Research Interests

Stem Cell Technology: mesenchymal stem cells, clonal heterogeneity, cell signaling, aging and regenerative therapies

Overview

My research is in the area of stem cell technology with the goal of improving human health through advances in regenerative medicine. Currently, my research focuses on human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). These are highly robust cells with broad differentiation potential that regulate the immune response and migrate to injured tissue, among other therapeutic properties. As such, these adult stem cells have potential application to treat a wide range of disorders including arthritis, heart attack and cancer. The scope of my research projects ranges from fundamental discovery at the cellular and molecular levels to computational analysis that resolves complex interactions among cells and signaling pathways. With both approaches, our objective is to gain unique insight into the mechanisms by which stem cells interact with their surroundings and to employ this knowledge to develop novel regenerative therapies. This research is inherently interdisciplinary and provides opportunities to collaborate with stem cell biologists and clinicians.

Recent Accomplishments

Below, I summarized recent accomplishments that my research group has made in the area of stem cell technology. We have made several important contributions to cytokine regulation of migration, clonal heterogeneity in potency and proliferation potential of MSCs. References are provided for representative articles on these topics.

Migration. The efficacy of stem cell therapies is dependent on the ability of stem cells to migrate to injured tissue. Our study was innovative in providing the first report of a protein inhibitor of MSC migration: macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). Moreover, this was the first report of the effects of MIF and its antagonist on the function of any type of stem cell or progenitor. Stem cells may encounter MIF during times of injury and stress and, thus, MIF may be relevant to a variety of MSC therapies. The anti-inflammatory agent ISO-1, a small-molecule MIF antagonist, restored MSC migration for all donors to levels found in the absence of MIF in serum-free medium and increased migration to conditioned medium by ≥3-fold in all cases. An activating CD74 antibody was employed to examine the effect of the CD74 MIF receptor on MSC motility. CD74 activation inhibits in a dose-dependent manner up to 90% of in vitro MSC migration, indicating that MIF may act on MSCs, at least in part, through CD74. MIF and ISO-1 may have utility to control MSC migration to and retention in injured tissue.

Representative article: Barrilleaux, Phinney, Fischer-Valuck, Russell, Wang, Prockop and O’Connor. Small-molecule antagonist of macrophage migration inhibitory factor enhances migratory response of mesenchymal stem cells to bronchial epithelial cells. Tissue Eng Part A, 15: 2335-46 (2009).

Heterogeneity in Potency. MSCs are a heterogeneous mixture of cell populations at different stages of lineage commitment. Donor variation in the composition of MSC populations in culture has a significant impact on the efficacy of MSC therapies. An obstacle to quantify this heterogeneity is the absence of an immunophenotype of cell-surface markers that specifies the differentiation potential (or potency) of MSCs. We circumvented this obstacle by developing a unique high-capacity assay based on functional differentiation. The assay utilizes a 96-well format to (1) generate clones by limiting dilution, (2) differentiate matched clonal colonies to quantify trilineage potential to exhibit adipo-, chondro- and osteogenesis as a measure potency, and (3) cryopreserve clones of known potency. When the assay was applied to MSCs from two donors with comparable colony-forming efficiencies (55-62%), all 8 possible categories of trilineage potential were observed. This assay has enabled us to elucidate regenerative properties of MSCs as a function of their potency and to identify novel cell-surface markers of MSC potency.

Representative article: Russell, Phinney, Lacey, Barrilleaux, Meyertholen and O’Connor. In vitro high-capacity assay to quantify the clonal heterogeneity in trilineage potential of mesenchymal stem cells reveals a complex hierarchy of lineage commitment. Stem Cells, 28: 788-98 (2010). [Among Top 50 Downloaded Articles in Stem Cells for March 2010]

Proliferation Potential. Ex vivo proliferation to produce sufficient quantities of MSCs is essential for most therapeutic applications of these stem cells. Clonal analysis of distinct MSC populations with the high-capacity assay described in the previous section resolved the relationship between proliferation potential of MSCs and their potency. Tripotent MSC clones are highly proliferative in terms of their colony-forming efficiency and capacity for ex vivo expansion. Bipotent osteo-adipogenic and osteo-chondrogenic clones have similar proliferation potentials. Lineage-committed, unipotent clones are slow-growing, senescent and, to a lesser extent, apoptotic. Our results are germane to the ex vivo expansion of MSCs for clinical applications; use of colony-forming efficiency to monitor the content of multipotent cells in MSC therapies and predict their efficacy; enrichment of multipotent MSCs; and preparation of MSC therapies to treat the elderly and non-union bone fractures, when accumulation of senescent MSCs in bone is likely.

