Melinda Larsen

Larsen Lab

Development of the Salivary Gland

Areas of Interest

• Cell and molecular basis for salivary gland branching morphogenesis
• Cell-extracellular matrix signaling
• Cell-cell signaling
• Salivary gland tissue engineering
• Salivary gland tissue regeneration

Research

Regenerative medicine has the potential to restore function to aged, diseased, or damaged salivary glands. However, the field suffers from a fundamental lack of understanding of how the behavior of stem and progenitor cells is impacted by their stromal microenvironment, or niche, which is essential to understanding disease and to enable the design of therapeutics. My research focuses on defining the contribution of the microenvironment to tissue formation during development, tissue repair, and regenerative processes. Modulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is critical for both the evolution of structure and function of developing organs. The ECM is also critical for recovery from injury; however, when misregulated excess accumulation of ECM occurs, which is referred to as scarring, or fibrosis. Fibrosis ultimately leads to loss of organ function in many diseases of the salivary glands and in almost all other organs.

The overarching hypothesis driving work in my lab is that stromal cell populations regulate organ development, maintain homeostasis in the adult and can be controlled to promote a regeneration-competent and healthy microenvironment in diseased and fibrotic salivary glands. To enable future discoveries of mechanisms driving tissue formation and regeneration we are using organoids, which are miniature organs grown in a dish, to model developmental and processes and injury models to model disease states. We use genetic manipulations and analysis of molecular changes at the single cell level using RNA sequencing in single cells and protein analysis to define mechanisms. Improving our basic understanding of tissue formation and tissue repair will inform regenerative medicine strategies to restore function in patients suffering from reduced salivary gland function and other diseases.

Publications

• Nicholas Moskwa, Ayma Mahmood, Deirdre A. Nelson, Amber L. Altrieth, Paolo Forni, and Melinda Larsen. 2022. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals PDFGRα+ stromal cell subpopulations that promote proacinar cell differentiation in embryonic salivary gland organoids. Development; 149 (6): dev200167. doi: https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.200167 PMID: 35224622. DOI: 10.1242/dev.200167
• Matthew Jorgensen, Pujhitha Ramesh, Miriam Toro, Emily Evans, Nicholas Moskwa, Xulang Zhang, Susan T. Sharfstein, Melinda Larsen and Yubing Xie. 2022. Alginate Hydrogel Microtubes for Salivary Gland Cell Organization and Cavitation. Bioengineering. 9(1):38. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering9010038.
• Nicholas Moskwa, Ayma Mahmood, Deirdre A. Nelson, Amber L. Altrieth, Paolo Forni, and Melinda Larsen. 2021. PDFGRα+ Stromal Cells Promote Salivary Gland Proacinar Differentiation Through FGF2-dependent BMP7 Signaling. BioRxiv. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.11.19.469144
• Kate Tubbesing, Nicholas Moskwa, Ting Chean Khoo, Deirdre A. Nelson, Anna Sharikova, Melinda Larsen*, Alexander Khmaladze*. 2021. Unlabeled Salivary Gland Organoids Gave Distinct Raman Signatures Following FGF2-induced Proacinar Cell Differentiation. BioRxiv https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.09.16.460651v1 
  *both authors contributed equally.
• Matthew Jorgensen, Pujhitha Ramesh, Miriam Toro, Emily Evans, Nicholas Moskwa, Xulang Zhang, Susan T. Sharfstein, Melinda Larsen and Yubing Xie. 2022. Alginate Hydrogel Microtubes for Salivary Gland Cell Organization and Cavitation. Bioengineering. 9(1):38. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering9010038.
• Nicholas Moskwa, Ayma Mahmood, Deirdre A. Nelson, Amber L. Altrieth, Paolo Forni, and Melinda Larsen. 2021. PDFGRα+ Stromal Cells Promote Salivary Gland Proacinar Differentiation Through FGF2-dependent BMP7 Signaling. BioRxiv. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.11.19.469144
• Kate Tubbesing, Nicholas Moskwa, Ting Chean Khoo, Deirdre A. Nelson, Anna Sharikova, Melinda Larsen*, Alexander Khmaladze*. 2021. Unlabeled Salivary Gland Organoids Gave Distinct Raman Signatures Following FGF2-induced Proacinar Cell Differentiation. BioRxiv https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.09.16.460651v1 
  *both authors contributed equally.
