Wendie S. Cohick

Associate Professor Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Department of Animal Sciences Office 108 - Foran Hall Tel: 732-932-8165 x105 Fax: 732-932-6996 cohick@aesop.rutgers.edu

Research

Research in my laboratory focuses on the role of the insulin-like growth factors (IGF) in mammary gland growth and development. A specific focus is to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which these growth factors regulate growth, differentiation and cell survival of mammary epithelial cells. This cell type is responsible for milk synthesis and is also a common site of origin of mammary carcinoma. The IGFs associate with a family of high-affinity binding proteins (IGFBP) which modulate their biological activity. 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 this protein, they exhibit enhanced responsiveness to IGF-I in terms of DNA synthesis. We are currently investigating the mechanisms underlying this observation. Specific areas of research include:

Special Techniques

A wide range of cellular and molecular techniques are used in our laboratory. These include mammalian cell culture, nucleic acid and protein electrophoresis, Northern and Western analysis, PCR, transient transfection promoter assays, nuclear run-on analysis, and gel shift mobility assays.

Experience

Education

Members of the Cohick Lab

Dr. Amanda Jetzt, Senior Research Associate. (Ph.D. UMDNJ, Post-doc Schering Plough, Oncology)
Nicolas Violand, Research Technician (B.S. Rutgers University)
Tiffany Polanco, Ph.D. student in Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences Graduate Program
Jushun Cheng, Ph.D. student in Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences Graduate Program
Catina Crismale-Gann, Ph.D. student in Molecular Biosciences, Cell and Developmental Biology
Chao-Ting Wang, M.S. student in Nutritional Sciences Graduate Program

Professional Societies

American Association for the Advancement of Science
The Endocrine Society
American Dairy Science Association
American Society of Animal Science
International Society for Insulin-like Growth Factor Research

Other Positions

Program Director, Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences Graduate Program
Member, Graduate Program in Nutritional Sciences
Member, Graduate Program in Molecular Biosciences
Editorial Board, Endocrinology

Courses

Representative Publications

Fleming JM, Brandimarto JA, Cohick WS 2007 The mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway tonically inhibits both basal and IGF-stimulated IGF binding proten-5 production in mammary epithelial cells. J Endocrinol (June) 194:349-359.

Fleming JM, Desury G, Polanco T, Cohick WS 2006 IGF-I and epidermal growth factor receptors recruit distinct upstream signaling molecules to enhance AKT activation in mammary epithelial cells. Endocrinology 147 (December):6027-6035.

Thorn SR, Purup S, Cohick WS, Vestergaard M, Sejrsen K, Boisclair YR 2006 Leptin does not act directly on mammary epithelial cells in prepubertal dairy heifers. J Dairy Sci. 89 (May):1467-1477.

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-α is mediated by both phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in mammary epithelial cells. Endocrinology 145:4213-4221.

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 WS, Wang B, Verma P, Boisclair Y. 2000. Insulin-like growth factor-I and cyclic AMP regulate IGF binding protein-3 gene expression by transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms in mammary epithelial cells. Endocrinology 4583-4591.

Grill CJ, Cohick WS. 2000. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 mediates IGF-I action in a bovine mammary epithelial cell line independent of an IGF interaction. J Cellular Physiology 183:273-283

Cohick WS, Turner JD. 1998 Regulation of IGF binding protein synthesis by a bovine mammary epithelial cell line. J Endocrinol 157:326-336.

Cohick WS. 1998 Role of the insulin-like growth factors and their binding proteins in lactation. J Dairy Sci 81:1769-1777.

Schoknecht PA, McGuire MA, Cohick WS, Currie WB, Bell AW. 1996 Effect of chronic infusion of placental lactogen on ovine fetal growth in late gestation. Dom Anim Endocrinol 13:519- 528.

Cohick WS, Armstrong JD, Whitacre MD, Lucy MC, Harvey RW, Campbell RM. 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 137:1670-1677.

Cohick WS, Gockerman A, Clemmons DR. 1995 Regulation of insulin-like growth factor (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 64:187-196.

McGuire MA, Bauman DE, Dwyre DA, Cohick WS. 1995 Nutritional modulation of the somatotropin/insulin-like growth factor system: response to feed deprivation in lactating cows. J Nutrition 125:492-502.

