Federica Montanaro, Ph.D.

Federica Montanaro, Ph.D., is a principal investigator in the Center for Gene Therapy, an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, and an adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology at The Ohio State University. Dr. Montanaro’s research focuses on the pathological mechanisms leading to cardiac failure and muscle fibrosis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

View CV »

Gender:

• Female

Languages Spoken:

• English

Research Center:

• Center for Gene Therapy

Areas of Interest:

• My laboratory is interested in muscle regeneration and in the development of cell-based therapies for muscular dystrophy disorders, in particular Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. On one hand, we are studying in vitro models of muscle regeneration to identify genes and pathways that are important for the activation of muscle stem cells and their participation in muscle repair. We are using a combination of gene expression arrays and RNA interference to identify and characterize genes of interest. On the other hand, we have identified stem cells from the adult skin that are able to participate in muscle repair following vascular delivery. We are now optimizing the transplantation parameters and further characterizing these cells to improve the efficiency with which they repair dystrophic muscles.

Undergraduate

• McGillUniveristy
  Date Completed: 06/30/1991

Post Doctoral

• McGill University
  Date Completed: 06/30/1999

2005–present

• Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital and Ohio State University

1999–2005

• HHMI Post-doctoral fellow, Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital

• 1. Beastrom N., Lu H., Macke A., Canan B.D., Johnson E.K., Penton C.M., Kaspar B.K., Rodino-Klapac L.R., Zhou L., Janssen P.M.L., Montanaro F. 2011. Mdx5cv mice manifest more severe muscle dysfunction and diaphragm force deficits than mdx mice.  American Journal of Pathology. no. Electronic Publication Ahead of Print. (November) (IF: 5.224)
• Leblanc E; Trensz F; Haroun S; Drouin G; Bergeron E; Penton CM; Montanaro F; Roux S; Faucheux N; Grenier G. 2011. BMP-9-induced muscle heterotopic ossification requires changes to the skeletal muscle microenvironment.  Journal Of Bone And Mineral Research: The Official Journal Of The American Society For Bone And Mineral Research. Vol. 26, no. 6. (June 1): 1166.
• Alexander MS; Kawahara G; Kho AT; Howell MH; Pusack TJ; Myers JA; Montanaro F; Zon LI; Guyon JR; Kunkel LM. 2011. Isolation and transcriptome analysis of adult zebrafish cells enriched for skeletal muscle progenitors.  Muscle & Nerve. Vol. 43, no. 5. (May 1): 741.
• Montanaro F, Martin PT. 2011. Defective Glycosylation of Dystroglycan in Muscular Dystrophy and Cancer. In Post-Translational Modifications in Health and Disease. Vol. 13. Edited by Cecilio Vidal Moreno. SPRINGER. ()
• Wahl Maggie. 2010. Cardiomyopathy in Becker MD [Short Entry]. Quest magazine. Vol. 17, no. 2: Muscular Dystrophy Association. (April): 14-14. quest.mda.org. (Published)
• Federica Montanaro, Hugh D. Allen, Jerry R. Mendell, Rita Wen Kaspar, Kevin M. Flanigan, John T. Kissel, Alan Pestronk, Robert B. Weiss, Will Ray, and Carlos E. Alvarez. 2010. Response to Letter by Yilmaz et al Regarding Article, "Analysis of Dystrophin Deletion Mutations Predicts Age of Cardiomyopathy Onset in Becker Muscular Dystrophy" [Short Entry]. Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics. Vol. 3, no. 2. (April): e2. doi:10.1161/CIRCGENETICS.110.945691. [Editor Reviewed] (Published)
• Wahl Maggie. 2010. Cardiomyopathy in Becker MD [Short Entry]. Quest News Online: Muscular Dystrophy Association (Published)
