Bryon Petersen, PhD
Associate Professor

*Primary Area of Research:*
Currently my lab focuses on liver growth, development and regeneration under normal and carcinogeneic conditions. Compensatory hyperplasia of the liver, most often referred to as liver regeneration, takes place after the occurrence of mild or severe injury, as resulting from a surgical partial hepatectomy or the widespread injury caused by hepatotoxic agents like carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) or acetaminophen. We are currently studying the molecular signals involved in the regenerative process.
A more focused aspect of our research deals with the hepatic oval “stem” cell and their involvement in the hepatic architecture as it pertains to the regenerative process. Hepatic oval “stem” cells are a small sub-population of cells found in the liver when hepatocyte proliferation is impeded and followed by some type of hepatic injury. The hepatic stem cells can be stimulated to proliferate using a 2-AAF/hepatic injury (i.e. CCl4, PHx) protocol. These cells are believed to be bipotential, able to differentiate into hepatocytes and bile ductular cells. We have recently shown that the hepatic oval cell are derived from an extra-hepatic source, see Science 284: 1168-1170. We are investigating the pathways involved in the recruitment of bone marrow derived to the liver in both in vivo and in vitro conditions. In addition, we are exploring the use of a highly pure population of oval cells to ascertain their potential for gene/cell therapy techniques.
	Dept. of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine University of Florida College of Medicine P.O. Box 100275 Gainesville, FL 32610-0275 Office Location and Express Mail address: Dept. of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine University of Florida College of Medicine JHMHSC M-641H 1600 SW Archer Road Gainesville, FL 32610-0275 Office: (352) 392-6261 Fax: (352) 392-6249 Senior Secretary: Mandy Nevills: (352) 392-2886 Email: petersen@pathology.ufl.edu

Laboratory Personnel:

    Post-docs:                         Degree Granting Institution:                   Major Project:
       Seh-hoon Oh, Ph.D.             University of Okayama, South Korea       Adult Stem cell trans-differentiation into Beta-like Cells
       Liya Pi, Ph.D.                      University of Florida, FL                       CTGF involvement in liver regeneration
       Tom Shupe, Ph.D.                 Albany Medical College, NY                    Stem cell involvement in HCC and CCC development

     Graduate Students:
          Donghang Zheng                  Shanghai Medical University, China          SDF-1/CXCR4 pathway and liver regeneration
          Susan Ellor                           Rutgers University, NJ                              Gene therapy approaches to hepatic disorders
          Youngmi Jung                Seoul National University, South Korea     Somatostain involvement in pancreatic/hepatic repair
          Houda Darwiche                  University of Florida, FL                           Notch and Jagged signalling in stem cell differentiation
          Jennifer M. LaPlante            Ohio Wesleyan University, OH                Wnt signalling in liver regeneration

    Staff:
       Alicia Brown                           University of Illinois, IL                           Laboratory Manager

    UF Stem Cell Program, Core Histology Laboratory: (located in M641, MSB)
       Marda Jorgensen, BS.            North Florida University, FL                    Director

    Graduated Students and Fellows:
    Sihyan Bae, MD., Ph.D.       Catholic University, South Korea            Mouse ES cell differentiation into hepatic cells
        Takahisa Fijikawa, MD.      Kyoto University, Japan                         Mouse ES cell differentiation into pancreatic cells
        Jie Deng, Ph.D.                    University of Florida, FL                      Neurogenesis of hepatic and BM stem cells
        Rafal Witek, Ph.D.                 University of Florida, FL                      Gene therapy approaches to hepatic disorders
        Samatha Fisher, BS                Unversity of Florida, FL                         Technician
       Heather Hatch, MS                University of Florida, FL                        Notch and Jagged signalling in stem cell differentiation

Bryon Petersen, PhD Associate Professor

Primary Area of Research:

Laboratory Personnel:

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Bryon Petersen, PhD
Associate Professor