• Matthew Jorgensen, Pujhitha Ramesh, Miriam Toro, Emily Evans, Nicholas Moskwa, Xulang Zhang, Susan T. Sharfstein, Melinda Larsen and Yubing Xie. 2022. Alginate Hydrogel Microtubes for Salivary Gland Cell Organization and Cavitation. Bioengineering. 9(1):38. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering9010038.
• Nicholas Moskwa, Ayma Mahmood, Deirdre A. Nelson, Amber L. Altrieth, Paolo Forni, and Melinda Larsen. 2021. PDFGRα+ Stromal Cells Promote Salivary Gland Proacinar Differentiation Through FGF2-dependent BMP7 Signaling. BioRxiv. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.11.19.469144
• Kate Tubbesing, Nicholas Moskwa, Ting Chean Khoo, Deirdre A. Nelson, Anna Sharikova, Melinda Larsen*, Alexander Khmaladze*. 2021. Unlabeled Salivary Gland Organoids Gave Distinct Raman Signatures Following FGF2-induced Proacinar Cell Differentiation. BioRxiv https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.09.16.460651v1 
  *both authors contributed equally.
• **Kevin J. O’Keefe, **Kara A. DeSantis, **Amber L. Altrieth, Deirdre A. Nelson, Ed Zandro M. Taroc, *Adam R. Stabell, *Mary T. Pham and Melinda Larsen. 2020. Regional Differences Following Partial Salivary Gland Resection. Journal of Dental Research. 99(1): 79-88.https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034519889026 PMID: 31765574 
• **Matthew Koslow, **Kevin O’Keefe, Deirdre A. Nelson, Zeinab F. Hosseini and Melinda Larsen. 2019. ROCK Inhibitor Increases Proacinar Cells in Adult Salivary Gland Organoids. Stem Cell Research 41: 101608 doi.org/10.1016/j.scr.2019.101608
• Anna Sharikova, Zahraa I. Foraida, Lauren Sfakis, Lubna Peerzada, Melinda Larsen, James Castracane, and Alexander Khmaladze. 2019. Characterization of Nanofibers for Tissue Engineering: Chemical Mapping by Confocal Raman Microscopy. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy. In Press). DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2019.117670
• Renee Thiemann, Deirdre Nelson, C. Michael DiPersio, Melinda Larsen, and Susan LaFlamme. 2019. Establishment of a Murine Pro-acinar Cell Line to Characterize Roles for FGF2 and α3β1 Integrins in Regulating Pro-acinar Characteristics. Scientific Reports. 9: 10984. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-47387-y
  PMCID: PMC6662831 PMID: 31358811
• **Zeinab F. Hosseini, Deirdre A. Nelson, **Nicholas Moskwa, and Melinda Larsen. 2019. Generating Embryonic Salivary Gland Organoids. Current Protocols in Cell Biology, 83(1). e76. doi: 10.1002/cpcb.76 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30394683
• Lauren Sfakis, Tim Kamaldinov, †Alexander Khmaladze, Zeinab F. Hosseini, Deirdre A. Nelson, †Melinda Larsen, and †James Castracane. 2018. Mesenchymal Cells Affect Salivary Epithelial Cell Morphology on PGS/PLGA Core/Shell Nanofibers. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19, 1031; doi:10.3390/ijms19041031. †Joint corresponding authors https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29596382
• Zeinab F. Hosseini, Deirdre A. Nelson, Nicholas Moskwa, Lauren M. Sfakis, James Castracane, and Melinda Larsen. 2018. FGF2-Dependent Submandibular Salivary Gland Mesenchyme Sustains the Epithelial Proacinar Phenotype in Organoids. Journal of Cell Science 2018 Feb 20;131(4). pii: jcs208728. doi: 10.1242/jcs.208728 PMID: 29361536 PMCID: PMC5868949  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29361536
• Kara A. DeSantis, Adam R. Stabell, Danielle C. Spitzer, Kevin J. O'Keefe, Deirdre A. Nelson, and Melinda Larsen. 2017. RARα and RARγ Reciprocally Control K5+ Progenitor Cell Expansion in Developing Salivary Glands. Organogenesis 13(4): 125-140. doi: 10.1080/15476278.2017.1358336. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28933645