• Alexander MS, Kawahara G, Kho AT, Howell MH, Pusack TJ, Myers JA, Montanaro F, Zon LI, Guyon JR, and Kunkel LM. 2010. Muscle mononuclear cells and their role in adult zebrafish myogenesis.  Muscle and Nerve. (IF: 2.287) (Formally Accepted)
• Federica Montanaro and Paul T. Martin. Defective glycosylation of dystroglycan in muscular dystrophy and cancer. In Protein Reviews: Post-translational Modifications in Health and Disease. Protein Reviews. Edited by Cecilio Vidal Moreno. New York, New York, U.S.A.: Springer. http://www.springer.com/series/6876(Forthcoming)
• Kaspar RW; Allen HD; Ray WC; Alvarez CE; Kissel JT; Pestronk A; Weiss RB; Flanigan KM; Mendell JR; Montanaro F. 2009. Analysis of dystrophin deletion mutations predicts age of cardiomyopathy onset in becker muscular dystrophy.  Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics. Vol. 2, no. 6 (December 1): 544. (IF: 14.595)
• Kaspar RW; Allen HD; Montanaro F. 2009. Current understanding and management of dilated cardiomyopathy in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy.  Journal Of The American Academy Of Nurse Practitioners. Vol. 21, no. 5. (May 1): 241. (IF: 0.823)
• Kaspar RW, Allen HD, Ray WC, Alvarez CE, Kissel JT, Pestronk A, Weiss RB, Flanigan KM, Mendell JR, Montanaro F. 2009. Analysis of dystrophin deletion mutations predicts age of cardiomyopathy onset in becker muscular dystrophy.  Circ Cardiovasc Genet. Vol. 6, no. 2. : 544-551.
• Kaspar, Rita W.; Allen, Hugh D.; McCarthy, Donna; Kissel, John T.; Flanigan, Kevin M.; Mendell, Jerry R.; Montanaro, Federica. 2008. Genotype analysis predicts dilated cardiomyopathy in Becker muscular dystrophy [Abstract]. Neurology. Vol. 70, no. 11: Suppl. 1: A109 [Editor Reviewed] (Published)
• Kaspar R, Allen H, McCarthy D, Kissel JT, Flanigan KM, Mendell J, Montanaro F,. 2008. Genotype Analysis Predicts Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Becker Muscular Dystrophy [Abstract]. Neurology. 6th Annual Meeting of the American-Academy-of-Neurology, Vol. 70, no. 11. Chicago, IL, United States: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, 530 WALNUT ST, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106-3621 USA: A109-A109. (Published)
• Liadaki K, Montanaro F, and Kunkel LM. 2006. Cellular-mediated delivery: the intersection between regenerative medicineand genetic therapy. In Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Advances in therapeutics. DNLM: 1-Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne - Therapy, First edition ed. Edited by Rando T. and Chamberlain J. New York, NY, USA: Taylor and Francis Group - Informa. 295-318.
• Guyon JR; Mosley AN; Jun SJ; Montanaro F; Steffen LS; Zhou Y; Nigro V; Zon LI; Kunkel LM. 2005. Delta-sarcoglycan is required for early zebrafish muscle organization.  Experimental Cell Research. Vol. 304, no. 1 (March 10): 105-115. (IF: 3.948)
• Montanaro F; Liadaki K; Schienda J; Flint A; Gussoni E; Kunkel LM. 2004. Demystifying SP cell purification: viability, yield, and phenotype are defined by isolation parameters.  Experimental Cell Research. Vol. 298, no. 1 (August 1): 144-154. (IF: 3.948)
• Tomczak KK; Marinescu VD; Ramoni MF; Sanoudou D; Montanaro F; Han M; Kunkel LM; Kohane IS; Beggs AH. 2004. Expression profiling and identification of novel genes involved in myogenic differentiation.  The FASEB Journal: Official Publication Of The Federation Of American Societies For Experimental Biology. Vol. 18, no. 2. (February 1): 403-405. (IF: 7.049)
• Montanaro F; Liadaki K; Volinski J; Flint A; Kunkel L. 2003. Skeletal muscle engraftment potential of adult mouse skin side population cells.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Vol. 100, no. 16: 9336-9341. (IF: 9.38)