Representative article: Russell, Lacey, Gilliam, Tucker, Phinney and O’Connor. Clonal analysis of proliferation potential of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells as a function of potency. Biotechnol Bioeng, 108: 2716-26 (2011). [FEATURED ARTICLE]

Education

B.S., Rice University, Chemical Engineering Dept., 1982
Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, Chemical Engineering Dept., 1987
Postdoctoral, California Institute of Technology, Chemistry Dept., 1987-1988
Northwestern University, Chemical Engineering Dept. & Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Cell Biology Dept., 1988-1990

Biographical Sketch

 Prof. O’Connor specializes in stem cell engineering.  She earned a B.S. magna cum laude in chemical engineering from Rice University where she was a George R. Brown, Robert A. Welch and Max Roy Merit Scholar, and a recipient of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers Outstanding Engineering Student Award.  As a Weyerhaeuser Fellow at Caltech, Kim O’Connor earned a doctorate under the tutelage of James E. Bailey, a leader in the field of biomolecular engineering.  After completing postdoctoral training in molecular and cellular biology at Caltech and Northwestern University, Dr. O’Connor joined the faculty of Tulane University where she is currently a professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and holds courtesy appointments in the Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Surgery, Cancer Center, Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, DeBakey Scholars Programand Biological Chemistry Undergraduate Program.  She has served as a visiting professor in the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at the Baylor College of Medicine. 

 Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are the subject of Prof. O’Connor’s research.  These adult stem cells differentiate into multiple mesenchymal cell lineages and secrete trophicfactors to regulate a variety of cellular processes, including fibrosis and the immune system.   As such, MSCs have potential application to treat a range of disorders including arthritis, heart attack and cancer.  Prof. O’Connor’s research focuses on the heterogeneity of MSCs and its implications for regenerative therapy and disease.  Her research grouphas made several important contributions tothe field of MSC heterogeneity, including development of a high-capacity assay of heterogeneity, resolution of proliferation-potency relationship at the clonal level, and identification of cell-surface markers of MSC subsets.  To date, she has obtained research funding as principal investigator from such agencies as NASA, NIH and NSF that resulted in the publication of more than 95 research articles, including over 50 peer-reviewed publications and patents cited approximately 700 times.  Her research has been featured in leading professional journals and in poster competitions.  Prof. O’Connor has been invited to deliver numerous presentations on this work in the US and abroad.  A total of 20 postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, as well as over 30 undergraduates and technicians have trained under her direction. They have obtained prestigious positions at NIH, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins and Merck, among others.

 In the area of professional service, Prof. O’Connor has served on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine.  She founded and directs a Combined Degree Program that awards a M.S. in Biomedical Sciences and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, and was past Co-Director and Interim Director of the Interdisciplinary Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program (now, Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program) that encompasses over 100 faculty across three campuses of Tulane University.  Additionally, Prof. O’Connor has served as Chair of the Promotion and Tenure Committee for the School of Science and Engineering at Tulane and founded the Newcomb lectureship series to recognize professional accomplishments of female chemical engineers.

 For her research achievements, Prof. O’Connor is the 2013 recipient of Biotechnology & Bioengineering’s Gaden Award for an outstanding publication that reflects exceptional innovation and creativity, NASA Space Act Award, Tulane IDEA Award, and Tulane Health Sciences Award for Leadership & Excellence in Intercampus Collaborative Research.  For her teaching, she has been honored by Who’s Who Among American Teachers and by Tulane University with the Interdisciplinary Teaching Award, Provost’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, and Society of Tulane Engineers and Lee H. Johnson Award for Teaching Excellence.  Her academic achievements have been recognized by Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Pi and Phi Lambda Upsilon.

Curriculum Vitae »