• Robert A. Schram, **Matthew H. Koslow, Deirdre A. Nelson, Melinda Larsen, and James Castracane. 2017. A Novel Impedance Biosensor for Measurement of Trans-Epithelial Resistance in Cells Cultured on Nanofiber Scaffolds Biosensors 7(3). pii: E35. doi: 10.3390/bios7030035 PMCID: PMC5618041 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28858219
• Zahraa I. Foraida, Tim Kamaldinoff, Deirdre A. Nelson, Melinda Larsen†, and James Castracane†.  Blend Electrospun Elastin-PLGA Nanofiber Scaffolds Promote Salivary Epithelial Cell Organization and Apicobasal Polarization. 2017. Acta Biomateriala 62:116-127. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2017.08.009 (†Joint corresponding authors). PMID: 28801269 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28801269
• Lauren Sfakis, Anna Sharikova, David Tuschel, Felipe Xavier Costa, Melinda Larsen, Alexander T. Khmaladze, and James Castracane. 2017. Core/Shell Nanofiber Characterization by Raman Scanning Microscopy. Biomedical Optics Express. 8(2) 1025-1035. PMCID: PMC5330587 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5330587/
• Nimit Dhulekar, Shayoni Ray, Daniel Yuan, Abhirami Baskaran, Basak Oztan, Melinda Larsen, and Bülent Yener. 2016. Prediction of Growth Factor-Dependent Cleft Formation During Branching Morphogenesis Using a Dynamic Graph-Based Growth Model. IEEE IEEE/ACM Transactions on Computational Biology and Bioinformatics pp. 13, 350-364.
• Elise M. Gervais, Kara A. DeSantis, Nicholas Pagendarm, Deirdre A. Nelson, Kathrine Skarstein, Janicke Liaaen Jenssen, and Melinda Larsen. 2015. Changes in the Submandibular Salivary Gland Epithelial Cell Subpopulations During Progression of Sjögren's Syndrome in the NOD/ShiLtJ Mouse Model. Anatomical Record (Hoboken) pp. 298, 1622-1634.
• Hae Ryong Kwon and Melinda Larsen. 2015. Branching Morphogenesis of the Mammalian Salivary Gland. Current Opinion in Genetics and Development. pp. 32, 47-54.
• Deirdre A. Nelson and Melinda Larsen. 2015. Heterotypic Control of Basement Membrane Dynamics During Branching Morphogenesis. Developmental Biology. pii: S0012-1606(14)00637-X. doi: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2014.12.011. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 25527075.
• Sarah B. Peters, Deirdre A. Nelson, Hae Ryong Kwon, Mathew Koslow, Kara A. DeSantis, and Melinda Larsen. 2015. TGFb Signaling Promotes Matrix Assembly During Mechanosensitive Salivary Gland Restoration. Matrix Biology. pii: S0945-053X(15)00034-7, doi: 10.1016/j.matbio.2015.01.020. PMID: 25652203
• Shayoni Ray, Joseph A. Fanti, Diego P. Macedo, and Melinda Larsen. 2014. LIM Kinase Regulation of Cytoskeletal Dynamics is Required for Salivary Gland Branching Morphogenesis. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 25(16):2393-407. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E14-02-0705. PMID: 24966172
• Sarah B. Peters, Nyla Naim, Deirdre A. Nelson, Aaron Mosier, Nathaniel C. Cady, and Melinda Larsen. 2014. Biocompatible Tissue Scaffold Compliance Promotes Salivary Gland Morphogenesis and Differentiation. Tissue Engineering, Part A, 20, (11-12)1632-42. PMID: 24410370 
• Aaron P. Mosier, Sarah B. Peters, Melinda Larsen, and Nathaniel C. Cady. 2014 Microfluidic Platform for the Elastic Characterization of Mouse Submandibular glands by Atomic Force Microscopy. Biosensors, 4:18-27 manuscripts. doi:10.3390/bios4010018. 
• Shomita S. Matthew, Bethsaida Nieves, Sharon Sequeira, Savitha Sambadamoorthy, Kevin Pumiglia, Melinda Larsen, and Susan E. Laflamme. 2014. Integrins Promote Cytokinesis Through the RSK Signaling Axis. Journal of Cell Science 127, 534-45. PMID: 24284076 doi: 10.1242/jcs.133280 
• Interactive Visual Atlas of Protein Localization: Development of the Salivary Gland Web resource, 2013.
