Tower Lab

Center for Organogenesis, Regeneration & Trauma

Department of Surgery

The Tower lab integrates multi-omics-based approaches in the fields of musculoskeletal development, homeostasis, repair and regeneration.

We currently make use of single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics and metabolomic studies to understand the regulatory networks governing cell fate and function. Using transgenic animal models, combined with bioinformatic approaches, our lab currently focuses on understanding the mesenchymal-immune cell interactions which occur within the stem cell niche under physiological conditions, and how these signaling cascades drive regenerative or fibrotic outcomes  following injury. Understanding these divergent signaling mechanisms will hopefully help guide future therapeutic strategies to promote faithful repair of damaged tissue.

Meet the Principle Investigator

Robert Tower

Robert Tower is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery with appointments in the Center for Organogenesis Research and Trauma and the Charles and Jane Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research. Dr. Tower is originally from Edmonton, AB, Canada where he obtained his BS in Molecular Genetics and his MS in Cell Biology from the University of Alberta, then later conducted his PhD in Germany at the Christian Albrechts University. Dr. Tower has conducted postdoctoral studies at the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University. In 2021, Dr. Tower was recruited to UTSW where his lab focusses on musculoskeletal biology, understanding the complex cellular interactions which occur under physiological conditions, molecular changes which occur following injury, and how these pathways dictate regenerative or fibrotic healing outcomes. Dr. Tower is supported  by grants from the National Institute of Health and the Department of Defense.

Latest News & Events

Oct 2024

New Lab Members

The Tower lab is pleased to welcome Katelyn Hornfischer and Achira Shah to the team

Oct 2024

Collaborative publications

The Tower lab is grateful to be included as co-authors on recent work from the Karner lab (UTSW) published in EMBO, and the James lab (Hopkins) published in Dev Cell

Sept 2024

ASBMR Meet-the-Professor Session

Excited to be presenting a meet-the-professor session on using spatial transcriptomics in bone at the ASBMR annual meeting

July 2024

New Publication

We are pleased to announce our new publication in collaboration with the Rios lab titled "Spatial transcriptomics implicates impaired BMP signaling in NF1 fracture pseudarthrosis in murine and patient tissues" published in JCI Insight

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June 2024

New NIH funding awarded

We are pleased to announce the funding of R01AI186118 from the NIAID

June 2024

Welcome Henry Maxwell

The Tower lab is proud to welcome Henry Maxwell, a membr of STARS Summer Research Program

Mar 2024

New NIH funding awarded

We are pleased to announce the funding of R01HD112474 from the NICHD in collaboration with Drs. Mimi Sammarco from the Mayo Clinic and Anyonya Guntur from Maine Health Institute of Research.

Feb 2024

Welcome Alex Trostle

The Tower lab is proud to welcome Alex Trostle as a new PhD graduate student in the GD&D program.

Dec 2023

TrkA-mediated sensory innervation of injured mouse tendon supports tendon sheath progenitor cell expansion and tendon repair

Happy to be a part of a new paper on using spatial transcriptomics in tendon healing entitled "TrkA-mediated sensory innervation of injured mouse tendon supports tendon sheath progenitor cell expansion and tendon repair" published in Science Translational Medicine

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Nov. 2023

Spatial Transcriptomic Interrogation of the Murine Bone Marrow Signaling Landscape

Happy to announce that our new paper entitled "Spatial transcriptomic interrogation of the murine bone marrow signaling landscape" published in Bone Research

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Oct. 2023

Dr. Tower named as Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Morphogenesis and Patterning

Dr. Tower named as Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Morphogenesis and Patterning, a specialty section of Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

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Sept. 2023

Congratulations to Janna Crossley

Congratulations to Janna Crossley from the Tower Lab on her paper entitled "Itaconate-producing neutrophils regulate local and systemic inflammation following trauma" published in JCI Insight.

