Dr. Cathy Levenson
(she/her/hers)Professor of Biomedical Sciences & Neuroscience
Faculty
Biomedical Sciences
MSR 2350B
644-4122
levenson@neuro.fsu.edu
- 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.
- Recent Publications
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Zhang L, Levenson CW, Salazar VC, McCarthy DM, Biederman J, Zafonte R, Bhide PG (2021). Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in a Perinatal Nicotine Exposure Mouse Model of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Dev Neurosci, 43(1):63-72. PubMed Levenson CW (2020). Zinc and Traumatic Brain Injury: From Chelation to Supplementation. Med Sci (Basel), 8(3):36. PubMed Sellappan P, Cote J, Kreth PA, Schepkin VD, Darkazalli A, Morris DR, Alvi FS, Levenson CW (2019). Variability and uncertainty in the rodent controlled cortical impact model of traumatic brain injury. J Neurosci Methods, 37-42. PubMed Carnevale KJF, Muroski ME, Vakil PN, Foley ME, Laufersky G, Kenworthy R, Zorio DAR, Morgan TJ Jr, Levenson CW, Strouse GF (2018). Selective Uptake Into Drug Resistant Mammalian Cancer by Cell Penetrating Peptide-Mediated Delivery. Bioconjug Chem, 29(10):3273-3284. PubMed Darkazalli A, Vied C, Badger CD, Levenson CW (2017). Human mesenchymal stem cell treatment normalizes cortical gene expression after traumatic brain injury. J Neurotrauma, 34(1):204-212. PubMed Morris DR, Levenson CW (2017). Neurotoxicity of Zinc. Adv Neurobiol, 303-312. PubMed Cope EC, Morris DR, Gower-Winter SD, Brownstein NC, Levenson CW (2016). Effect of zinc supplementation on neuronal precursor proliferation in the rat hippocampus after traumatic brain injury. Exp Neurol, 279:96-103. PubMed Darkazalli A, Ismail AA, Abad N, Grant SC, Levenson CW (2016). Use of human mesenchymal stem cell treatment to prevent anhedonia in a rat model of traumatic brain injury. Restor Neurol Neurosci, 34(3):433-41. PubMed