• Montanaro F. and Carbonetto S. 2003. Targeting dystroglycan in the brain.  Neuron. Vol. 37, no. 2: 193-196. (IF: 14.17)
• Montanaro F, Volinski J, Flint A, Kunkel LM. 2002. Isolation and characterisation of a side population from adult mouse skin [Abstract]. Journal of the Neurological Sciences. 10th International Congress on Neuromuscular Diseases, Vol. 199: S15-S15. (Published)
• Montanaro F, Volinski J, Flint A, Kunkel LM. 2002. Isolation and charaterization of a side population from adult mouse skin [Abstract]. Cytometry. Vol. Supplement 1, no. 11. San Diego, CA, United States: WILEY-LISS, DIV JOHN WILEY & SONS INC, 605 THIRD AVE, NEW YORK, NY 10158-0012 USA: 99-99. (Published)
• Liadaki KN, Montanaro F, Flint AF, Kunkel LM. 2002. Chemotactic recruitment of stem cells to muscle [Abstract]. Journal of the Neurological Sciences. 10th International Congress on Neuromuscular Diseases, Vol. 199: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV, PO BOX 211, 1000 AE AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS: S14-S14. (Published)
• Montanaro F, Volinski J, Kunkel LM. 2001. Isolation and characterization of a side population from adult mouse skin [Abstract]. American Journal of Human Genetics. Meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, Vol. 69, no. 4: UNIV CHICAGO PRESS, 1427 E 60TH ST, CHICAGO, IL 60637-2954 USA: 677-677. (Published)
• Montanaro F, Carbonetto S. 2000. Developmental biology of synapse formation.  Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. Edited by Wiley-Blackwell. http://www.els.net/.
• Montanaro F; Lindenbaum M; Carbonetto S. 1999. alpha-Dystroglycan is a laminin receptor involved in extracellular matrix assembly on myotubes and muscle cell viability.  The Journal Of Cell Biology. Vol. 145, no. 6. (June 14): 1325-1340. (IF: 9.12)
• Jacobson C; Montanaro F; Lindenbaum M; Carbonetto S; Ferns M. 1998. alpha-Dystroglycan functions in acetylcholine receptor aggregation but is not a coreceptor for agrin-MuSK signaling.  The Journal Of Neuroscience: The Official Journal Of The Society For Neuroscience. Vol. 18, no. 16. (August 15): 6340-6348. (IF: 7.452)
• Montanaro F; Gee SH; Jacobson C; Lindenbaum MH; Froehner SC; Carbonetto S. 1998. Laminin and alpha-dystroglycan mediate acetylcholine receptor aggregation via a MuSK-independent pathway.  The Journal Of Neuroscience: The Official Journal Of The Society For Neuroscience. Vol. 18, no. 4. (February 15): 1250-1260. (IF: 7.452)
• Montanaro F; Carbonetto S; Campbell KP; Lindenbaum M. 1995. Dystroglycan expression in the wild type and mdx mouse neural retina: synaptic colocalization with dystrophin, dystrophin-related protein but not laminin.  Journal Of Neuroscience Research. Vol. 42, no. 4. (November 1): 528-538. (IF: 3.086)
• Gee SH; Montanaro F; Lindenbaum MH; Carbonetto S. 1994. Dystroglycan-alpha, a dystrophin-associated glycoprotein, is a functional agrin receptor.  Cell. Vol. 77, no. 5. (June 3): 675. (IF: 31.253)
• Rita Wen Kaspar, Poster Presenter. 2008. Genotype Analysis Predicts Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Becker Muscular Dystrophy. Presented at OSU Medical Center Research Day.
• Penton C, Poster Presenter. 2011. A common adult stem cell origin for muscle and mesenchymal precursors: Implications for muscle regeneration. Presented at OSUMC and NCH joint research day. Columbus, OH, USA. (April 6 - 7)
• Johnson E, Montanaro F, Poster Presenter. 2011. Combination of immunoprecipitation and shotgun proteomics for large scale comparative screens oof striated muscle protein complexes from biopsy-size tissue samples. Presented at Keystone Symposium on Molecular cardiology: disease mechanisms and experimental therapeutics. Keystone, CO, USA. (February 22 - 27) [Editor Reviewed]