• Shayoni Ray, Daniel Yuan, Nimit Dhulekar, Basak Otzan, Bulent Yener, and Melinda Larsen. 2013. Cell-Based Multi-Parametric Model of Cleft Progression During Submandibular Salivary Gland Branching Morphogenesis. 2013. PLOS Computational Biology 9(11): e1003319. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003319 
• Michael J. Gerdes, Christopher J. Sevinsky, Anup Sood, Sudeshna Adak, Musodiq Bello, Ali Can, Sean Dinn, Robert J. Filkins, Melinda Larsen, Qing Li, Michael C. Montalto, Jens Rittscher, James E. Rothman, Zhengyu Pang, Brion D. Sarachan, Maximilian L. Seel, Antti Seppo, Jingyu Zhang, and Fiona Ginty. 2013 High-Order Multiplexed Fluorescence Imaging for Quantitative, in Situ Subcellular Analysis of Cancer Tissue. PNAS. 110: 29, 11982–11987 doi: 10.1073/pnas.1300136110 
• David Soscia, Sharon J. Sequeira, Robert Schramm, Kavitha Jayarathanam, Shraddha I. Cantara, Melinda Larsen, and James Castracane. 2013. Salivary gland cell differentiation and organization on micropatterned PLGA nanofiber craters, Biomaterials. 34: 6773-6784. Article.
• Deirdre A. Nelson, Charles Manhardt, Vidya Kamath, Yunxia Sui, Alberto Santamaria-Pang, Ali Can, Musodiq Bello, Alex Corwin, Sean Dinn, Michael Lazare, Musodiq Bello, Alex Corwin, Elise M. Gervais, Sarah B. Peters, Sharon J. Sequeira, Fiona Ginty, Michael J. Gerdes, and Melinda Larsen. 2013. Quantitative Single Cell Analysis of Cell Population Dynamics During Submandibular Salivary Gland Development and Differentiation. Biology Open. 2(5): 439-447. doi: 10.1242/bio.20134309 
• Shraddha Cantara, David Soscia, Sharon J. Sequeira, Riffard P. Jean-Gilles, James Castracane, and Melinda Larsen. 2012. Selective Functionalization of Nanofiber Scaffolds to Regulate Salivary Gland Epithelial Cell Proliferation and Polarity. Biomaterials. 33:8372-8382.
• *Sharon J. Sequeira, *Elise M. Gervais, Shayoni Ray, and Melinda Larsen. Genetic Modification and Recombination of Salivary Gland Organ Cultures. 2012. Journal of Visualized Experiments(71), e50060, doi:10.3791/50060 (2013). *these authors contributed equally to the work 
• Cemal Cagatay Bilgin, Shayoni Ray, William P. Daley, Banu Baydil, Melinda Larsen, and Bulent Yener. 2012 Multiscale Feature Analysis of Salivary Gland Branching Morphogenesis. PLOS One7(3): e32906. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0032906 [these authors contributed equally to the work]  PMC3293912.
• Sharon J. Sequeira, David Soscia, Basak Oztan, Riffard Jean-Gilles, Anand Gadre, Bulent Yener, James Castracane and Melinda Larsen. 2012. Nanofiber Artificial Scaffolds Regulate Salivary Gland Epithelial Cell Morphology and Focal Adhesion Complex Formation. Biomaterials33(11): 3175-3186. PMC348071. 