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Aug. 2023

ORS Interview

Interview by ORS on the use of spatial transcriptomics in bone is now out

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July 2023

"Itaconate-producing Neutrophils Regulate Local and Systemic Inflammation Following Trauma" selected for an oral presentation

Abstract entitled "Itaconate-producing neutrophils regulate local and systemic inflammation following trauma" selected for an oral presentation at this years ASBMR coming up in Vancouver, CA Oct 13-16 and awarded the Mid-Career Faculty Travel Grant given to top Mid-Career Investigator members

July 2023

"Spatial Transcriptomic Analysis of a Pre-clinical Model of Nf1-deficient Fractures Pseudarthrosis" selected for an oral presentation

Abstract entitled "Spatial transcriptomic analysis of a pre-clinical model of Nf1-deficient fractures pseudarthrosis" selected for an oral presentation at this years ASBMR coming up in Vancouver, CA Oct 13-16

May 2023

W81XWH-22-PRMRP-FPA Grant

We are pleased to announce grant W81XWH-22-PRMRP-FPA was funded by the department of defense

April 2023

"Itaconate-producing Neutrophils Regulate Local and Systemic Inflammation Following Trauma" invited for an oral presentation

Abstract entitled "Itaconate-producing neutrophils regulate local and systemic inflammation following trauma" invited for an oral presentation at the Advances in Mineral Metabolism Annual Meeting in Snowmass, CO.

Feb. 2023

Dr. Jonathan Rios Collaboration at Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) meeting in Dallas, Tx

Come see our latest work in collaboration with Dr. Jonathan Rios at this year's Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) meeting right here in Dallas, Tx!

Publications

Single-cell mapping of regenerative and fibrotic healing responses after musculoskeletal injury.

Tower RJ, Bancroft AC, Chowdary AR, Barnes S, Edwards NJ, Pagani CA, Dawson LA, Levi B, 2022 Sep Stem Cell Reports

Spatial transcriptomics reveals metabolic changes underly age-dependent declines in digit regeneration.

Tower RJ, Busse E, Jaramillo J, Lacey M, Hoffseth K, Guntur AR, Simkin J, Sammarco MC, 2022 May Elife 11

NGF-p75 signaling coordinates skeletal cell migration during bone repair.

Xu J, Li Z, Tower RJ, Negri S, Wang Y, Meyers CA, Sono T, Qin Q, Lu A, Xing X, McCarthy EF, Clemens TL, James AW, 2022 Mar Sci Adv 11 8 eabl5716

Spatial transcriptomics reveals a role for sensory nerves in preserving cranial suture patency through modulation of BMP/TGF-? signaling.

Tower RJ, Li Z, Cheng YH, Wang XW, Rajbhandari L, Zhang Q, Negri S, Uytingco CR, Venkatesan A, Zhou FQ, Cahan P, James AW, Clemens TL, 2021 Oct Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 42 118

Single cell transcriptomics identifies a unique adipose lineage cell population that regulates bone marrow environment.

Zhong L, Yao L, Tower RJ, Wei Y, Miao Z, Park J, Shrestha R, Wang L, Yu W, Holdreith N, Huang X, Zhang Y, Tong W, Gong Y, Ahn J, Susztak K, Dyment N, Li M, Long F, Chen C, Seale P, Qin L, 2020 04 Elife 9

Neutrophil and NETosis Modulation in Traumatic Heterotopic Ossification.

Nunez JH, Juan C, Sun Y, Hong J, Bancroft AC, Hwang C, Medrano J, Huber AK, Tower RJ, Levi B, 2023 Jun Ann Surg

Tppp3+ synovial/tendon sheath progenitor cells contribute to heterotopic bone after trauma.

Yea JH, Gomez-Salazar M, Onggo S, Li Z, Thottappillil N, Cherief M, Negri S, Xing X, Qin Q, Tower RJ, Fan CM, Levi B, James AW, 2023 Jul Bone Res 1 11 39

Macrophage-mediated PDGF Activation Correlates with Regenerative Outcomes Following Musculoskeletal Trauma.

Chowdary AR, Maertz T, Henn D, Hankenson KD, Pagani CA, Marini S, Gallagher K, Aguilar CA, Tower RJ, Levi B, 2022 Sep Ann Surg

A specialized metabolic pathway partitions citrate in hydroxyapatite to impact mineralization of bones and teeth.

