Faculty
| Dr. Wendie Cohick Assistant
Professor, |  |
Education
B.S. (Animal Science), Cornell University, 1981
M.S. (Dairy Nutrition), University of Illinois, 1984
Ph.D. (Animal Science), Cornell University, 1989
Research Interests
Research in our laboratory is aimed at understanding the role of the insulin-like growth factors in regulating mammary gland physiology. A specific focus is to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms which allow these growth factors to regulate growth, differentiation and apoptosis of mammary epithelial cells. The IGFs are found in the circulation and in extracellular fluids in association with a family of six high-affinity binding proteins which modulate their biological activity. Mammary epithelial cells synthesize four of the six forms of IGF binding protein in vitro. Studies in our laboratory examine both the mechanisms by which these proteins mediate the bioactivity of IGF as well as the mechanisms which regulate their synthesis and bioavailability in the local environment. For example we have found that IGF-I specifically stimulates the synthesis of IGF binding protein-3 by mammary epithelial cells. When these cells are transfected to overexpress IGF binding protein-3, they exhibit enhanced responsiveness to IGF-I in terms of DNA synthesis. Therefore, we are currently focusing much of our work on this form of IGF binding protein. Specific areas of research include (1) the regulation of IGF binding protein gene transcription, (2) the role of IGF binding protein-3 in regulating growth and differentiation of mammary epithelial cells, (3) signal transduction pathways by which IGF-I and cAMP regulate IGFBP-3 synthesis, and (4) interactions between the extracellular matrix and growth factors in the mammary gland.
Recent Publications
Fleming JM, Leibowitz BJ, Kerr DE, Cohick WS. 2005 IGF-I differentially regulates IGF binding protein expression in primary mammary fibroblasts and epithelial cells. J Endocrinol 186 (July):165-178.
Sivaprasad U, Fleming J, Verma PS, Hogan KA, Desury G, Cohick WS. 2004 Stimulation of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein-3 synthesis by IGF-I and transforming growth factor-a is mediated by both phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in mammary epithelial cells. Endocrinology 145 (Sept):4213-4221.
Cornwell T, Cohick WS, Raskin I. 2004 Dietary phytoestrogens and health. Phytochemistry 65:995-1016.
Grill CJ, Sivaprasad U, Cohick WS. 2002 Constitutive expression of IGF binding protein-3 by mammary epithelial cells alters signaling through akt and p70S6 kinase. J Mol Endocrinol 29:153-162.
Grill CJ, Cohick WS, Sherman A. 2001 Postnatal development of the rat mammary gland is preserved during iron deficiency. J Nutrition 131:1444-1448.
Cohick, W.S., Wang, B., Verma P. Boisclair, Y.R. 2000. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) and cyclic AMP regulate IGF binding protein-3 gene expression by transcriptional mechanisms in mammary epithelial cells. Endocrinology 141:4583-4591.
Grill, C.J., Cohick, W.S. 2000. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 mediates IGF-1 action in a bovine mammary epithelial cell line independent of an IGF interaction. J Cellular Physiology. 183:273-283.
Cohick, W. S., and J. D. Turner. 1998. Regulation of IGF binding protein synthesis by a bovine mammary epithelial cell line. J Endocrinol 157:326-336.
Cohick, W. S. 1998. Role of the IGFs and their binding proteins in lactation. J Dairy Sci 81:1769-1777.
Cohick, W. S., J. D. Armstrong JD, M. D. Whitacre, M. C. Lucy, et.al.1996. Ovarian expression of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), IGF binding proteins and growth hormone receptor in heifers actively immunized against growth hormone releasing factor. Endocrinology 1996;137:1670-1677.
Cohick W. S, A. Gockerman, and D. R. Clemmons. 1995. Regulation of IGF binding protein-2 synthesis and degradation by PDGF and the IGFs is enhanced by serum deprivation in vascular smooth muscle cells. J Cell Physiol 164:187-196.
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