• William P. Daley, Elise M. Gervais, Samuel W. Centanni, Kathryn M. Gulfo, Deirdre A. Nelson and Melinda Larsen. 2012. ROCK1-Directed Directed Basement Membrane Positioning Coordinates Epithelial Tissue Polarity. Development 139(2):411-222. doi:10.1242/dev.075366. Abstract
• William P. Daley, Joshua M. Kohn and Melinda Larsen. 2011. A Focal Adhesion Protein-Based Mechanochemical Checkpoint Regulates Cleft Progression During Branching Morphogenesis. Developmental Dynamics 240:2069–2083. DOI 10.1002/dvdy.22714 featured in“Highlights of Developmental Dynamics” December 2011 issue PMC 312957 Abstract
• Helga S. Larsen, Marit H. Aure, Sarah B. Peters, Melinda Larsen, Eward B. Messelt, Hilde Kanli Galtung. 2011. Localization of AQP5 during development of the mouse submandibular salivary gland. Journal of Molecular Histology 42(1), 71-81. doi: 10.1007/s10735-010-9308-0 abstract
• Mary Ann Stepp, William P Daley, Audrey M Bernstein, Sonali Pal-Ghosh, Gauri Tadvalkar, Alexey Shashurin, Sarah Palsen, Rosalyn A Jurjus and M Larsen. 2010. Syndecan-1 regulates cell migration and fibronectin fibril assembly. Experimental Cell Research, 316: 2322-39. abstract
• William P. Daley, Kathryn M. Gulfo, Sharon J. Sequeira, and Melinda Larsen. 2009. Identification of a mechanochemical checkpoint and negative feedback loop regulating branching morphogenesis. Developmental Biology 336:169-182
• abstract
• William P. Daley, Sarah B. Peters and Melinda Larsen. 2008. Extracellular Matrix Dynamics: Roles in Development and Implications for Regenerative Medicine. Journal of Cell Science. 121:255-264. abstract
• Fiona Ginty, Sudeshna Adak, Ali Can, Michael J. Gerdes, Melinda Larsen, Harvey Cline, Robert Filkins, Zhengyu Pang, Qing Li, Michael C. Montalto. 2008. The Relative Distribution of Membranous and Cytoplasmic Met Is a Prognostic Indicator in Stage I and II Colon Cancer. Clinical Cancer Research 14(12): 3814:3822. abstract
• Mary Ann Stepp, Yueyuan Liu, Sonali Pal-Ghosh, Rosalyn A. Jurjus, Gauri Tadvalkar, Adith Sekaran, Kristen LoSicco, Li Jiang, Melinda Larsen, Luowei Li, and Stuart H. Yuspa. 2007. Reduced Migration Rates and Enhanced TGF-β1 Signaling in Primary Mouse Keratinocytes Lacking Syndcan-1. Journal of Cell Science 120: 2851-2863. abstract
• Cindy H. Wei, Melinda Larsen, Matthew P. Hoffman, and Kenneth M. Yamada. 2007. Self-Organization and Branching Morphogenesis of Primary Salivary Epithelial Cells. Tissue Engineering. 13(4):721-735. abstract
• Melinda Larsen, Vira V. Artym, J. Angelo Green, and Kenneth M. Yamada. 2006. The Matrix Remodeled: Extractellular Matrix Remodeling and Integrin Signaling. Current Opinion in Cell Biology18:463-471. abstract
• Melinda Larsen, Cindy H. Wei, Susana S. Hahn, Kenneth M. Yamada. 2006. Cell and Fibronectin Dynamics During Branching Morphogenesis. J. Cell Science 119: 3376-3384 (with journal cover, featured in Journal of Cell Science “In this Issue”) abstract
• Takayoshi Sakai, Melinda Larsen, and Kenneth M. Yamada. 2005. Morphogenesis and Branching of Salivary Glands: Characterization of New Matrix and Signaling Regulators. Oral Biosci. Med. 213: 105-113. 
• Zachary Steinberg, Christopher Myers, Benjamin L. Kidder, Vernon M. Heim, Ivan T. Rebustini, Julian S. Stewart, Melinda Larsen, and Matthew P. Hoffman. 2005. FGR2b Signaling Regulates ex vivo Submandibular Gland Epithelial Cell Proliferation and Branching Morphogenesis. Development 132:1223-1234. abstract
• Takayoshi Sakai, Melinda Larsen, Mikihiko Kogo, and Kenneth M. Yamada. 2004. Molecular Analysis of Salivary Gland Branching Morphogenesis. Oral Science International 1: 16-21. 
