Description of Research

Our research focuses on the etiology of benign prostatic hyperplasia, and overgrowth of the prostate due primarily to smooth muscle cell proliferation. We are involved in investigating the role of male steroid sex hormones and protein growth factors in normal and abnormal muscle cell proliferation, using analyses of find structure, DNA synthesis, protein expression and phosphorylation, hormone and growth factor binding, and the level of transcripts (mRNAs) for growth factors and their receptors.

Gebrosky N, D Cole, C Steeter-Neel, J Durham, and M Mawhinney. m-Calpain activation/depletion is associated with androgen-induced reduction of protein kinase C and proliferation of male accessory sex organ smooth muscle cells. J Urol 157:662-668, 1997.

Sosnowski J, C Stetter-Neel, D Cole, JP Durham, and MG Mawhinney. Protein kinase C mediated anti-proliferative glucocorticoid-sphinganine synergism in cultured Pollard III prostate tumor cells. J Urol 158:269-274, 1997.

Kim J, D Cole, EA Johnson, G Franklin, and MG Mawhinney. Mechanism of androgen-induced norepinephrine release mediative smooth muscle proliferation. Proc Amer Urol Asso. 2000