Dirckx N, Zhang Q, Chu EY, Tower RJ, Li Z, Guo S, Yuan S, Khare PA, Zhang C, Verardo A, Alejandro LO, Park A, Faugere MC, Helfand SL, Somerman MJ, Riddle RC, de Cabo R, Le A, Schmidt-Rohr K, Clemens TL, 2022 Nov Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 45 119 e2212178119

Acetabular Reaming Is a Reliable Model to Produce and Characterize Periarticular Heterotopic Ossification of the Hip.

Negri S, Wang Y, Li Z, Qin Q, Lee S, Cherief M, Xu J, Hsu GC, Tower RJ, Presson B, Levin A, McCarthy E, Levi B, James AW, 2022 Jun Stem Cells Transl Med

NELL-1 regulates the matrisome to promote osteosarcoma progression.

Qin Q, Gomez-Salazar M, Tower RJ, Chang L, Morris CD, McCarthy EF, Ting K, Zhang X, James AW, 2022 Jun Cancer Res

Neuron-to-vessel signaling is a required feature of aberrant stem cell commitment after soft tissue trauma.

Qin Q, Gomez-Salazar M, Cherief M, Pagani CA, Lee S, Hwang C, Tower RJ, Onggo S, Sun Y, Piplani A, Li Z, Ramesh S, Clemens TL, Levi B, James AW, 2022 Jun Bone Res 1 10 43

PDGFRa reporter activity identifies periosteal progenitor cells critical for bone formation and fracture repair.

Xu J, Wang Y, Li Z, Tian Y, Li Z, Lu A, Hsu CY, Negri S, Tang C, Tower RJ, Morris C, James AW, 2022 Jan Bone Res 1 10 7

Discoidin domain receptor 2 regulates aberrant mesenchymal lineage cell fate and matrix organization.

Pagani CA, Bancroft AC, Tower RJ, Livingston N, Sun Y, Hong JY, Kent RN, Strong AL, Nunez JH, Medrano JMR, Patel N, Nanes BA, Dean KM, Li Z, Ge C, Baker BM, James AW, Weiss SJ, Franceschi RT, Levi B, 2022 Dec Sci Adv 51 8 eabq6152

SOX9 keeps growth plates and articular cartilage healthy by inhibiting chondrocyte dedifferentiation/osteoblastic redifferentiation.

Haseeb A, Kc R, Angelozzi M, de Charleroy C, Rux D, Tower RJ, Yao L, Pellegrino da Silva R, Pacifici M, Qin L, Lefebvre V, 2021 Feb Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 8 118

Genomic variants within chromosome 14q32.32 regulate bone mass through MARK3 signaling in osteoblasts.

Zhang Q, Mesner LD, Calabrese GM, Dirckx N, Li Z, Verardo A, Yang Q, Tower RJ, Faugere MC, Farber CR, Clemens TL, 2021 Apr J Clin Invest 7 131

Systemic DKK1 neutralization enhances human adipose-derived stem cell mediated bone repair.

Negri S, Wang Y, Sono T, Qin Q, Hsu GC, Cherief M, Xu J, Lee S, Tower RJ, Yu V, Piplani A, Meyers CA, Broderick K, Lee M, James AW, 2021 Apr Stem Cells Transl Med 4 10 610-622

NGF-TrkA signaling dictates neural ingrowth and aberrant osteochondral differentiation after soft tissue trauma.

Lee S, Hwang C, Marini S, Tower RJ, Qin Q, Negri S, Pagani CA, Sun Y, Stepien DM, Sorkin M, Kubiak CA, Visser ND, Meyers CA, Wang Y, Rasheed HA, Xu J, Miller S, Huber AK, Minichiello L, Cederna PS, Kemp SWP, Clemens TL, James AW, Levi B, 2021 08 Nat Commun 1 12 4939

The Inner Annulus Fibrosus Encroaches on the Nucleus Pulposus in the Injured Mouse Tail Intervertebral Disc.

Wei Y, Tian Z, Tower RJ, E Gullbrand S, Yao L, Shetye SS, Mauck RL, Qin L, Zhang Y, 2021 05 Am J Phys Med Rehabil 5 100 450-457

Multimodal Targeted Nanoparticle-Based Delivery System for Pancreatic Tumor Imaging in Cellular and Animal Models.

