Dr. Miao Zhong
Senior Research Scientist
Cancer for Cancer Research and Theapeutic Development
Clark Atlanta University
Office: 404-880-6751
Fax: 404-880-6756
Education
1989 B.S. Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical Univeristy
1998 Ph.D. Pharmacology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
Research Interest
Androgen deprivation therapy is currently among the regular procedures to treat metastatic prostate cancer. However, disease relapse often ensues from androgen ablation, producing castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) that results in increased malignancy and poor prognosis. Although genetic alterations account for the malignant transformation, aberrant signaling of hormones and growth factors are essential for tumor cells to adapt to the environmental changes. I am interested in influences of neurohypophyseal hormone oxytocin on prostate cancer metastasis. Oxytocin has been shown to increase epithelial cell growth, 5a-reductase activity, and contractility in normal prostate. Effects of oxytocin are mediated by a G-protein coupled receptor that couples promiscuously to multiple G-proteins including Gαq and Gαi. Nevertheless, there is limited information about effects of oxytocin on prostate cancer progression. Our research group has found that expression of oxytocin receptor (OXTR) is significantly increased in prostate cancer cell lines when compared to normal prostate epithelial cells. Oxytocin treatment enhances cell migration in metastatic prostate cancer cell lines PC3 and PC3M. We are using a combination of cell biology and molecular biology techniques to elucidate molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for the function of OXT to promote prostate cancer metastasis.
Publications
Zhong M, Boseman ML, Millena AC and Khan SA (2010) Involvement of Gi in oxytocin-induced migration of prostate cancer cells. Mol Cancer Res. (In review).
Ulloa A, Gonzales AL, Zhong M, Kim YS, Cantlon J, Clay C, Ku CY, Earley S, Sanborn BM (2009) Reduction in TRPC4 expression specifically attenuates G-protein coupled receptor-stimulated increases in intracellular calcium in human myometrial cells. Cell Calcium 46: 73.
Zhong M, Murtazina DA, Phillips J, Ku CY and Sanborn BM (2008) Multiple signals regulate phospholipase Cb3 in human myometrial cells. Bio Reprod 78:1007
Zhong M, Parish B, Murtazina DA, Ku CY and Sanborn BM (2007) Amino Acid in the C-terminal Region of the Oxytocin Receptor Third Intracellular Domain are Important for Receptor Function. American Journal of Physiology 292(4):E977.
Ku CY, Babich L, Word RA, Zhong M, Ulloa A, Monga M and Sanborn BM (2006) Expression of transient receptor channel proteins in human fundal myometrium in pregnancy. J Soc Gynecol Invest. 13:217.
Sanborn BM*, Zhong M* and Parish BJ (2006) Oxytocin receptor. AfCS-Nature Molecule Pages. (doi:10.1038/mp.a001705.01) (* coequal first authors).
Zhong M, Ku CY and Sanborn BM (2005) Pathways used by relaxin to regulate myometrial
phospholipase C. Annual New York Academy of Sciences 1041:300.
Zhong M, Navratil AM, Clay C, and Sanborn BM (2004) Residues in the hydrophilic face of
putative helix 8 of oxytocin receptor are important for receptor function. Biochemistry 43(12):
3490.
Zhong M, Yang M, and Sanborn BM (2003) Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 activation by myometrial oxytocin receptor involves GaqGbg and epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase activation. Endocrinology 144(7): 2947.
Yang M, Wang W, Zhong M, Philippi A, Lichtarge O, and Sanborn BM (2002) Lysine 270 in the third intracellular domain of the oxytocin receptor is an important determinant for Gaq coupling specificity. Molecular Endocrinology 16(4): 814.
Song ZH, and Zhong M (2000) CB1 cannabinoid receptor-mediated cell migration. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 294(1): 204.