Josiah Ochieng, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Cancer Biology
Department of Biomedical Sciences
Director of Graduate Studies, Cancer Biology Program

(615) 327-6119
WBS, Room 2108
1005 Dr. D.B. Todd Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37208

jochieng@mmc.edu

Lab URL

CV or Bio (PDF)

Dr. Ochieng and his colleagues are exploring the significance of galectin-3 in integrin functions during malignant progression of breast and prostate carcinomas. Gene disruption strategies have reduced expression of galactin-3 in cell culture models and revealed the important role of changes changes in galectin-3 expression on cell-cell interactions and cell-matrix interactions. A similar conceptual framework underlies the studies on the role of fetuins in tumorigenesis and metastasis. Preliminary data have led to the hypothesis that fetuin is able to localize matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) on the surface of tumor cells modulates their activation processes; and, as such, serves as a critical accessory protein for activation of MMPs. Testing hypotheses regarding galectin 3 and fetuin is of importance in identifying novel therapeutic targets for tumor proliferation and progression through metastasis.

Baptiste TA, James A, Saria M, Ochieng J. Mechano-transduction mediated secretion and uptake of galectin-3 in breast carcinoma cells: Implications in the extracellular functions of the lectin. Exp Cell Res. 2006

Lukyanov P, Furtak V, Ochieng J. Galectin-3 inter acts with membrane lipids and penetrates the lipid bilayer. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005;338:1031-6.

Kundranda MN, Henderson M, Carter KJ, Gorden L, Binhazim A, Ray S, Baptiste T, Shokrani M, Leite-Browning ML, Jahnen-Dechent W, Matrisian LM, Ochieng J. The serum glycoprotein fetuin-A promotes Lewis lung carcinoma tumorigenesis via adhesive-dependent and adhesive-independent mechanisms. Cancer Res. 2005; 65:499-506.

Kleshchenko YY, Moody TN, Furtak VA, Ochieng J, Lima MF, Villalta F. Human galectin-3 promotes Trypanosoma cruzi adhesion to human coronary artery smooth muscle cells. Infect Immun. 2004;72:6717-21.

Kundranda MN, Ray S, Saria M, Friedman D, Matrisian LM, Lukyanov P, Ochieng J. Annexins expressed on the cell surface serve as receptors for adhesion to immobilized fetuin-A. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2004;1693:111-23.