Johan Holmberg

Group members:
Johan Holmberg , group leader
Anton Karpov, PhD stud
Ulrika Nyman, postdoc
Vilma Rraklli, PhD stud

JOHAN HOLMBERG
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
Johan.Holmberg@licr.ki.se

The main interest of the group is to explore how the generation and subsequent maintenance of differentiated neural cells is orchestrated and how errors in this process are involved in the formation of brain tumors.

The developing and adult CNS contains a limited number of neural stem cells endowed with the capacity to self renew and generate differentiated progeny. It is highly probable that the molecular mechanisms governing self renewal, growth and differentiation in healthy tissue stem cells are mirrored in certain tumor cells. Thus it is vital to discern the possible similarities and differences between these two entities. Our research is mainly focused on three questions:

1. Is tumor formation in the CNS dependent on the acquisition of aberrant stem cell properties?

2. How is a differentiated neuronal identity maintained?

3. What role does mitotic quiescence play in the maintenance of CNS stem cell properties during development, in the adult and in tumors of the nervous system?

5 SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

Holmberg J.*, He X., Peredo I., Orrego A., Hesselager G., Ericsson C., Houvatta O., Oba-Shinjo S.M., Marie S.K., Nistér M., and Muhr, J.* (2011) Activation of neural and pluripotent stem cell signatures correlates with increased malignancy in human glioma. PLoS One 6:e18454. *Corresponding author

Holmberg J., Hansson E., Malewicz M., Sandberg M., Perlmann T., Lendahl U., and Muhr J. (2008) SoxB1 transcription factors and Notch signaling use distinct mechanisms to regulate proneural gene function and neural progenitor differentiation. Development 135:1843-1851.

Holmberg J., Genander M., Sondell M., Chumley M.J., Silvany R.A., Henkemeyer M., and Frisén, J. (2006) EphB receptors coordinate migration and proliferation in the intestinal stem cell niche. Cell 125:1151-1163.

Holmberg J., Armulik A., Senti K.A., Edoff K., Spalding K.L., Momma S., Cassidy R., Flanagan J.G., and Frisén J. (2005) Ephrin-A2 reverse signaling negatively regulates neural progenitor proliferation and neurogenesis. Genes Dev. 19:462-471.

Holmberg J., Clarke D. L., and Frisén, J. (2000) Regulation of repulsion versus adhesion by different splice forms of an Eph receptor. Nature 408:203-206.

LINKS:

For more information, please visit our lab website at KI or here at LICR.