Publications

1. KC Russell, MR Lacey, JK Gilliam, HA Tucker, DG Phinney and KC O’Connor*. Clonal analysis of proliferation potential of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells as a function of potency. Biotechnol Bioeng, 108: 2716-26 (2011). [FEATURED ARTICLE]
2. K O’Connor*, BL Barrilleaux, DG Phinney, BW Fischer-Valuck, KC Russell and DJ Prockop. Regulating in vitro motility of human mesenchymal stem cells with macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and a small-molecule MIF antagonist. Cellular Solutions for Clinical Challenges, N Jenkins, Ed. (Springer Publishers, Netherlands, 2011), in press.
3. KC Russell, DG Phinney, MR Lacey, BL Barrilleaux, KE Meyertholen and KC O’Connor*. In vitro high-capacity assay to quantify the clonal heterogeneity in trilineage potential of mesenchymal stem cells reveals a complex hierarchy of lineage commitment. Stem Cells, 28: 788-98 (2010). [Among Top 50 Downloaded Articles in Stem Cells for March 2010]
4. BL Barrilleaux, BW Fischer-Valuck, JK Gilliam, DG Phinney and KC O’Connor*. Activation of CD74 inhibits migration of human mesenchymal stem cells. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol - Anim, 46: 566-72 (2010).
5. BW Fischer-Valuck, BL Barrilleaux, DG Phinney, KC Russell, DJ Prockop and KC O’Connor*. Migratory response of mesenchymal stem cells to macrophage migration inhibitory factor and its antagonist as a function of colony-forming efficiency. Biotechnol Lett, 32: 19-27 (2010).
6. BL Barrilleaux, DG Phinney, BW Fischer-Valuck, KC Russell, G Wang, DJ Prockop and KC O’Connor*. Small-molecule antagonist of macrophage migration inhibitory factor enhances migratory response of mesenchymal stem cells to bronchial epithelial cells. Tissue Eng Part A, 15: 2335-46 (2009).
7. KC O’Connor*. An introductory course in bioengineering and biotechnology for chemical engineering sophomores. Chem Eng Edu, 41: 247-52 (2007).
8. K O’Connor*, C Vidulescu, S Clejan, H Song and M Venczel. Predicting tissue assembly of prostate cancer spheroids. Cell Technology Processes for Cell Products, R Smith, Ed. (Springer Publishers, Netherlands, 2007), 297-302.
9. KC O’Connor*, JW Muhitch, DJ Lacks and M Al-Rubeai. Modeling suppression of cell death by Bcl-2 over-expression in myeloma NS0 6A1 cells. Biotechnol Lett, 28: 1919-24 (2006).
10. BL Barrilleaux, DG Phinney, DJ Prockop and KC O’Connor*. Ex vivo engineering of living tissue with adult stem cells. Tissue Eng, 12: 3007-19 (2006). [FEATURED ARTICLE]
11. KC O’Connor* and M Venczel. Predicting aggregation kinetics of DU145 human prostate cancer cells in liquid-overlay culture. Biotechnol Lett, 27: 1663-8 (2005).
12. KC O’Connor*. Incorporating molecular and cellular biology into a chemical engineering degree program. Chem Eng Edu, 39: 124-127 & 133 (2005).
13. H Song, S Jain, RM Enmon and KC O’Connor*. Restructuring dynamics of DU 145 and LNCaP prostate cancer spheroids. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol - Anim, 40: 262-7 (2004). [FEATURED ARTICLE]
14. C Vidulescu, S Clejan and KC O’Connor*. Vesicle traffic through intercellular bridges in DU 145 human prostate cancer cells. J Cell Mol Med, 8: 388-96 (2004).
15. H Song, O David, S Clejan, CL Giordano, H Pappas-LeBeau, L Xu and KC O’Connor*. Spatial composition of prostate cancer spheroids in mixed and static cultures. Tissue Eng, 10: 1266-76 (2004).
16. H Song, KC O’Connor*, DJ Lacks, RM Enmon and SK Jain. Monte Carlo simulation of LNCaP human prostate cancer cell aggregation in liquid-overlay culture. Biotechnol Prog, 19: 1742-9 (2003).
17. KC O’Connor*, H Song, N Rosenzweig and DA Jansen. Extracellular matrix substrata alter adipocyte yield and lipogenesis in primary cultures of stromal-vascular cells from human adipose. Biotechnol Lett, 25: 1967-72 (2003).
18. H Song, KC O’Connor*, O David, CL Giordano, H Pappas-LeBeau and S Clejan. Immunohisto-chemical analysis of differentiation in mixed and static prostate cancer spheroids. J Cell Mol Med, 7: 180-6 (2003).
19. RM Enmon, KC O’Connor*, H Song, DJ Lacks and DK Schwartz. Aggregation kinetics of well and poorly differentiated human prostate cancer cells. Biotechnol Bioeng, 80: 580-8 (2002).
20. KC O’Connor*, NL Cowger, DCR De Kee and RP Schwarz. Prolonged shearing of insect cells in a Couette bioreactor. Enzyme Microb Technol, 31: 600-8 (2002).
21. H Song, KC O’Connor*, KD Papadopoulos and DA Jansen. Differentiation kinetics of in vitro 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cultures. Tissue Eng, 8: 1071-81(2002).
22. S Clejan*, K O’Connor and N Rosenzweig. Tri-dimensional prostate cell cultures in simulated microgravity and induced changes in lipid second messengers and signal transduction. J Cell Mol Med, 5: 60-73 (2001).
23. NJ Hallab*, KJ Bundy, K O’Connor, RL Moses and JJ Jacobs. Evaluation of metallic and polymeric biomaterial surface energy and surface roughness characteristics for directed cell adhesion. Tissue Eng, 7: 55-71 (2001).
24. RM Enmon, KC O’Connor*, DJ Lacks, DK Schwartz and RS Dotson. Dynamics of spheroid self-assembly in liquid-overlay cultures of DU 145 human prostate cancer cells. Biotechnol Bioeng, 72: 579-91 (2001).

Teaching

• Transport Phenomena I, CENG 232, 2008-present
• Advances in Biotechnology, CENG 772, Created by K. O'Connor, 1994, 1999, 2002, 2006-present
• Introduction to Biotechnology and Biomolecular Engineering, CENG 250, Created by K. O'Connor, 2005-2007
• Biochemical Engineering, CENG 471/671, 1990-1996, 1998, 2000-2001, 2003-2004
• Practice School, CENG 680/682, 1991-1992, 1995-2005, 2007
• Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, CENG 212, 2000-2004
• Engineering Thermodynamics, ENGR 213, 1994-1999, 2001, 2006
• Material and Energy Balances, CENG 214, 1991-1993
• Introduction to Chemical Engineering, ENGR 102, 2003 (with K Papadopoulos)
• Research Methods, MCBP 712/713, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2003-2004
• Workshop, MCBP 710/711, 1992-1994