FURTHER INFORMATION
Karen A. Seta-Aust, Ph.D.
Department of Molecular Oncogenesis
Genome Research Institute
2180 E. Galbraith Rd.
Blgd. D Room 241
Cincinnati, OH 45237

Email Karen

Honors
Funding
Publications
Karen Seta-Aust, PhD
Research Assistant Professor Karen Seta-Aust
Research Assistant Professor Karen Seta-Aust

The long-term goal of my research is to identify a way to control metastasis so that cancer can be treated as a chronic disease. This therapeutic strategy could greatly increase both the survival and quality of life for cancer patients. To accomplish this goal, we must gain a thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms that control each step in the metastatic process. We use both cell culture and in vivo models along with a variety of histological, cellular, and molecular techniques to address these questions.

The current project focuses on the role of hypoxia (low oxygen) in breast cancer metastasis. Tumor hypoxia has been associated with higher tumor grade, poorer prognosis, and increased metastasis. In addition, the transcription factor HIF-1a, the primary mediator of hypoxia-induced gene expression, is overexpressed in the majority of metastatic tumors but in only a minority of primary tumors for many cancer types. We are investigating the contribution of HIF-inducible genes to the different steps of the metastatic process.


Honors:
Parker B. Francis Fellowship in Pulmonary Research (2002-2005)
Postdoctoral Fellows Research Forum, 3rd Place (2001)
NIH Institutional Research Grant Postdoctoral Fellowship (1997-2000)
NIH Institutional Research Grant Predoctoral Fellowship (1990-1993)


Funding Support
Ongoing:
2005 NIH/NIEHS "Secondhand Smoke and Cardiovascular Disease in Zebrafish" (PI)
2004 DoD/Army BCRP "Role of Hypoxia-Induced Gene Expression in Breast Cancer Metastasis" (Co-I)
2004 NIH/NHLBI "Molecular Adaptation of Hypoxia in Oxygen Sensing Cells" (Co-I)

Completed:
2003-2005 NIH/NHLBI "Oxygen-Sensing and Gene Regulation" (Co-I)
2002-2005 Parker B. Francis Foundation "Genomic Analysis of Molecular Adaptations to Hypoxia" (Fellow)


Publications
1: Lu G, Seta KA, Millhorn DE
Novel role for cyclin-dependent kinase 2 in neuregulin-induced acetylcholine receptor epsilon subunit expression in differentiated myotubes.
J Biol Chem. 2005 Jun;280(23):21731-8.
PMID: 15824106 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
2: Seta KA, Yuan Y, Spicer Z, Lu G, Bedard J, Ferguson TK, Pathrose P, Cole-Strauss A, Kaufhold A, Millhorn DE
The role of calcium in hypoxia-induced signal transduction and gene expression.
Cell Calcium. ;36(3-4):331-40.
PMID: 15261489 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
3: Seta KA, Ferguson TK, Millhorn DE
Discovery of oxygen-responsive genes in pheochromocytoma cells.
Methods Enzymol. 2004 ;381():449-64.
PMID: 15063692 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
4: Seta KA, Millhorn DE
Functional genomics approach to hypoxia signaling.
J Appl Physiol. 2004 Feb;96(2):765-73.
PMID: 14715686 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
5: Puxeddu E, Mitsutake N, Knauf JA, Moretti S, Kim HW, Seta KA, Brockman D, Myatt L, Millhorn DE, Fagin JA
Microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase-1 is induced by conditional expression of RET/PTC in thyroid PCCL3 cells through the activation of the MEK-ERK pathway.
J Biol Chem. 2003 Dec;278(52):52131-8.
PMID: 14555660 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
6: Seta K, Kim HW, Ferguson T, Kim R, Pathrose P, Yuan Y, Lu G, Spicer Z, Millhorn DE
Genomic and physiological analysis of oxygen sensitivity and hypoxia tolerance in PC12 cells.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002 Oct;971():379-88.
PMID: 12438156 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
7: Seta KA, Spicer Z, Yuan Y, Lu G, Millhorn DE
Responding to hypoxia: lessons from a model cell line.
Sci STKE. 2002 Aug;2002(146):RE11.
PMID: 12189251 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
8: Seta KA, Kim R, Kim HW, Millhorn DE, Beitner-Johnson D
Hypoxia-induced regulation of MAPK phosphatase-1 as identified by subtractive suppression hybridization and cDNA microarray analysis.
J Biol Chem. 2001 Nov;276(48):44405-12.
PMID: 11577072 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
9: Beitner-Johnson D, Seta K, Yuan Y, Kim H, Rust RT, Conrad PW, Kobayashi S, Millhorn DE
Identification of hypoxia-responsive genes in a dopaminergic cell line by subtractive cDNA libraries and microarray analysis.
Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2001 Jul;7(3):273-281.
PMID: 11331199 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
10: Conrad PW, Conforti L, Kobayashi S, Beitner-Johnson D, Rust RT, Yuan Y, Kim HW, Kim RH, Seta K, Millhorn DE
The molecular basis of O2-sensing and hypoxia tolerance in pheochromocytoma cells.
Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol. 2001 Feb;128(2):187-204.
PMID: 11207433 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
11: Seta KA, Jansen HT, Kreitel KD, Lehman M, Behbehani MM
Cold water swim stress increases the expression of neurotensin mRNA in the lateral hypothalamus and medial preoptic regions of the rat brain.
Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 2001 Jan;86(1-2):145-52.
PMID: 11165381 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
12: Takeuchi F, Seta KA, Omura S, Roth RA
Insulin degradation by Madin-Darby canine kidney cells expressing the insulin receptor.
Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 1997 Aug;37(2):81-90.
PMID: 9279478 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
13: Seta KA, Roth RA
Overexpression of insulin degrading enzyme: cellular localization and effects on insulin signaling.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1997 Feb;231(1):167-71.
PMID: 9070242 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
14: Seta KA, Kovacina KS, Roth RA
The insulin receptor family.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 1993 ;343():113-24.
PMID: 8184732 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]