Faculty

FLORIDA STATE   /   PEOPLE   /   FACULTY

Dr. Cathy Levenson, Professor

Dr. Cathy Levenson

Contact Information

Email levenson@neuro.fsu.edu
Office 2350B MSR 850.644.4122

Research Interest

Molecular mechanisms of adult neurogenesis: stem cell proliferation, neuronal precursor survival and apoptosis, neuronal differentiation and migration.

Current Research
The Levenson Lab investigates the role and regulation of adult stem cells in traumatic brain injury (TBI), with a particular interest in the all too common problem of TBI-associated depression. This work includes examination of the neural stem cell populations found in the adult hippocampus and subventricular zone, and extends to the use of adult human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) as a treatment for TBI. Using a well-established pre-clinical model and a full range of genomic, cellular, and behavioral approaches, we are showing that hMSC treatment and nutritional support (e.g., zinc and vitamin A) can prevent TBI-induced depression. We are also developing a comprehensive mechanistic model of how these interventions work at the level of gene expression and stem cell proliferation, survival, and neuronal differentiation.

Publications

Publications
Darkazalli A, Vied C, Badger CD, Levenson CW, Human mesenchymal stem cell treatment normalizes cortical gene expression after traumatic brain injury, J Neurotrauma, 2017 PubMed
Morris DR, Levenson CW, Neurotoxicity of Zinc, Adv Neurobiol, 2017 PubMed
Cope EC, Morris DR, Gower-Winter SD, Brownstein NC, Levenson CW, Effect of zinc supplementation on neuronal precursor proliferation in the rat hippocampus after traumatic brain injury, Exp Neurol, 2016 PubMedDarkazalli A, Ismail AA, Abad N, Grant SC, Levenson CW, Use of human mesenchymal stem cell treatment to prevent anhedonia in a rat model of traumatic brain injury, Restor Neurol Neurosci, 2016 PubMed
Darkazalli A, Ismail AA, Abad N, Grant SC, Levenson CW, Use of human mesenchymal stem cell treatment to prevent anhedonia in a rat model of traumatic brain injury, Restor Neurol Neurosci, 2016 PubMed
Darkazalli A, Ismali AA, Abad N, Grant SC, Levenson CW, Use of human mesenchymal stem cell treatment to prevent anhedonia in a rat model of traumatic brain injury, Restor Neurol Neurosci, 2016 PubMed
Seth R, Corniola RS, Gower-Winter SD, Morgan TJ Jr, Bishop B, Levenson CW, Zinc deficiency induces apoptosis via mitochondrial p53- and caspase-dependent pathways in human neuronal precursor cells, J Trace Elem Med Biol, 2015 PubMedMuroski ME, Morgan TJ Jr, Levenson CW, Strouse GF, A gold nanoparticle pentapeptide: gene fusion to induce therapeutic gene expression in mesenchymal stem cells, J Am Chem Soc, 2014 PubMed
Muroski ME, Morgan TJ Jr, Levenson CW, Strouse GF, A gold nanoparticle pentapeptide: gene fusion to induce therapeutic gene expression in mesenchymal stem cells, J Am Chem Soc, 2014 PubMed
Muroski ME, Morgan TJ Jr, Levenson CW, Strouse GF, A gold nanoparticle pentapeptide: gene fusion to induce therapeutic gene expression in mesenchymal stem cells, J Am Chem Soc, 2014 PubMed
Morris DR, Levenson CW, Zinc in traumatic brain injury: from neuroprotection to neurotoxicity, Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care, 2013 PubMed
Morris DR, Levenson CW, Zinc regulation of transcriptional activity during retinoic acid-induced neuronal differentiation, J Nutr Biochem, 2013 PubMed
Gower-Winter SD, Corniola RS, Morgan TJ Jr, Levenson CW, Zinc deficiency regulates hippocampal gene expression and impairs neuronal differentiation, Nutr Neurosci, 2013 PubMed
Simmons JT, Allen JR, Morris DR, Clark RJ, Levenson CW, Davidson MW, Zhu L, Integrated and passive 1,2,3-triazolyl groups in fluorescent indicators for zinc(II) ions: thermodynamic and kinetic evaluations, Inorg Chem, 2013 PubMed
Darkazalli A, Levenson CW, Tracking stem cell migration and survival in brain injury: Current approaches and future prospects, Histol Histopathol, 2012 PubMedRich NJ, Van Landingham JW, Figueiroa S, Seth R, Corniola RS, Levenson CW, Chronic caloric restriction reduces tissue damage and improves spatial memory in a rat model of traumatic brain injury, J Neurosci Res, 2010 PubMed