Cohick WS, Clemmons DR. 1994 Enhanced expression of dihydrofolate reductase by bovine kidney epithelial cells results in altered cell morphology, IGF-I responsiveness and IGFBP-3 expression. J Cell Physiol 161:178-186.

Stanko RL, Cohick WS, Armstrong JD, Shaw DW, Harvey RW, Clemmons DR, Whitacre MD. 1994 Effect of somatotropin and (or) pregnant mare serum gonadotropin on serum and follicular IGF-I and IGF binding proteins in cattle. Biol Reprod 50:290-300.

Stanko RL, Armstrong JD, Cohick WS, Harvey RW, Simpson RB, Hartnell GF, Heimer EP, Campbell RM. 1994 Effect of daily replacement therapy with recombinant bovine somatotropin on somatotropin, insulin-like growth factor I, and onset of puberty in beef heifers immunized against growth hormone-releasing factor. J Anim Sci 72:1786-1795.

Cohick WS, Gockerman A, Clemmons DR. 1993 Vascular smooth muscle cells synthesize two forms of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins which are regulated differently by the IGFs. J Cell Physiol 157:52-60.

Armstrong JD, Cohick WS, Harvey RW, Heimer EP, Campbell RM. 1993 Effect of feed restriction on serum somatotropin, IGF-I and IGF binding proteins in cyclic heifers actively immunized against growth hormone releasing factor. Domest Anim Endocrinol 10:315-324.

Cohick WS, Clemmons DR. 1993 The insulin-like growth factors. Annu Rev Physiol 55:131- 153.

Cohick WS, Clemmons DR. 1993 Regulation of IGFBP secretion and modulation of cell growth in MDBK cells. Growth Regulation 3:20-23.

Armstrong JD, Stanko RL, Cohick WS, Simpson RB, Harvey RW, Huff BG, Clemmons DR, Whitacre MD, Campbell RM, Heimer EP. 1992 Endocrine events prior to puberty in heifers: role of somatotropin, insulin-like growth factor-I, and insulin-like growth factor binding proteins. J Physiol and Pharmacol 43:179-193.

Cohick WS, McGuire MA, Clemmons DR, Bauman DE. Regulation of IGF binding proteins in serum and lymph of lactating cows by somatotropin. 1992 Endocrinology 130:1508-1514.

McCusker RH, Cohick WS, Busby WH, Clemmons DR. 1991Evaluation of the developmental and nutritional changes in porcine IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2 serum levels by immunoassay. Endocrinology 129:2631-2638.

Cohick WS, Clemmons DR. 1991 Regulation of insulin-like growth factor binding protein synthesis and secretion in a bovine epithelial cell line. Endocrinology 129:1347-1354.

Plaut, K, Cohick WS, Bauman DE, Baxter RC. 1991 Evaluation of interference by insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) binding proteins in a radioimmunoassay for IGF-I in serum from dairy cows. Domest Anim Endocrinol 8:395-407.

Crooker, BA, McGuire MA, Cohick WS, Harkins M, Bauman DE, Sejrsen K. 1990 Effect of dose of bovine somatotropin on nutrient utilization in growing dairy heifers. J Nutrition 120:1256-1263.

Cohick WS, Plaut K, Sechen SJ, Bauman DE. 1989 Temporal pattern of insulin-like growth factor-I response to exogenous bovine somatotropin in lactating cows. Domest Anim Endocrinol 6:263-274.

Vicini JL, Cohick WS, Clark JH, McCutcheon SN, Bauman DE. 1988 Effects of feed intake and sodium bicarbonate on milk production and concentrations of hormones and metabolites in plasma of cows. J Dairy Sci 71:1232-1238.

Slepetis R, Cohick WS, Bauman DE, Hackett R. 1987 Surgical cannulation of a hepatic vein in dairy cows utilizing diagnostic ultrasound. J Dairy Sci 70:571-575.

Cohick WS, Vicini JL, Staples CR, Clark JH, McCutcheon SN, Bauman DE. 1986 Effects of intake and postruminal casein infusion on performance and concentrations of hormones in plasma of lactating cows. J Dairy Sci 69:3022-3031.

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