Education

• BS 1974, Yale College
• VMD 1978, University of Pennsylvania
• PhD 1982, University of Pennsylvania

Research

Research in my laboratory is directed at understanding developmental and pathologic aspects of neuronal and glial cell biology in the nervous system of the mouse, and genetic analysis of a human disorder of astrocytes, Alexander disease. Our main strategies involve genetic manipulation of glial gene expression using transgenic techniques, and gene targeting in embryonic stem cells to generate mutant strains of mice. Most of our effort is directed at understanding the role of GFAP, the astrocyte-specific intermediate filament, in astrocyte development and reaction to injury in the central nervous system, and the mechanisms by which GFAP mutations lead to Alexander disease. We are also trying to identify biomarkers for tracking the clinical course of Alexander disease patients, and devise therapies for this disorder.

Responsibilities

Professor

• Veterinary Histology 934:501

Recent Publications

Hagemann TL, Connor JX, & Messing A. Alexander disease-associated GFAP mutations in mice induce Rosenthal fiber formation and a white matter stress response. Journal of Neuroscience 26:11162-11173, 2006. [Abstract]

Li R, Johnson AB, Salomons GS, van der Knaap MS, Rodriguez D, Boespflug-Tanguy O, Gorospe JR, Goldman JE, MESSING A, & Brenner M. Propensity for paternal inheritance of de novo mutations in Alexander disease. Human Genetics 119:137-144, 2006. [Abstract]

Hagemann TL, Gaeta SA, Smith MA, Johnson DA, Johnson JA, & Messing A. Gene expression analysis in mice with elevated glial fibrillary acidic protein and Rosenthal fibers reveals a stress response followed by glial activation and neuronal dysfunction. Human Molecular Genetics 14:2443-2458, 2005. [Abstract]

van der Knaap MS, Salomons GS, Li R, Franzoni E, González-Gutiérrez-Solana L, Smit LME, Robinson R, Ferrie C, Cree B, Reddy A, Thomas N, Barkhof F, Jakobs C, Johnson A, MESSING A, & Brenner M. Unusual variants of Alexander disease. Annals of Neurology 57:327-338, 2005. [Abstract]

Li R, Johnson AB, Salomons G, Goldman JE, Naidu S, Quinlan R, Cree B, Ruyle S Z, Banwell B, D’Hooghe M, Siebert JR, Rolf CM, Cox H, Reddy A, González-Gutiérrez-Solana L, Collins A, Weller RO, MESSING A, van der Knaap MS, & Brenner M. GFAP mutations in infantile, juvenile, and adult Alexander disease. Annals of Neurology 57:310-326, 2005. [Abstract]

Moore SA, Saito F, Chen JG, Michele DE, Henry MD, MESSING A, Cohn RD, Ross-Barta SE, Westra S, Williamson RA, Hoshi T, & Campbell KP. Deletion of brain dystroglycan recapitulates aspects of congenital muscular dystrophy. Nature 418:422-425, 2002. [Abstract]

Zhuo L, Theis M, Willecke K, Brenner M & MESSING A. hGFAP-cre transgenic mice for manipulation of glial and neuronal function in vivo. Genesis 31:85-94, 2001. [Abstract]

Brenner M, Johnson AB, Boespflug-Tanguy O, Rodriguez D, Goldman JE, & MESSING A. Mutations in GFAP, encoding glial fibrillary acidic protein, are associated with Alexander disease. Nature Genetics 27:117-120, 2001. [Abstract]

Smart SL, Lopantsev V, Zhang CL, Robbins CA, Wang H, Chiu SY, Schwartzkroin PA, MESSING A, & Tempel BL. Deletion of the Kv1.1 potassium channel causes epilepsy in mice. Neuron 20:809-819, 1998. [Abstract]

MESSING A, Head MW, Galles K, Galbreath EJ, Goldman JE, & Brenner M. Fatal encephalopathy with astrocyte inclusions in GFAP transgenic mice. American Journal of Pathology 152:391-398, 1998. [Abstract]

Zhuo L, Sun B, Zhang CL, Fine A, Chiu SY, & MESSING A. Live astrocytes visualized by green fluorescent protein in transgenic mice. Developmental Biology 187:36-42, 1997. [Abstract]

McCall MA, Gregg RG, Behringer RR, Brenner M, Delaney CL, Galbreath EJ, Zhang CL, Pearce RA, Chiu SY & MESSING A. Targeted deletion in astrocyte intermediate filament (Gfap) alters neuronal physiology. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:6361-6366, 1996. [Abstract]

Delaney CL, Brenner M, & MESSING A. Conditional ablation of cerebellar astrocytes in postnatal transgenic mice. Journal of Neuroscience 16:6908-6918, 1996. [Abstract]

Brenner M, Kisseberth WC, Su Y, Besnard F, & MESSING A. GFAP promoter directs astrocyte-specific expression in transgenic mice. Journal of Neuroscience 14:1030-1037, 1994. [Abstract]