The Faculty in Reproductive Biology at Illinois

Romana A. Nowak

Animal Sciences
Ph.D., University of Illinois

To e-mail Dr. Nowak use: ranowak@uiuc.edu

The research in my laboratory focuses on two main areas. The first is implantation. Our laboratory is interested in understanding the mechanisms involved in the regulation of trophoblast cell differentiation and invasion into the uterine stroma during the implantation process. We are focusing on the role of two proteins, parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) and emmprin, in regulating extracellular matrix production and metalloproteinase activity in the implantation site. PTHrP has been shown to regulate matrix production and stimulate angiogenesis in bone. We have found that PTHrP is expressed not only by specific uterine cells at the time of implantation but also by the differentiating blastocyst. Emmprin is a membrane bound protein that stimulates metalloproteinase (MMP) production by surrounding cells and also acts as a binding protein for specific MMPs. Transgenic knockout mice are being used to study the roles of these proteins around the time of implantation.

The second area of emphasis in my laboratory is women's reproductive diseases including uterine leiomyomas and endometriosis. Basic studies are underway to understand the mechanisms involved in regulating the growth of leiomyoma smooth muscle cells and applied studies testing the effects of a variety of compounds on proliferation and extra-cellular matrix production of these tumor cells are also being carried out. Studies on endometriosis involve not only human cell lines but also tissues from a baboon model for endometriosis established by fellow researchers at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Our focus is to understand how the invasiveness of uterine endometrial cells is regulated by ovarian steroid hormones as well as by certain proteins including cytokines and growth factors. We are particularly interested in understanding the interplay between uterine epithelial and stromal cells that leads to the attachment and invasion of endometrial tissues into the peritoneum. We are also involved in a collaborative project with investigators at the University of Illinois in Chicago to use cDNA microchip arrays to identify genes in women's neoplasms that are regulated by estrogen. Both leiomyomas and endometriosis are estrogen-dependent diseases. We hope to identify new targets for therapeutic intervention using microchip array analysis.

Selected Publications:

Mason, H., Nowak, R.A.,Morton, C.C., Castellot, J.  Heparin inhibits the proliferation and
motility of human uterine myometrial and leiomyoma smooth muscle cells.  American Journal of Pathology 2003;162:1895-1904.

Gross K.L., Neskey D.M., Manchanda N., Weremowicz S., Kleinman M., Nowak R.A., Ligon,
A.H., Rogalla P., Drechsler K., Bullerdiek J., Morton C.C.  HMGA2 expression in uterine leiomyomata and myometrium: Quantitative analysis and tissue culture studies.  Genes, Chromosomes and Cancer 2003;38:68-79.

Mason HR, Grove-Strawser D, Rubin BS, Nowak RA, Castellot JJ Jr.  Estrogen induces CCN5
expression in the rat uterus in vivo.  Endocrinology 2004;145:976-982.

Mason HR, Lake AC, Wubben JE, Nowak RA, Castellot JJ Jr.  The growth arrest-specific gene
CCN5 is deficient in human leiomyomas and inhibits the proliferation and motility of cultured human uterine smooth muscle cells.  Molecular Human Reproduction 2004;10:181-187.

Nowak RA.  Drug therapies for uterine fibroids: a new approach to an old problem.  Drug Discovery Today: Therapeutic Strategies 2004;1(2):237-242.

Nakai M, Chen L and Nowak RA.  Tissue distribution of basigin and monocarboxylate transporter I in the adult male mouse: a study using the wild type and basigin gene knockout mice.  The Anatomical Record Part A 2006;288A:527-535.

Braundmeier A, Fazleabas A, Lessey BA, Guo F, Toole BP, Nowak RA.  Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) regulates metalloproteinases in the human endometrium.  Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 2006;91:2358-65

Braundmeier A and Nowak RA.  Cytokines regulate matrix metalloproteinase production in human endometrial stromal cells.   American Journal of Reproductive Immunology 2006:56:201-214.

Chen L, Nakai M, Belton Jr. R J, and Nowak RA.  Expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer and matrix metalloproteinases during mouse embryonic development. Reproduction 2007;133:405-414.
 
Albin DM, Wubben JE, Rowlett JM, Tappenden KA, Nowak RA.  Small intestinal transport and barrier function respond differently to acute immune challenge in two porcine breeds.   In Press,  Journal of Animal Science, 2007.

View Publications by Romana A. Nowak listed on the National Library of Medicine (PubMed)

Last updated March 30, 2007

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