Pharmacology & Cancer Biology | Duke University Medical Center

Dr. Tannishtha Reya

Tannishtha Reya, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology

Duke University Medical Center
C333 LSRC
Box 3813
Durham, NC 27710

Phone: 919-613-8756
E-mail: t.reya@duke.edu
Web Site: http://www.reyalab.org

Research Interests

All the cells in the blood are derived from a single progenitor, the hematopoietic stem cell. This cell has the remarkable ability to self-renew as well as to differentiate into mature blood cells of all lineages. A fundamental question that remains largely unanswered is how stem cells make the choice between self-renewal and differentiation. <P>The overall goal of our lab is to elucidate the signaling pathways that regulate stem cell fate. We have focused specifically on the Wnt signaling pathway, which is a critical regulator of normal growth and development, and a major target of mutation in human cancer. Our recent work shows that activation of Wnt signaling can promote stem cell self-renewal in vitro. Currently, we are using a combination of cellular, molecular and transgenic approaches to determine the role of Wnt signaling in stem cell self-renewal in vivo and to characterize the molecular mechanisms through which Wnt exerts its effect on stem cells. Moreover, since uncontrolled self-renewal is a hallmark of oncogenesis, we are also developing transgenic mouse models to test whether dysregulation of the Wnt pathway can contribute to hematopoietic tumors. Finally, we are interested in identifying the signals that modulate the differentiation of stem cells, to both hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic lineages. These studies will not only shed light on the basic mechanisms that regulate stem cell development and oncogenesis, but also contribute to stem cell based therapies for treatment of human disease.

Publications

Zhao C, Blum J, Chen A, Jung SH, Cook JM, Lagoo A and Reya T. (2007) Loss of beta-catenin impairs the renewal of normal and CML stem cells in vivo. Cancer Cell. 12:528-541 (Preview, Cell Stem Cell)

Wu MF, Young HK, Rattis FM, Ashkenazi R, Jackson TL, Gaiano N, Oliver T and Reya T. 2007 Imaging hematopoietic precursor division in real time. Cell Stem Cell 1:541-554 (Preview, Cell Stem Cell)

DiMascio L, Voermans C, Uqoezwa M and Reya T. (2007) Identification of Adiponectin as a novel regulator of hematopoietic stem cell growth. Journal of Immunology, 178:3511-20

Reya T and Clevers H. (2005). Wnt signaling in Stem Cells and Cancer. Nature, 434: 843-50.

Duncan A.W. *, Rattis F. *, DiMascio L., Pazianos, G., Congdon K., Yoon K., Gaiano N and Reya T. (2005). Integration of Notch and Wnt signaling in hematopoietic stem cell maintenance. Nature Immunology, 6:314-22 (N&V Nature Immunology, Research Highlights Nat. Rev. Immunology)

Rattis FM, Voermans C and Reya T. (2004). Wnt signaling in the stem cell niche. Current Opinion in Hematology, 11(2):88-94

Pazianos, G, Uqoezwa M, and Reya, T. (2003). The elements of stem cell self-renewal: A genetic perspective. Biotechniques 35:1240-1247

Reya T. * Duncan, A. W.*, Ailles, L., Domen J., Scherer D., Willert K., Nusse R. and Weissman I.L. (2003). A role for Wnt signaling in self-renewal of haematopoietic stem cells. Nature. 423: 409–414 Article (News of the week, Science; N&V, Nature Immunology)

Willert, K., Brown, J., Danenberg, E., Duncan, A.W., Weissman, I.L., Reya, T., Yates, J.R. and Nusse, R. (2003). Wnt proteins are lipid modified and can act as stem cell growth factors. Nature 423:448-52.

Reya T., Morrison S.J., Clarke M.F. and Weissman I.L., (2001). Stem Cells, Cancer and Cancer Stem Cells, Nature. 414:105-111.

Reya T., O’Riordan M., Okamura R., Devaney E., Willert K., Nusse R. and Grosschedl R. (2000). Wnt signaling regulates B cell growth through a LEF-1 dependent mechanism. Immunity. 13:15-24

Top of page