Dr. Paul K. Y. Wong

Regular Member

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis
The Virginia Harris Cockrell Cancer Research Center

My laboratory is located in Smithville, Texas, at UT Science Park

Research Interests:

• Molecular basis of pathogenesis induced by the murine retroviruses

We are interested in the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis induced by retroviruses. Our emphasis is on understanding the molecular mechanism of how retroviruses induce these neuroimmunodegenerative diseases using animal models, including transgenic mice. We are particularly interested in oxidative stress, endoplastic reticulum stress, and the signaling pathway to apoptosis and cell proliferation in our system. We have also shown that oxidative stress induced by the virus can be restored by antioxidants and anti-inflammatory drugs, which prevent the virus-induced neurodegeneration and immunodeficiency.

Selected Publications:

Stoica G, Lungu G, Kim HT, Wong PKY. (2008) Up-regulation of pro-nerve growth factor, neurotrophin receptor p75, and sortilin is associated with retrovirus-induced spongiform encephalomyelopathy. Brain Res 1208:204-216.

Lungu G, Stoica G, Wong PKY. (2008) Down-regulation of Jab1, HIF-1α, and VEGF by Moloney murine leukemia virus-ts1 infection: A possible cause of neurodegeneration. JNeurovirol, 14:239-251.

Scofield VL, Yan M, Kuang X, Kim SJ, Crunk D, Wong PKY. (2009) The drug monosodium luminol (GVT) preserves thymic epithelial cell cytoarchitecture and allows thymocyte survival in mice infected with the T cell-tropic, cytopathic retrovirus ts1. Immunol Lett, 122:159-169.

Scofield VL, Yan M, Kuang X, Kim SJ, Wong PKY.(2009) The drug monosodium luminol (GVT) preserves crypt-villus epithelial organization and allows survival of infected intestinal T cells in mice infected with the ts1 retrovirus. Immunol Lett, 122:150-158.

Kim J and Wong PKY. (2009) Loss of ATM impairs proliferation of neural stem cells through oxidative stress-mediated p38 MAPK signaling. Stem Cells, 27:1987-1998.

Kuang X, Scofield VL, Yan M, Stoica G, Liu N, Wong PKY.(2009) Attenuation of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis by minocycline prevents retrovirus-induced neurodegeneration in mice. Brain Research, 1286:174-184.

Kuang X, Wenhui H, Yan M, Wong PKY. (2010) Phenylbutyric acid suppresses protein accumulation-mediated ER stress in retrovirus-infected astrocytes and delays onset of paralysis in infected mice. Neurochem Int 57(7):738-48.

Reddy PV, Lungu G, Kuang X, Stoica G, Wong PK. (2010) Neuroprotective effects of the drug GVT (monosodium luminol) are mediated by the stabolization of Nrf2 in astrocytes. Neurochem Int 56(6-7):780-8.

Additional Publications

Program Affiliation:

Program in Molecular Carcinogenesis