JACKIE R. BICKENBACH, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

jackie-bickenbach@uiowa.edu

Training
B.S., The University of Iowa (Microbiology), 1973
M.S., The University of Iowa (Radiation Biology), 1979
M.A., The University of Iowa (Expository Writing), 1988
Ph.D., The University of Iowa (Radiation Biology), 1982
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Washington (Biological Structure), 1983-1986
Postdoctoral Fellow, Baylor College of Medicine, (Cell Biology),1992-1993

Research Interests

Our research involves both understanding how aging affects keratinocye stem cells and developing molecular mechansims to de-differentiate and trans-differentatie skin keratinoccytes into cells that behave like stem cells. Previously, we identified a subset of basal skin keratinocytes as stem cells. these cells had multipotent characteristics in that they can differentiate into various other types of cells and tissues. Currently, we are looking for specific markers for these stem cells, and trying to determine whether they have activated different signaling pathways. Of primary interest is whether these stem cells have potential clinical relevance, especially in age-related diseases. We have shown that the age of the keratinocyte stem cell has little effect on its multipotent capabilites, and thus could be used in translational or clinical cell-based therapies. In another project, we are using specific transcription factors to de-differentiate skin keratinocytes into cells that behave similar to stem cells. This translational project produces cells that we then test in models of human disease. We are trying to understand how these transcription factors reprogram the keratinocytes into more potent cells. Our basic goal here is to develop a cell-replacement regime that can be translated into a clinical therapy, such as improving the rate of wound healing, replacing defective tissues via tissue engineering, or using these cells as a gene-delivery system.

Selected Publications

Bickenbach JR. 2000. Stem cells, differentiation and renewal kinetics of keratinocytes. The Skin and Gene Therapy 2: 27-34, 2000.

Bickenbach JR, Dunnwald M. Epidermal stem cells: characteristics and use in tissue engineering and gene therapy. Adv Dermatol 16:159-183, 2000.

Dunnwald M, Tomanek-Chalkley A, Alexandrunas D, Fishbaugh J, Bickenbach JR. Isolating a Pure Population of Epidermal Stem Cells for Use in Tissue Engineering. Exp Dermatol 10: 45-54 (cover page), 2001.

Liang, L, Bickenbach JR. Somatic epidermal stem cells can produce multiple cell lineages during development. Stem Cells 20: 3-10, 2002.

Loukianova E, Awad O, Stepanovic V, Bickenbach JR, Schatteman, GC. Circulating CD34+ cells accelerate vascularization of diabetic skin wounds. J Vasc Res 40: 368-377, 2002.

Chinnathambi S, Tomanek-Chalkley A, King E, Ludwig N, DeWaard R, Johnson G, Wertz P, Bickenbach JR. Recapitulation of Oral Mucosal Tissues in Long Term Organotypic Culture. Anat Rec 270A: 162-174, 2003.

Dunnwald M, Chinnathambi S, Alexandrunas D, Bickenbach JR. Mouse epidermal stem cells proceed through the cell cycle. J Cell Physiol 195: 194-201, 2003.

Liang L, Chinnathambi S, Stern M, Tomanek-Chalkley A, Manuel TD, Bickenbach JR. As epidermal stem cells age they do not substantially change their characteristics. J invest Dermatol Montagna Supplement 9S:229-237, 2004.

Bickenbach JR and Chinnathambi S. Plasticity and Potential of Epidermal Stem Cells. In: Progress in Stem Cell Research. Ed. Makito Emura . Nova Science Publishers, Inc. Hauppauge, NY, 2004.

Bickenbach, J.R. and Grinnell, K. L. Epidermal stem cells: interactions in developmental environments. Differentiation 72:371-380, 2004.

Chinnathambi S, Bickenbach JR. 2004. Human skin and gingival keratinocytes show differential regulation of matrix metalloproteinases when combined with fibroblasts in 3-dimensional cultures. J Periodontol 76:31-42, 2005.

Bickenbach, J.R. and Stern, M. Plasticity of epidermal stem cells (EpiSC): survival in various environments. Stem Cell Reviews 1:71-77, 2005.

Chinnathambi S, Bickenbach JR. Human skin and gingival keratinocytes show differential regulation of matrix metalloproteinases when combined with fibroblasts in 3-dimensional cultures. J Periodontol 76: 1072-1083, 2005.

Bickenbach JR, Stern MM, Grinnell KL, Manuel A, Chinnathambi S. Epidermal stem cells have the potential to assist in healing damaged tissues . J invest Dermatol Symposium Proceedings 11:118-123, 2006.

Grinnell KL, Yang B, Eckert RL, Bickenbach JR. De-differentiation of mouse interfollicular keratinocytes by the embryonic transcription factor Oct-4. J Invest Dermatol (AOP Aug 24, 2006. doi:10.1038/sj.jid.5700531 ) 127: 372-380, 2007.

Stern MM, Bickenbach JR. Epidermal stem cells are resistant to cellular aging. Aging Cell (doi:10.1111/j.1474-9726.2007.00318.x) 6: 439-452, 2007.

Grinnell KL, Bickenbach JR. Skin keratinocytes pretreated with embryonic stem cell conditioned medium or BMP4 can be directed to alternative cell lineages. Cell Proliferation, in press , 2007.

Course Participation

156:201 Principles in Molecular and Cell Biology (Course Director)
060:116 Medical Cell Biology (Instructor)
Summer Undergraduate Seminar Series

Honors

1979. Visiting Scientist, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
1981. Hatton Award for Research, International Association for Dental Research.
1984. NIH Young Investigator Award.
1997. Session Chair, Gordon Conference, Epithelial Differentiation and          Keratinization.
1999. Invited Speaker, The Dermatology Branch of the NCI at the NIH.
2001. Keynote Speaker, Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology. Ehime,          Japan.
2002. Invited speaker at World Congress of Dermatology. Paris, France.
2002. Johnson & Johnson Focused Giving Award.
2003. Invited Speaker, Symposium on Molecular Mechanisms of Epithelial          Differentiation. Heidelberg, Germany.
2004. Invited speaker, NIH/NIA Symposium on Aging and Stem Cells.
2004. Invited speaker at Johnson & Johnson FG Symposium.
2005. Featured our stem cell research for the inaugural issue of Stem Cell
         Reviews .
2006. Keynote Speaker. Korean Society for Investigative Dermatology.

National/International Committees

1997-2001. NIH General Medicine A-1 Study Section
1997. Member of special NIH/NIAMS program project review panel
1997. Session Chair Gordon Research Conference, Epithelial Differentiation and          Keratinization
1997-present. NIH/ADAMHA Peer Review Consultant
2000-2002. Scientific Review Panel for the Dermatology Foundation
2000-2004. Scientific Review Panel for the Psoriasis Foundation
2000. Chair, NIH GMA-1 SBIR study section
2002. Member NIH/NIAMS Skin Advisory Panel for extramural research
2002. NIH NIAMS Program Project Site Visit Committee
2002. The Welcome Trust International Review Panel
2002-present. Co-chair of the International Montagna Symposium on the Biology         of the Skin.
2003. Program chair for workshop on stem cells. Gordon Research Conference,          Epithelial Differentiation and Keratinization
2003. Session chair. Symposium on Molecular Mechanisms of Epithelial          Differentiation
2005-present. Editorial Board. Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy.
2006 Ad Hoc Reviewer NIH CMAD Review Panel
2007 Ad Hoc Reviewer NIH ACTS Review Panel