Eleanor Blakely
Senior Staff Scientist
EABlakely@lbl.gov
Mailstop: 70A-1118

Basic fibroblast growth factor (designated FGF-2) is a cytokine that is involved in cell migration, proliferation and differentiation. Its activities are not limited to just fibroblasts. FGF-2 is one member of a large family of homologous heparin-binding polypeptides. FGF-2 has also been shown to be an intracrine cytoplasmic-nuclear factor, whose expression is regulated by trans-synaptic and hormonal stimuli and which may act as a direct mediator of genomic responses to afferent stimulation. My laboratory is currently investigating a role for FGF-2 in the radiation response of human lens epithelial cells and of human brain tumor cells. A novel aspect of our work is the culturing of the lens cells on an extracellular matrix derived from corneal endothelial cells. In collaboration with my colleague Dr. Mary Helen Barcellos-Hoff, we are also investigating the role of FGF-2 in the radiation response of the murine mammary gland and the lung.

The large particle accelerators that were built for high-energy physics research at Berkeley Lab also provided unique radiations for the treatment of human cancer. The LBNL 88-inch accelerator continues to be a source of radiation of variable ionization densities to study cellular and molecular mechanisms with our cell and tissue model systems. Our work investigating radiation-induced changes in FGF-2 expression in several different tissues indicates that these changes are highly dependent on the radiation quality of the exposure. This conclusion has relevance for the currently expanding use of particle beams for cancer radiotherapy, and for the estimation of risk from occupational particle radiation exposures in space flight.

Members of my laboratory working on various aspects of FGF-2 signal transduction include: Dr. Polly Y. Chang, Dr. Morgan P. McNamara and Ms. Kathleen Bjornstad.

Recent Publications:

  • Maletinska, L., Blakely, E.A., Bjornstad, K.A., Deen, D.F., Knoff, L.J., and Forte, T. M. Human glioblastoma cell lines: Levels of low density lipoprotein receptor and low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein, Submitted, Aug. 1999.

  • Chang, P.Y., Bjornstad, K.A., Chang, E., McNamara, M., Barcellos-Hoff, M.H., Lin, S.P., Aragon, G., Polansky, J.R., Lui, G.M., and Blakely, E.A. Helium-ion irradiation induces FGF-2 expression in normal human lens cells, Submitted, July 1999.

  • Callahan, D.E., Forte, T. M., Afzal, S.M.J., Deen, D.F., Kahl, S.B., Bjornstad, K.A., Bauer, W. F., and Blakely, E. A. Boronated protoporphyrin (BOPP): Localization in lysosomes of the human glioma cell line SF-767 with uptake modulated by lipoprotein levels, Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Physics, In Press, 1999.

  • Blakely, E.A., and Kronenberg, A. Heavy-ion radiobiology: New approaches to delineate mechanisms underlying enhanced biological effectiveness. Radiat. Res. 150:S126-S145, 1998.

  • Daftari, I., Char, D.,Verhey, L.,Castro, J., Petti, P., Meecham, W., Kroll, S. Blakely,E.A. Anterior normal tissue sparing as a means of reducing complications of charged particle radiotherapy in uveal melanoma Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol., Physics 39:989-996, 1997.

  • Castro, J.,Char, D.,Petti, P., Daftari, I.,Quivey, J., Singh, R.P., Blakely, E. and Phillips, T. 15 years experience with helium ion radiotherapy for uveal melanoma, Int. J. Radiat. Oncol, Biol., Physics 39:997-1010, 1997.

  • Blakely, E. A. and R.J.M.Fry, Radiation protection in space, Radiat. Environ. Biophys 34:129-131 (1995).

  • Meecham, W.J., S.M. Kroll, D.H. Char, J.R. Castro, and E.A. Blakely. Anterior segment complications after helium ion radiation therapy for uveal melanoma, I. Radiation cataract. Arch. Ophthalmol. 112:197-203 (1994)