Michael S. Parmacek, M.D.
Herbert C. Rorer Professor of Medical Sciences
Department: Medicine
Graduate Group Affiliations
Contact information
9035 Gates Pavilion
3400 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4283
3400 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4283
Office: (215) 662-3140
Fax: (215) 349-8017
Fax: (215) 349-8017
Publications
Links
Search PubMed for articles
Parmacek Lab (MCRC)
Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group
Penn Health Profile
Penn Cardiovascular Institute
Cardiovascular Division Faculty
Search PubMed for articles
Parmacek Lab (MCRC)
Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group
Penn Health Profile
Penn Cardiovascular Institute
Cardiovascular Division Faculty
Education:
B.S. (Biology/Psychology)
Tufts University, 1977.
M.D.
Northwestern University Medical School, 1981.
Permanent linkB.S. (Biology/Psychology)
Tufts University, 1977.
M.D.
Northwestern University Medical School, 1981.
Description of Research Expertise
Chief, Division of Cardiovascular MedicineDirector, Cardiovascular Institute
Research Interests
Transcriptional programs that regulate cardiovascular development
Key Words: smooth muscle cell, cardiac myocyte, GATA, myocardin, transcription, notch
Description of Research
The Parmacek laboratory has a longstanding interest in examining the molecular programs that regulate vascular smooth muscle cell and cardiac myocyte development and differentiation. Dr. Parmacek cloned and characterized members of the GATA-4/5/6 family of zinc finger transcription factors and used gene targeting techniques in mice to elucidate the distinct functions of GATA-4 and GATA-6 in the cardiovascular system. The Parmacek laboratory also utilized transgenic techniques to show that an SRF-dependent transcriptional program regulates vascular SMC differentiation.
More recently Parmacek reported that myocardin is a critical SRF cofactor that regulates vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation and modulation of smooth muscle cell phenotype. These studies are relevant to understanding the molecular basis of angiogenesis and the pathophysiology of vascular proliferative syndromes including atherosclerosis.
In collaboration with other Penn cardiologists, Dr. Parmacek performs translational research studies focusing on stem cells and other novel agents that may be used to treat cardiovascular disease.
Rotation Projects for 2006-2007
1. Characterization of the function of MRTF-B in the heart and vasculature
2. Examine the molecular basis of Myocardin function in the heart and in vascular smooth muscle cells
3. Characterization of mice harboring a conditional mutation in the lineage-restricted transcription factors GATA-6
4. Examine the role of Notch signaling and Notch-regulated genes during angiogenesis and in the vasculature
Lab personnel:
Jian Li, MD - Senior Research Scientist
John Huang MD, PhD - Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Mary Chen - Senior Research Technician
Xiaohong Zhu - Senior Research Technician
Selected Publications
Shen D, Li J, Lepore JJ, Anderson TJT, Sinha S, Yin AY, Cheng L, Dedhar S, Parmacek MS, Gerszten RE: Aortic Aneurysm Generation in Mice with Targeted Deletion of Integrin Linked Kinase (ILK) in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells. Circ Res Page: Manuscript Submitted, 2010.Li J, Bowens N, Cheng L, Zhu X, Chen M, Elicker J, Huang J, Parmacek MS: An MRTF-B/TGF β-dependent regulatory circuit reinforces structural integrity of the vasculature. Dev Cell Page: Manuscript Submitted, 2010.
Beppu H, Malhotra R, Beppu Y, Lepore JJ, Parmacek MS, Bloch KD: BMP type II receptor regulates positioning of outflow tract and remodeling of atrioventricular cushion during cardiogenesis. Dev Biol 331(2): 167-175, July 2009.
Huang J, Lu MM, Cheng L, Li J, Zhu X, Stout A, Chen M, Li J, Parmacek MS: Myocardin is required for cardiomyocyte survival and maintenance of heart function. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA(106), 18734-18739, 2009.
Mohler ER, Shi Y, Moore J, Bantly A, Hamamdzic D, Yoder M, Rader DJ, Putt M, Zhang L, Parmacek MS, Wilensky RL: Diabetes reduces bone marrow and circulating porcine endothelial progenitor cells, an effect ameliorated by atorvastatin and independent of cholesterol. Cytometry 75: 75-82, 2009.
Zhang Z, Goss AM, Cohen ED, Kadzik R, Lepore JJ, Muthukumaraswamy K, Yang J, DeMayo F, Whitsett JA, Parmacek MS, Morrisey EE: A Gata6-Wnt pathway required for epithelial stem cell development and airway regeneration. Nature Genetics 40(7): 862-70, July 2008.
Huang J, Cheng L, Li J, Chen M, Zhou D, Lu MM, Proweller A, Epstein JA, Parmacek MS: Myocardin regulates smooth muscle cell contractile genes required for closure of the ductus arteriosus. J Clin Invest 118(2): 515-25, Feb 2008.
Schaffer RG, Greene S, Arshi A, Supple G, Bantly A, Moore JS, Parmacek MS, Mohler ER: Effect of acute exercise on endothelial progenitor cells in patients with peripheral arterial disease. Vasc Med 11(4): 219-226, Nov 2007.
Proweller A, Wright AC, Horng D, Cheng L, Lu MM, Lepore JJ, Pear WS, Parmacek MS: Notch signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells is required to pattern the cerebral vasculature. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 104(41): 16275-80, Oct 2007.
Mohler ER 3rd, Fang Y, Shaffer RG, Moore J, Wilensky RL, Parmacek MS, Levitan I: Hypercholesterolemia suppresses kir channels in porcine bone marrow progenitor cells in-vivo. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 358(1): 317-324, June 2007.