Wayne E. Carver, PhD

Title:

Associate Professor

PUBMED Link:

Carver WE

Research:

The ventricular wall of the heart is composed of contractile muscle cells and non-muscle cell types including fibroblasts, endothelial cells and others. These cells are inter-connected and supported by an elaborate extracellular matrix. Changes in the density and organization of the extracellular matrix are known to affect cardiovascular performance and have been correlated with heart disease. For instance, excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix or fibrosis, is commonly associated with hypertension and myocardial infarction. The extracellular matrix in the heart is produced largely by cardiac fibroblasts. A number of factors including hormones, growth factors, cytokines and mechanical forces are known to regulate gene expression in fibroblasts; however, many questions remain regarding the integration of these various signals. The research in Dr. Carver’s lab is focused on understanding how fibroblast behavior and gene expression are regulated in the heart. Cell culture and animal models are being used to examine the regulation of fibroblasts in cardiovascular disease.

Recent Publications:

Kanekar, S, TK Borg, L Terracio and W Carver. 2000. Modulation of heart fibroblast migration and collagen gel contraction by IGF-I. Cell Adh. & Comm. 6:513-523.

Borg, TK, EC Goldsmith, R Price, W Carver, L Terracio and AM Samarel. 2000. Specialization at the Z line of cardiac myocytes. Cardiovascular Res. 46:277-285.

Goldsmith, EC, W Carver and TK Borg. 2001. The role of the extracellular matrix and its receptors in modulating cardiac development. In: Formation of the Heart and its Regulation. (R.J. Tomanek and R.B. Runyan, eds.) Bbirkhauser Press, Boston, MA.

de Almeida, A, D Mustin, M Forman, GL Brower, JS Janicki and W Carver. 2002. Effects of mast cells on the behavior of isolated heart fibroblasts: Modulation of collagen remodeling and gene expression. J. Cell. Physiology 191:51-59.

Goldsmith, EC, W Carver, A McFadden, JG Goldsmith, RL Price, M. Sussman, BH Lorell and TK Borg. 2002. Integrin shedding as a mechanism of cellular adaptation during cardiac growth. Amer. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. 284:H2227-H2234.

Borg TK, A.de Almeida, MJ Loftis, A McFadden and W Carver. 2002. A disintegrin and metalloprotease ( ADAMs) family: Expression and potential roles in the developing heart. In: Cardiac Development (B Ostadal, M Nagano and NS Dhalla, eds), Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston

Carver, W, S Kanekar, J Atance, L Terracio and TK Borg. 2002. Modulation of heart fibroblast gene expression and proliferation by insulin-like growth factor-1. In: Cardiac Remodeling and Failure (PK Singal et al., eds), Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston.

Loftis MJ, D Sexton and W Carver 2003. Effects of collagen density on cardiac fibroblast behavior and gene expression. J. Cell. Physiol. 196: 504-511.

G. Diaz-Araya, T.K. Borg, S. Lavandero and W. Carver (2003). IGF-1 modulation of rat cardiac fibroblast behavior and gene expression is age-dependent. Cell Adhesion Communication 10:155-165.

Borck, A, E Massey, MJ Loftis and W Carver (2004). Exposure of cardiac fibroblasts to the herbicide nitrofen causes altered interactions with the extracellular matrix. Cell Biol. Toxicol. 20:15-24.

Atance, J, MJ Yost and W Carver (2004). Influence of the extracellular matrix on the regulation of cardiac fibroblast behavior by mechanical stretch. J. Cell. Physiol. 200:377-386.

Education:

Contact Information:

Email: carver@med.sc.edu
Phone: 803-733-3214
Address: Building1 Room B-13
USC School of Medicine
Columbia, SC 29209

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