• Jennifer Thomas-Ahner, Poster Presenter. 2008. Characterization and in vitro expansion of muscle progenitor cells for use in cell based therapies for muscular dystrophy. Presented at Children's Hospital Research Institute Retreat.
• Rita Kaspar, Seminar Presenter. 2009. Genotype Analysis Predicts Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Becker Muscular Dystrophy. Presented at Muscle Group, to Muscle Group. Nationwide Children's Hospital/Ohio State University. Columbus, OH, United States. (January 15)
• Federica Montanaro and Kevin Flannigan, Interviewee. 2010. This Month in Muscular Dystrophy, This Month in Muscular Dystrophy. [Web based Podcast]. Created: 2010. (September) (Forthcoming)
• Federica Montanaro, Seminar Presenter. 2007. The Montanaro lab: Our approach to muscular dystrophy. Presented at Muscle Group, to Muscle Group. The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Columbus, OH, USA.
• Nicholas Beastrom, Poster Presenter. 2007. Functional Assessment of a New Mouse Model for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Presented at OSU Medical Center Research Day.
• Eric Johnson, Seminar Presenter. 2009. Progress in identifying proteins that interact with dystrophin in the heart. Presented at Muscle Group, to Muscle Group. The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Columbus, OH, OSU. (January 15)
• Nicholas Beastrom, Poster Presenter. 2008. Characterization of mdx and mdx5cv mouse models for application in studies of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy treatment strategies. Presented at OSU Medical Center Research Day.
• Montanaro F, Poster Presenter. 2010. Characterization of the dystrophin-associated protein complex in the heart. Presented at New Directions in Biology & Disease of Skeletal Muscle. Ottawa, ON, Canada. [Peer Reviewed]
• Jesse Gibbons, Poster Presenter. 2007. NOVA 1 In Skeletal Muscle. Presented at OSU Medical Center Research Day.
• Eric Johnson, Seminar Presenter. 2009. Unique cardiac interactions of dystrophin and their role in dilated cardiomyopathy. Presented at IBGP Research In Progress Seminar Series.
• Rita Wen Kaspar, Seminar Presenter. 2009. The Heart in the Dystrophinopathies. Presented at The Columbus Club.
• Rita Wen Kaspar, Presenter. 2007. Generation of a Transgenic Mouse with a New Dystrophin Mutation for Studying X-Linked Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Presented at The Midwest Nursing Research Society Annual Meeting.
• Jennifer Thomas-Ahner, Poster Presenter. 2009. Side Population Cells: Friend or Foe? Presented at OSU Medical Center Research Day.
• Nicholas Beastrom (Montanaro Lab), Poster Presenter. 2007. Functional Assessment of a New Mouse Model for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Presented at The Children's Hospital ResearchInstitute Research Retreat.
• Jennifer Thomas-Ahner, Poster Presenter. 2009. Side Population Cells: Friend or Foe? Presented at Children's Hospital Research Institute Retreat.
• Montanaro F, Poster Presenter. 2001. Presence of a side population in the C2C12 mouse cell line. Presented at FASEB Meeting. Tucson, AZ, USA.
• Montanaro F, Poster Presenter. 2004. Variables affecting viability, yield and heterogeneity of bone marrow, muscle and skin side population cells. Presented at International Society for Stem Cell Research. Boston, MA, USA. [Peer Reviewed]
• Johnson E, Poster Presenter. 2011. Proteomic analysis of the dystrophin-associated protein complex reveals differences between cardiac and skeletal muscle: implications for muscular dystrophies. Presented at OSUMC and NCH joint research day. Columbus, OH, USA. (April 6 - 7)
