Philipp Mews, PhD
Assistant Professor, Physiology & Biophysics
Biography
The Mews Lab is pioneering research at the intersection of neuroepigenetics, metabolism, and neural plasticity in the adult brain, with an emphasis on substance use disorders. Our research builds on the concept that metabolic processes and the epigenome are deeply interconnected, influencing gene expression and behavior in profound ways. At the heart of our work are two critical questions that drive our investigations:
Interplay of Metabolism and Epigenetics: How do metabolic processes intertwine with epigenetic factors to orchestrate gene responses in the brain? This question delves into the heart of cellular function, exploring the dynamic and reciprocal relationship between the metabolic state of a cell and its epigenetic landscape. We are committed to deciphering how these interactions dictate gene expression patterns, influence neural plasticity, and ultimately shape cognitive and behavioral outcomes.
Influence of Diet and Substance Use on Chromatin Dynamics: How do external factors like nutrients and drugs of abuse alter chromatin states, thereby impacting brain function? Here, we probe the profound effects of environmental inputs on the brain’s epigenetic makeup. We seek to understand how these factors induce changes in chromatin structure and function, leading to lasting modifications in neural circuits and behavior. This line of investigation is particularly crucial in understanding the pathogenesis of substance use disorders and in identifying potential epigenetic targets for therapeutic intervention.
The lab combines innovative molecular and behavioral methodologies to explore how metabolism-to-epigenome signaling governs brain function. Our work not only bridges diverse scientific disciplines but also holds the promise of unlocking new therapeutic avenues for neuropsychiatric disorders. Join our team and explore opportunities to contribute, learn, and thrive in our dynamic research environment.
Education
- University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, PhD
- Freie Universität Berlin, BS
Publications
- Published on 3/14/2024
Martínez-Rivera FJ, Holt LM, Minier-Toribio A, Estill M, Yeh SY, Tofani S, Futamura R, Browne CJ, Mews P, Shen L, Nestler EJ. Transcriptional characterization of cocaine withdrawal versus extinction within nucleus accumbens. bioRxiv. 2024 Mar 14. PMID: 38559084.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 9/19/2023
Browne CJ, Mews P, Zhou X, Holt LM, Estill M, Futamura R, Schaefer A, Kenny PJ, Hurd YL, Shen L, Zhang B, Nestler EJ. Shared and divergent transcriptomic regulation in nucleus accumbens D1 and D2 medium spiny neurons by cocaine and morphine. bioRxiv. 2023 Sep 19. PMID: 37781621.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 3/7/2023
Godino A, Salery M, Durand-de Cuttoli R, Estill MS, Holt LM, Futamura R, Browne CJ, Mews P, Hamilton PJ, Neve RL, Shen L, Russo SJ, Nestler EJ. Transcriptional control of nucleus accumbens neuronal excitability by retinoid X receptor alpha tunes sensitivity to drug rewards. Neuron. 2023 May 03; 111(9):1453-1467.e7. PMID: 36889314.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 3/1/2023
Emerson SD, Chevée M, Mews P, Calipari ES. The transcriptional response to acute cocaine is inverted in male mice with a history of cocaine self-administration and withdrawal throughout the mesocorticolimbic system. Mol Cell Neurosci. 2023 Jun; 125:103823. PMID: 36868542.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 2/10/2023
Mews P, Cunningham AM, Scarpa J, Ramakrishnan A, Hicks EM, Bolnick S, Garamszegi S, Shen L, Mash DC, Nestler EJ. Convergent abnormalities in striatal gene networks in human cocaine use disorder and mouse cocaine administration models. Sci Adv. 2023 Feb 10; 9(6):eadd8946. PMID: 36763659.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 8/3/2022
Alexander DC, Corman T, Mendoza M, Glass A, Belity T, Wu R, Campbell RR, Han J, Keiser AA, Winkler J, Wood MA, Kim T, Garcia BA, Cohen H, Mews P, Egervari G, Berger SL. Targeting acetyl-CoA metabolism attenuates the formation of fear memories through reduced activity-dependent histone acetylation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Aug 09; 119(32):e2114758119. PMID: 35921439.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 7/28/2022
van der Zee YY, Eijssen LMT, Mews P, Ramakrishnan A, Alvarez K, Lardner CK, Cates HM, Walker DM, Torres-Berrío A, Browne CJ, Cunningham A, Cathomas F, Kronman H, Parise EM, de Nijs L, Shen L, Murrough JW, Rutten BPF, Nestler EJ, Issler O. Blood miR-144-3p: a novel diagnostic and therapeutic tool for depression. Mol Psychiatry. 2022 Nov; 27(11):4536-4549. PMID: 35902629.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 4/7/2022
Mews P. Targeting memories to treat trauma. Science. 2022 Apr 08; 376(6589):147. PMID: 35389804.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 5/1/2021
Kronman H, Torres-Berrío A, Sidoli S, Issler O, Godino A, Ramakrishnan A, Mews P, Lardner CK, Parise EM, Walker DM, van der Zee YY, Browne CJ, Boyce BF, Neve R, Garcia BA, Shen L, Peña CJ, Nestler EJ. Author Correction: Long-term behavioral and cell-type-specific molecular effects of early life stress are mediated by H3K79me2 dynamics in medium spiny neurons. Nat Neurosci. 2021 May; 24(5):753-754. PMID: 33833436.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 3/15/2021
Kronman H, Torres-Berrío A, Sidoli S, Issler O, Godino A, Ramakrishnan A, Mews P, Lardner CK, Parise EM, Walker DM, van der Zee YY, Browne CJ, Boyce BF, Neve R, Garcia BA, Shen L, Peña CJ, Nestler EJ. Long-term behavioral and cell-type-specific molecular effects of early life stress are mediated by H3K79me2 dynamics in medium spiny neurons. Nat Neurosci. 2021 May; 24(5):667-676. PMID: 33723435.
Read at: PubMed
View 9 more publications: View full profile at BUMC