Deputy Scientific Director
Senior Investigator
NIH NIDCR
Building 30 Room 5A507
30 Convent Dr MSC 4320
Bethesda, MD 20892-4320
United States
The goal of Dr. Marian Young’s section is to explore the function of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins found in skeletal tissues. The current focus is on the small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) biglycan (bgn), decorin (dcn), and fibromodulin (fmod), and the Wnt target gene known as WISP1. Dr. Young’s research explores how these ECM components control skeletal tissue function via both anabolic (through differentiation and formation) and catabolic (breakdown or resorption) mechanisms which, in some cases, work by modulating growth factor availability. The group also investigates how stem cell fate can be regulated by the ECM in multiple skeletal sites including bones, teeth, cartilage and tendon. The ultimate purpose of the research is to develop practical applications for these ECM components in ameliorating diseases such as osteopenia (low bone mass), osteoarthritis (loss of cartilage) and ectopic bone formation in soft tissues.
Dr. Young received a Ph.D. in Developmental Biology from the University of Connecticut. After a postdoctoral fellowship at the NIDCR, Dr. Young headed a group in the Mineralized Tissue Research Branch where she began her investigations on the molecular biology and function of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in skeletal tissues. Dr. Young has organized several symposia and scientific conferences on the topic of bones and teeth, mineralization, and the ECM including the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Bones and Teeth (1997), a symposium on the ECM in the Craniofacial Complex, AADR (2004) and the GRC on Proteoglycans (2010). Dr. Young has served on numerous committees at the NIH related to promotion and tenure action, oversight of animal facilities, and coordination of summer student research. She has supervised dozens of research fellows and students. In 2014, Dr. Young received a Ruth L. Kirschstein Mentoring award. In August 2018, Dr. Young was appointed deputy scientific director of NIDCR's Division of Intramural Research.
- Kram V, Kilts TM, Bhattacharyya N, Young MF. Small Leucine rich proteoglycans, a novel link to osteoclastogenesis. Sci Rep. 2017 Oct 3;7(1):12627. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-12651-6.
- Maeda A, OnoM, HolmbeckK, Li L,KiltsTM, KramV, NoonanML, YoshiokaY, McNernyE, TantilloM, KohnD, LyonsKM, RobeyPG, YoungMF. WNT1 induced secreted protein-1 (WISP1): A novel regulator of bone turnover and Wnt signaling. J Biol Chem. 2015 May 29;290(22):14004-18.
- Berendsen AD, Pinnow EL, Maeda A, Brown, A McCartney-Francis N, Kram V, Owens RT, Robey PG, Holmbeck K, deCastro LF, Kilts TM, Young MF. Biglycan modulates angiogenesis and bone formation during fracture healing. Matrix Biol. 2014 Apr;335:223-231.
- Bi Y, Ehirchiou D, Kilts TM, Inkson CA, Embree MC, Sonoyama W, Li L, Leet AI, Seo BM, Zhang L, Shi S, Young MF. Identification of tendon stem/progenitor cells and the role of the extracellular matrix in their niche. Nat Med. 2007 Oct;13(10):1219-27.
- Myren M, Kirby DJ, Noonan M, Maeda A, Owens RT, Ricard-Blum S, Kram V, Kilts TM, Young MF. Biglycan potentially regulates angiogenesis during fracture repair by altering expression and function of endostatin. Matrix Biol. 2016 May-Jul;52-54:141-50.
- Embree M, Kilts T, Syed-Picard F, Karsdal M, Oldberg Å, Inkson C, Bi Y and Young MF. Biglycan and fibromodulin have essential roles in regulating chondrogenesis and extracellular matrix turnover in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis. Am J Pathol. 2010 Feb;176(2): 812-26.
- Ono M, Inkson CI, Kilts, TM, Young MF. WISP-1/CCN4 regulates osteogenesis by enhancing BMP-2 activity. J Bone Min Res. 2011 Jan;26(1):193-208.
- Embree MC, Ono M, Kilts TM, Walker D, Langguth J, Mao J, Bi Y, Barth J, Young MF 2011. Role of subchondral bone during early-stage experimental TMJ osteoarthritis. J of Dental Res 90:1331-8.
- Berendsen AD, Fischer LW, Kilts TM, Owens RT, Robey PG, Gutkind JS, Young MF. Modulation of canonical wnt signaling by the ECM component biglycan. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Oct 11;108(41):170022-7.
- Ono M, Inkson CI, Sonn R, Kilts TM, de Castro LF, Maeda A, Fisher LW, Robey PG, Berendsen AD, Li L, McCartney-Francis N, Brown A, Crawford JPS, Molinolo A, Jain A, Fedarko N, Young MF. WISP-1/CCN4 a novel target for inhibiting prostate cancer bone growth. PloS One. 2013 Aug 14; 8(8):e71709.