Popko, Brian J., PhD

Jack Miller Professor of Neurological Disorders
Director, Jack Miller Center for Peripheral Neuropathy
Associate Chair for Research

Address: 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 2030
Chicago, IL 60637-1470
Telephone: 773-702-4593
Assistant: Lydia Madrigal
Fax: 773-702-5577
Laboratory Website: Jack Miller Center for Peripheral Neuropathy
Education & Training
  • Ph.D., 1984, University of Miami, School of Medicine
Research Interests
  • Myelination: Dr. Popko’s laboratory has a long-standing interest in the glial cells of the nervous system, particularly in those responsible for the formation of the myelin sheath. These interests range from a basic understanding of the myelination process to disease mechanisms, genetic and acquired, that disrupt this critical component of the nervous system. The genetic mouse models utilized by the Popko lab have been instrumental in expanding knowledge of the myelination process and of demyelinating disorders. Over the past two decades, Dr. Popko’s studies have contributed to our understanding of myelin-specific proteins and lipids that play critical roles in myelin formation and maintenance. His lab also has a keen interest in the effect of the inflammatory response on myelinating cells, which is of critical importance to the pathogenesis of immune-mediated demyelinating disorders.
  • Peripheral Neuropathy: Dr. Popko is pursuing a better understanding of the molecules that are important to the development and maintenance of the peripheral nerve, again using mouse models as a key resource. The underlying hypothesis of this work is that the identification of susceptible pathways that have the potential to lead to peripheral nerve disorders in mice will be of practical value in the understanding of human peripheral neuropathies and in the assessment of prospective therapeutic approaches. Dr. Popko’s efforts include the characterization of mutant and transgenic strains of mice with behavioral, physiological, histological, biochemical, and molecular approaches.
  • Dr. Popko’s work has consistently been funded by the National Institutes of Health. His laboratory is also one of four participating laboratories funded by the private, non-profit Myelin Repair Foundation, which is devoted to promoting functional recovery in multiple sclerosis patients.
Teaching
  • Co-Director and Lecturer, Neurobiology 322, Molecular Neurobiology
  • Lecturer, Neurobiology 146, Molecular Neurobiology
  • Lecturer, Neurobiology of Disease Course (CPNS 34700 / BIOS 24246)
Selected Publications

  1. Douglas DS. Moran JL, Bermingham JR, Chen XJ, Brindley DN, Soliven B, Beier DR, Popko B. : Concurrent Lpin1 and Nrcam mouse mutations result in severe peripheral neuropathy with transitory hind limb paralysis. . J Neurosci, in press

  2. Lin W, Popko B, Endoplasmic reticulum stress in disorders of myelinating cells. Nat.Neurosci, 12(14): 379-85, 2009.

  3. Traka M, Wollmann RL, Cerda SR, Dugas J, Barres BA, Popko B: Nur7 is a nonsense mutation in the mouse aspartoacylase gene that causes spongy degeneration of the CNS. J Neurosci. 2008 28(45):11537-11549.

  4. Chen XC, Levedakou EN, Millen KJ, Wollmann RL, Soliven B, Popko B: Proprioceptive Sensory Neuropathy in Mice with a Mutation in the Cytoplasmic Dynein Heavy Chain 1 Gene. J Neurosci 27(52):14515-14524, 2007.

  5. Balabanov R, Strand K, Goswami R, McMahon E, Bgolka W, Miller SD, Popko B: Interferon-gamma-oligodendrocyte interactions in the regulation of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. J Neurosci 27(8):2013-2024, 2007.

  6. Lin W, Bailey SL, Ho H, Harding HP, Ron D, Miller SD, Popko B: The integrated stress response prevents demyelination by protecting oligodendrocytes against immune-mediated damage. J Clin Invest 117(2):448-456, 2007.

  7. Balabanov R, Strand K, Kemper A, Lee JY and Popko B: Suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 expression protects oligodendrocytes from the deleterious effects of interferon-gamma. J Neurosci 26(19):5143-52, 2006.

  8. Lin W, Harding HP, Ron D, Popko B: ER Stress Modulates the Response of Myelinating Oligodendrocytes to the Immune Cytokine Interferon-γ. J Cell Biol 169:603-612, 2005.

  9. Levedakou EN, Chen XJ, Soliven B and Popko B: Disruption of the mouse Large gene in the enr and myd mutants results in nerve, muscle, and neuromuscular junction defects.  Mol Cell Neurosci  28:757-69, 2005.

  10. Lin W, Kemper A, McCarthy KD, Pytel P, Wang JP, Campbell IL, Utset MF, Popko B: Interferon-gamma Induced Medulloblastoma in the Developing Cerebellum.  J Neurosci 24:10074-10083, 2004.

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