling in the developing spinal cord. Developmental Cell 22:183-196.
Kang P, Lee HK, Glasgow SM, Finley M, Donti T, Gaber ZB, Graham BH, Foster AE, Novitch BG, Gronostajski RM, Deneen B (2012) Sox9 and NFIA coordinate a transcriptional regulatory cascade during the initiation of gliogenesis. Neuron 74:79-94.
Jung J, Cai W, Lee HK, Pellegatta M, Shin YK, Jang SY, Suh DJ, Wrabetz L, Feltri ML, Park HT (2011) Actin polymerization is essential for myelin sheath fragmentation during Wallerian degeneration. Journal of Neuroscience 31:2009-2015.
Shin YK, Jang SY, Lee HK, Jung J, Suh DJ, Seo SY, Park HT (2010) Pathological adaptive responses of Schwann cells to endoplasmic reticulum stress in bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy. Glia 58:1961-1976.
Lee HK, Shin YK, Jung J, Seo SY, Baek SY, Park HT. Lee HK, Shin YK, Jung J, Seo SY, Baek SY, Park HT (2009) Proteasome inhibition suppresses Schwann cell dedifferentiation in vitro and in vivo. Glia 57:1825-1834.
Wang L, Lee HK, Seo IA, Shin YK, Lee KY, Park HT (2009) Cell type-specific STAT3 activation by gp130-related cytokines in the peripheral nerves. Neuroreport 20:663-668.
Contact Information
Hyun Kyoung Lee, Ph.D.
Department of Pediatrics
Baylor College of Medicine
1250 Moursund St., NRI-Suite N1270.08
Houston, Texas 77030, U.S.A.
Tel: (832) 824-8955
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