Aaron W. Bell, PhD
Assistant Professor of Pathology

Dr. Bell
Dr. Bell is a member of the Division of Experimental Pathology.

Office Location:
University of Pittsburgh
Department of Pathology
200 Lothrop St, Room S-424
Pittsburgh, PA 15261

Contact Information:
Office Telephone: 412-383-8922
Lab Telephone: 412-383-7787
Fax: 412-648-1916
Email: bellaaro@pitt.edu

Education

  • BS - 1991, University of Pittsburgh
  • PhD - 1999, University of Pittsburgh

Research Interests

Dr Bell’s research interests lie in understanding the role of transcription factors in control and regulation of liver growth, regeneration, differentiation and carcinogenesis. In particular, how growth factors, extra-cellular matrix, or drugs/chemicals alter the transcriptional program and affect cellular differentiation and fate. Of particular interest are the liver-enriched transcription factors, especially Hepatic Nuclear Factor-4, a key liver transcription factor required for liver development and function.

Current research in the lab includes investigation of molecular pathways modulating HNF4 expression and function in A1AT deficiency, CCL4 induced cirrhosis, compensatory liver regeneration, and phenobarbital/drug-induced augmentative regeneration, through use of standard molecular biology techniques, cell culture, transgenic mouse models, as well as RNA-interference and over-expression by way of Lentiviral and Adeno-Associated Viral vectors.

Selected Publications

View Dr. Bell's publications on PubMed

Bell, A. W., Jiang, J. G., Chen, Q., Liu, Y., Zarnegar, R.The upstream regulatory regions of the hepatocyte growth factor gene promoter are essential for its expression in transgenic mice. J Biol Chem. 273, 6900-8 (1998). PMID: 9506994

Bell, A. W., Chen, Q., DeFrances, M. C., Michalopolous, G. K., Zarnegar, R. The five amino acid-deleted isoform of hepatocyte growth factor promotes carcinogenesis in transgenic mice. Oncogene 18, 887-895 (1999). PMID: 10023664

Bell, A. W. and Michalopoulos, G. K. Phenobarbital Induces Nuclear Expression of HNF4 in mouse and rat hepatocytes independent of CAR and PXR. Hepatology. Jul;44(1):186-94 2006. PMID: 16799975

Donthamsetty S, Bowen W, Mars W, Bhave V, Luo JH, Wu C, Hurd J, Orr A, Bell A, Michalopoulos G. Liver-specific ablation of integrin-linked kinase in mice results in enhanced and prolonged cell proliferation and hepatomegaly after phenobarbital administration. Toxicol Sci. 2010 Feb;113(2):358-66. Epub 2009 Nov 17. PMID: 19920070

Liu B, Bell AW, Paranjpe S, Bowen WC, Khillan JS, Luo JH, Mars WM, Michalopoulos GK. Suppression of liver regeneration and hepatocyte proliferation in hepatocyte-targeted glypican 3 transgenic mice. Hepatology. 2010 Sep;52(3):1060-7. PMID: 20812357

Donthamsetty S, Bhave VS, Kliment CS, Bowen WC, Mars WM, Bell AW, Stewart RE, Orr A, Wu C, Michalopoulos GK. Excessive hepatomegaly of mice with hepatocyte-targeted elimination of integrin linked kinase following treatment with 1,4-bis [2-(3,5-dichaloropyridyloxy)] benzene. Hepatology. 2010 Oct 18 Article first published online: 6 JAN 2011 DOI: 10.1002/hep.24040; PMID:21274879

Lin CW, Mars WM, Paranjpe S, Donthamsetty S, Bhave VS, Kang LI, Orr A, Bowen WC, Bell AW, Michalopoulos GK. Hepatocyte proliferation and hepatomegaly induced by phenobarbital and TCPOBOP is suppressed in hepatocyte-targeted glypican 3 transgenic mice. Hepatology. 2011 May13. doi:10.1002/hep.24417. PMID:21574168

Bhave VS, Paranjpe S, Bowen WC, Donthamsetty S, Bell AW, Khillan JS, Michalopoulos GK. Genes inducing iPS phenotype play a role in hepatocyte survival and proliferation in vitro and liver regeneration in vivo. Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.). 2011 Oct; 54 (4):1360-70. PubMed Central PMCID:PMC3184195. PubMed PMID: 21739467.