• Nicholas Beastrom, Poster Presenter. 2008. Characterization of mdx and mdx5cv mouse models for application in studies of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy treatment strategies. Presented at The Children's Hospital Research Institute Research Retreat.
• Guttridge D, Presenter. 2009. Satellite cell deregulation and muscle wasting in cancer cachexia. Presented at Joint meeting: Frontiers in Myogenesis and Skeletal Muscle Stem and Satellite Cells. New York, NY, USA. [Peer Reviewed]
• Rita Kaspar, Poster Presenter. 2007. Predicting Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Muscular Dystrophy- A Pilot Study -. Presented at Bio-Ohio Annual Conference. Dublin, Ohio, USA.
• Montanaro F, Seminar Presenter. 2011. Becker Muscular Dystrophy. Presented at The Heart in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Columbus, OH, USA. (January 21 - 22)
• Montanaro F, Seminar Presenter. 2010. Dystrophin and cardiomyopathy. Presented at Montreal General Hospital Seminar series. McGill University. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (May 5)
• Eric Johnson, Poster Presenter. 2010. Characterization of the dystrophin-associated protein complex in the heart. Presented at Interdisciplinary Graduate Program Symposium. The Ohio State University. Columbus, OH, USA.
• Rita Wen Kaspar, Seminar Presenter. 2008. Genotype Analysis Predicts Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Becker Muscular Dystrophy. Presented at American Academy of Neurology. Chicago, IL, United States. (April) [Editor Reviewed]
• Federica Montanaro, Seminar Presenter. 2007. Gene Expression Data: Cracking the Code. Presented at 3rd Seattle Muscular Dystrophy Conference. Seattle, WA, United States. (June)
• Eric Johnson, Poster Presenter. 2010. Characterization of the dystrophin-associated protein complex in the heart. Presented at OSUMC Research Day and The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital Research Week. Columbus, OH, USA.
• Jesse Gibbons, Poster Presenter. 2007. NOVA 1 In Skeletal Muscle. Presented at Children's Hospital Research Institute Research Retreat.
• Federica Montanaro, Seminar Presenter. 2005. Identification of new pathways in muscular dystrophy and advances in cell-based therapy. Presented at Children's Hospital Research Institute Thursday Seminar Series. Nationwide Children's Hospital/Ohio State University. Columbus, OH, United States. (September)
• Montanaro F, Guttridge D, Seminar Presenter. 2011. Mechanisms of muscle wasting in cancer cachexiaIn Cancer CachexiaMechanisms of Muscle Wasting In Cancer CachexiaMechanisms of Muscle Wasting In Cancer CachexiaMechanisms of Muscle Wasting In Cancer CachexiaMechanisms of muscle wasting in cancer cachexia. Presented at OSUMC and NCH joint research day. Columbus, OH, USA. (April 8)
• Montanaro F, Poster Presenter. 2010. Function and Dysfunction of Muscle Side Population Cells: A Potential Factor in Muscular Dystrophy Pathogenesis. Presented at New Directions in Biology and Disease of Skeletal Muscle. Ottawa, ON, Canada.
• Federica Montanaro, Seminar Presenter. 2008. Genotype Analysis Predicts Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Becker Muscular Dystrophy. Presented at United Dystrophinopathy Project. Chicago, IL, United States. (December)
• Rita Wen Kaspar (Montanaro Lab), Poster Presenter. 2008. Genotype Analysis Predicts Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Becker Muscular Dystrophy. Presented at The Research Institute at Children's Hospital Research Retreat.
• Montanaro F, Poster Presenter. 2005. Isolation parameters and surface characteristics of bone marrow, muscle and skin side population cells. Presented at Keystone Symposium on Molecular Regulation of Stem Cells. Banff, AL, Canada. [Peer Reviewed]