The Brown laboratory is primarily interested in cardiovascular development, using the mouse as a model system to understand the molecular regulation of pharyngeal arch artery patterning and outflow tract septation.  Lab members are interested in the role of class 3 semaphorin signaling in pharyngeal arch patterning and the role of the transcription factor Tbx1 in formation of the septated outflow tract. Disruption of the ligand Semaphorin 3C results in interrupted aortic arch and persistent truncus arteriosus in mice. Trainees are examining the role of semaphorin signaling in neural crest mediated patterning of the pharyngeal arches and outflow tract. Mutations in the Tbx1 gene are associated with the DiGeorge syndrome in humans, and knockout of Tbx1 in mice results in severe defects of pharyngeal arch patterning. Postdoctoral fellows in the laboratory are studying the role of Tbx1 in the secondary heart field development.  The Brown lab is one of several associated with the Program in Developmental Biology that studies the various aspects of cardiovascular development, utilizing zebrafish, mouse and chicken model systems to study all aspects of cardiovascular biology from endothelial cells to smooth muscle and myocardium.

For more information about Dr. Brown visit his Vanderbilt Faculty Page

NEWEST PUBLICATIONS

Primary and immortalized mouse epicardial cells undergo differentiation in response to TGFb.  Developmental Dynamics (2008) 237: 366-376w

Temporal-spatial ablation of neural crest int he mouse results in cardiovascular defects.  Developmental Dynamics (2008) 237: 153-162