Kent Erickson, Ph.D.

Professor
3309 Tupper Hall, Davis Campus
(530) 752-6616
e-mail

Graduate Group Affiliations

Immunology

Nutritional Biology

Comparative Pathology

Research Interests

My research program centers in the fields of cancer and stem cell biology as well as immunology.

One component of the research focuses on the role of stem cells in the development of the normal as well as the premalignant and the malignant mamary gland. Identification of novel cell surface markers would be extremely useful in the identification of stem cells from normal and malignant tissues as well as embryonic stem cells with the potential to differentiation along specific pathways. To identify new surface markers, we use small molecule combinatorial libraries to screen for novel peptides capable of binding to stem cells. Changes in the expression of cell surface antigens can provide a way to monitor cell differentiation. Thus, combinatorial libraries are used to identify the potential novel markers on recently developed human embryonic stem cells.

Another program focuses on dietary fat and breast cancer, particularly mechanisms by which fatty acids modify metastasis. Specific projects focus on the interaction of fatty acids with stem cells. Related to this is a project which focuses on the molecular regulation of macrophage function. This work makes use of cytokines and lipid mediators to assess pathways of signal transduction as well as effector functions of macrophages.

Representative Publications

2005  Hubbard, N.E., D. Lim, M. Mukutmoni, A. Cai and K. L. Erickson. Expression and regulation of murine macrophage angiopoietin-2. Cellular Immunology. 234:102-109.

2005  Kim, J.-H., N. E. Hubbard, V. Ziboh, and K. L. Erickson. Attenuation of breast tumor cell growth by conjugated linoeic acid via inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase activating protein. Biochemica Biophysica Acta. 1736:244-250.

2007  Hubbard, N. E., D. Lim, and K. L. Erickson. Conjugated linoleic acid alters matrix metalloproteinases of metastatic mammary tumor cells. Journal of Nutrition. 137:1423-1429.

2009  Erickson, K.L. and N.E. Hubbard. Assessing mucosal immunity with new concepts and innovative, time-honored strategies. Nutrition Rev. 67:172-182.

2010  Erickson, K.L. and N.E. Hubbard. Fatty acids and breast cancer: the role of stem cells. Prost. Leuk. Essential Fatty Acids 82:237-241.

Recent/Current Teaching

CHA400, Developmental, Gross and Radiographic Academy

IMM 295, Cytokines: an expanding class of regulatory agents

NUT 251, Nutrition and Immunity

Honors and Awards

Underwood Fellow, Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council-UK, Centre for Stem Cell Biology, University of Sheffield, England, 2006-2007

Richard T. Jones, M.D., Ph.D., Distinguished Alumni Scientist Award, Oregon Health and Sciences University, 2008