Barbara D. Smith, PhD
Emeritus Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Biochemistry & Cell Biology

PhD, Boston University
MS, Boston University
BS, Simmons College



Dr. Smith is Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry at Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. Her research interests include- collagen gene expression associated with inflammation, atherosclerosis, tumors, and fibrotic diseases including systemic sclerosis. Collagen, a family of extracellular proteins, plays a critical role in remodeling after injury. Progressive deposition of excess extracellular matrix (ECM), occurs in a large group of diseases with no effective therapy including cardiovascular disease, pulmonary fibrosis, diabetic nephropathy, systemic sclerosis, and liver cirrhosis. Fibrosis (excessive scarring) is a progressive deposition of excess collagen-rich extracellular matrix produced by activated myofibroblasts leading to impairment and finally failure of affected organs. In normal healing following injury, fibroblasts differentiate into myofibroblasts. If progression to fibrosis occurs, these myofibroblasts do not undergo apoptosis but instead continue to proliferate and produce excess amounts of ECM. Isolated primary fibroblasts from fibrotic lesions maintain their activated myofibroblast phenotype containing abundant stress fibers with smooth muscle actin (SMA). Myocardin related transcription factors (MRTF-A, MRTF-B), members of the myocardin family, link actin dynamics with gene transcription. Our data indicate that MRTF-A dramatically (100 fold) activates collagen transcription. Fibroblasts with knockdown of MRTFA have different morphology and produce less collagen and SMA. We hypothesize that MRTFA plays a central role in activation and perpetuation of myofibroblast during the development of fibrotic disease.

Member
Boston University
Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research


Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students)
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences




Collagen Regulation in Systemic Sclerosis
01/15/2012 - 12/31/2013 (PI)
Scleroderma Foundation


The Role of the Arterial Wall in Atherosclerosis
09/01/1976 - 08/31/2009 (Co-PI)
NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
5 P01 HL13262 34

Post-Translational Modifications of RFX5 and CIITA in Collagen Repression During Artherosclerotic Injury
07/01/2005 - 06/30/2007 (Dept Sponsor)
American Heart Association

Pathogenic Mechanisms of Venous Disease
05/01/2000 - 04/30/2005 (PI)
Roger Williams Hospital NIH NCI

Collagen Gene Expression and Atherosclerosis
05/01/2003 - 09/30/2003 (PI)
NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
1 R01 HL72996 01



Title


Yr Title Project-Sub Proj Pubs
2009 Collagen Transcription and Lung Fibrosis 5R01HL068094-09 14
2008 Collagen Transcription and Lung Fibrosis 5R01HL068094-08 14
2007 Collagen Transcription and Lung Fibrosis 5R01HL068094-07 14
2006 Collagen Transcription and Lung Fibrosis 5R01HL068094-06 14
2005 Collagen Transcription and Lung Fibrosis 2R01HL068094-05A1 14
2004 Collagen transcription and lung fibrosis 5R01HL068094-04 14
2003 Collagen Gene Expression and Atherosclerosis 2P01HL013262-30A1-38 164
2003 Collagen Gene Expression and Atherosclerosis 1R01HL072996-01 1
2003 Collagen transcription and lung fibrosis 5R01HL068094-03 14
2002 Collagen transcription and lung fibrosis 5R01HL068094-02 14
Showing 10 of 30 results. Show All Results

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

iCite Analysis       Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

  1. Tam A, Xu S, Lopez H, Ahmed B, Khan K, Rosario H, Arumalla N, Gibson M, Denton C, Abraham D, Smith BD, Stratton RJ. O42 Investigating Mechanical Stress-Responsive Macrophages in Scleroderma. Rheumatology. 2016; 55(suppl 1):i54-i55. View Publication
  2. Tam A, Shiwen X, Lopez H, Khan K, Ahmed-Abdi B, Rosario H, Arumalla N, Gibson M, Denton C, Abraham D, Smith BD, Stratton RJ. SAT0193 Macrophages Responding To Mechanical Stress in Scleroderma. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2016; 75(suppl 2):738. View Publication
  3. Shiwen X, Stratton R, Nikitorowicz-Buniak J, Ahmed-Abdi B, Ponticos M, Denton C, Abraham D, Takahashi A, Suki B, Layne MD, Lafyatis R, Smith BD. A Role of Myocardin Related Transcription Factor-A (MRTF-A) in Scleroderma Related Fibrosis. PLoS One. 2015; 10(5):e0126015.View Related Profiles. PMID: 25955164; PMCID: PMC4425676; DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126015;
     
  4. McDonald ME, Li C, Bian H, Smith BD, Layne MD, Farmer SR. Myocardin-related transcription factor A regulates conversion of progenitors to beige adipocytes. Cell. 2015 Jan 15; 160(1-2):105-18.View Related Profiles. PMID: 25579684; PMCID: PMC4384505; DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.12.005;
     
  5. Stratton RJ, Xu S, Nikitorowicz J, Abdi-Ahmed B, Ponticos M, Denton CP, Abraham D, Smith BD. 309. Investigating the Role of MRTF-A in Systemic Sclerosis. Rheumatology. 2014; 53(suppl 1):i175. View Publication
  6. Ponticos, M., and B.D. Smith. Journal of biomedical research. Extracellular matrix synthesis in vascular disease: hypertension, and atherosclerosis. 2014; 28(1):25-39..
  7. Tumelty KE, Smith BD, Nugent MA, Layne MD. Aortic carboxypeptidase-like protein (ACLP) enhances lung myofibroblast differentiation through transforming growth factor ß receptor-dependent and -independent pathways. J Biol Chem. 2014 Jan 31; 289(5):2526-36.View Related Profiles. PMID: 24344132; PMCID: PMC3908388; DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M113.502617;
     
  8. Ponticos M, Smith BD. Extracellular matrix synthesis in vascular disease: hypertension, and atherosclerosis. J Biomed Res. 2014 Jan; 28(1):25-39. PMID: 24474961; PMCID: PMC3904172; DOI: 10.7555/JBR.27.20130064;
     
  9. Luchsinger LL, Patenaude CA, Smith BD, Layne MD. Myocardin-related transcription factor-A complexes activate type I collagen expression in lung fibroblasts. J Biol Chem. 2011 Dec 23; 286(51):44116-25.View Related Profiles. PMID: 22049076; PMCID: PMC3243519; DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M111.276931;
     
  10. Xu Y, Luchsinger L, Lucey EC, Smith BD. The effect of class II transactivator mutations on bleomycin-induced lung inflammation and fibrosis. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2011 Jun; 44(6):898-905. PMID: 20705943; PMCID: PMC3135849; DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2009-0416OC;
     
Showing 10 of 72 results. Show More

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 63 publications over 33 distinct years, with a maximum of 5 publications in 2006

YearPublications
19801
19812
19833
19843
19851
19883
19893
19902
19911
19922
19932
19941
19952
19962
19971
19983
19991
20001
20012
20021
20032
20042
20051
20065
20072
20083
20091
20101
20111
20132
20142
20152
20162

Contact for Mentoring:

72 E. Concord St Silvio Conte (K)
Boston MA 02118
Google Map


Smith's Networks
Click the "See All" links for more information and interactive visualizations
Concepts
_
Co-Authors
_
Similar People
_
Same Department