• Melinda Larsen, Michel L. Tremblay, and Kenneth M. Yamada. 2003. Phosphatases in Cell-Matrix Adhesion and Migration. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 4: 700-711. abstract
• Takayoshi Sakai, Melinda Larsen, and Kenneth M. Yamada. 2003. Fibronectin Requirement in Branching Morphogenesis. Nature 423: 876-881. (Featured in Journal of Cell Biology “Research Roundup” and Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology “Research Highlights”) abstract
• Melinda Larsen, Matthew P. Hoffman, Takayoshi Sakai, Justin C. Neibaur, Jonathan Mitchell, and Kenneth M. Yamada. 2003. Role of PI 3-kinase and PIP3 in Submandibular Gland Branching Morphogenesis. Developmental Biology 255: 178-191. (with journal cover) abstract
• Michael J. Gerdes, Melinda Larsen, Truong D. Dang, Steven J. Ressler, and David R. Rowley. 2003. Regulation of Prostate Stromal Cell Myodifferentiation by Androgen and TGF-β1. The Prostate 58 (3): 299-307. abstract
• Stephanie J. McAlhany, Steven J. Ressler, Melinda Larsen, Truong D. Dang, and David R. Rowley. 2003. Promotion of Angiogenesis by ps20 in the Differential Reactive Stroma Prostate Cancer Xenograph Model. Cancer Research 63 (18): 5859-65 abstract
• Takayoshi Sakai, Melinda Larsen, and Kenneth M. Yamada. 2002. Microanalysis of Gene Expression in tissues Using T7-SAGE: Serial Analysis of Gene Expression After High-Fidelity T7-Based RNA amplification. Current Protocols in Cell Biology 19.3.1-19.4.10 John Wiley & Sons, New York. abstract
• Matthew P. Hoffman, Benjamin Kidder, Zachary Steinberg, Saba Lakhani, Susan Ho, Hynda K. Kleinman and Melinda Larsen. 2002. Gene Expression Profiles of Mouse Submandibular Gland Development: FGFR1 Regulates Branching Morphogenesis in Vitro Through BMP- and FGF-Dependent Mechanisms. Development 129: 5767-5778. abstract
• Sun-Ho Kee, Shyh-Ing Jang, Bijan Ahvazi, Melinda Larsen, Kenneth M. Yamada, and Peter M. Steinert. 2002. Cell-Cell Adhesion and Rho A-Mediated Actin Polymerization are Independent Phenomena in Microtubule Disrupted Keratinocytes. The Journal of Investigative Dermatology 119 (3): 440-448. abstract
• Melinda Larsen, Steven J. Ressler, Michael J. Gerdes, Bing Lu, Meg Bryan, Jeanne B. Lawrence, and David R. Rowley. 2000. The WFDC1 Gene Encoding ps20 Localizes to 16q24, a Region of LOH in Multiple Cancers. Mammalian Genome 11: 767-773. abstract
• Melinda Larsen, Steven J. Ressler, Bing Lu, Michael J. Gerdes, Lauren McBride, Truong D. Dang, and David R. Rowley. 1998. Molecular Cloning and Expression of ps20 Growth Inhibitor: A Novel WAP-Type "Four-Disulfide Core" Domain Protein Expressed in Smooth Muscle. Journal of Biological Chemistry 273(8): 4574-4584. abstract
• Michael J. Gerdes, Melinda Larsen, Lauren McBride, Truong D. Dang, Bing Lu, and David R. Rowley. 1998. Localization of Transforming Growth Factor-β1 and Type II Receptor in Developing Normal Prostate and Carcinoma Tissues. The Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry 46(3): 379-388. abstract
• Michael J. Gerdes, Truong D. Dang, Melinda Larsen, and David R. Rowley. 1998. Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Induces Nuclear to Cytoplasmic Distribution of Androgen Receptor and Inhibits Androgen Response in Prostate Smooth Muscle Cells. Endocrinology 129(8): 3569-3577. abstract
• Michael J. Gerdes, Truong D. Dang, Bing Lu, Melinda Larsen, Lauren McBride, and David R. Rowley. 1996. Androgen-Regulated Proliferation and Gene Transcription in a Prostate Smooth Muscle Cell Line (PS-1). Endocrinology 137(3): 864-872. abstract
• David R. Rowley, Truong D. Dang, Melinda Larsen, Michael J. Gerdes, Lauren McBride, and Bing Lu. 1995. Purification of a Novel Protein (ps20) from Urogenital Sinus Mesenchymal Cells with Growth Inhibitory Properties in vitro. Journal of Biological Chemistry 270(37): 22058-22065. abstract
• David R. Rowley, Truong D. Dang, Lauren McBride, Michael J. Gerdes, Bing Lu, and Melinda Larsen. 1995. β-2 Microglobulin is Mitogenic to PC-3 Prostatic Carcinoma Cells and Antagonistic to Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Action. Cancer Research 55: 781-786. abstract