Medina OP, Tower RJ, Medina TP, Ashkenani F, Appold L, Bötcher M, Huber L, Will O, Ling Q, Hauser C, Rohwedder A, Heneweer C, Peschke E, Hövener JB, Lüdtke-Buzug K, Boretius S, Mentlein R, Kairemo K, Glüer CC, Sebens S, Kalthoff H, 2020 Jul Curr Pharm Des

Lysosomal protein surface expression discriminates fat- from bone-forming human mesenchymal precursor cells.

Xu J, Wang Y, Hsu CY, Negri S, Tower RJ, Gao Y, Tian Y, Sono T, Meyers CA, Hardy WR, Chang L, Hu S, Kahn N, Broderick K, Péault B, James AW, 2020 10 Elife 9

Comparison of skeletal and soft tissue pericytes identifies CXCR4+ bone forming mural cells in human tissues.

Xu J, Li D, Hsu CY, Tian Y, Zhang L, Wang Y, Tower RJ, Chang L, Meyers CA, Gao Y, Broderick K, Morris C, Hooper JE, Nimmagadda S, Péault B, James AW, 2020 Bone Res 8 22

Spatial distribution of type II collagen gene expression in the mouse intervertebral disc.

Wei Y, Tower RJ, Tian Z, Mohanraj B, Mauck RL, Qin L, Zhang Y, 2019 Dec JOR Spine 4 2 e1070

Activation of Skeletal Stem and Progenitor Cells for Bone Regeneration Is Driven by PDGFR? Signaling.

Böhm AM, Dirckx N, Tower RJ, Peredo N, Vanuytven S, Theunis K, Nefyodova E, Cardoen R, Lindner V, Voet T, Van Hul M, Maes C, 2019 10 Dev Cell 2 51 236-254.e12

Universal membrane-labeling combined with expression of Katushka far-red fluorescent protein enables non-invasive dynamic and longitudinal quantitative 3D dual-color fluorescent imaging of multiple bacterial strains in mouse intestine.

Peñate-Medina O, Tower RJ, Peñate-Medina T, Will O, Saris PEJ, Suojanen J, Sorsa T, Huuskonen L, Hiippala K, Satokari R, Glüer CC, de Vos WM, Reunanen J, 2019 07 BMC Microbiol 1 19 167

Periarticular Mesenchymal Progenitors Initiate and Contribute to Secondary Ossification Center Formation During Mouse Long Bone Development.

Tong W, Tower RJ, Chen C, Wang L, Zhong L, Wei Y, Sun H, Cao G, Jia H, Pacifici M, Koyama E, Enomoto-Iwamoto M, Qin L, 2019 05 Stem Cells 5 37 677-689

Periosteal Mesenchymal Progenitor Dysfunction and Extraskeletally-Derived Fibrosis Contribute to Atrophic Fracture Nonunion.

Wang L, Tower RJ, Chandra A, Yao L, Tong W, Xiong Z, Tang K, Zhang Y, Liu XS, Boerckel JD, Guo X, Ahn J, Qin L, 2019 03 J Bone Miner Res 3 34 520-532

Extracellular Matrix and Adhesion Molecule Gene Expression in the Normal and Injured Murine Intervertebral Disc.

Zhang Y, Tian Z, Ashley JW, Wang L, Tower RJ, Wei Y, Qin L, Yang S, Enomoto-Iwamoto M, 2019 01 Am J Phys Med Rehabil 1 98 35-42

Analysis of short-term treatment with the phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor tadalafil on long bone development in young rats.

Wang L, Jia H, Tower RJ, Levine MA, Qin L, 2018 10 Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 4 315 E446-E453

Tracking the Progression of Osteolytic and Osteosclerotic Lesions in Mice Using Serial In Vivo µCT: Applications to the Assessment of Bisphosphonate Treatment Efficacy.

Campbell GM, Tower RJ, Damm T, Kneissl P, Rambow AC, Schem C, Tiwari S, Glüer CC, 2018 03 J Bone Miner Res 3 33 410-418

Vhl deletion in osteoblasts boosts cellular glycolysis and improves global glucose metabolism.

Dirckx N, Tower RJ, Mercken EM, Vangoitsenhoven R, Moreau-Triby C, Breugelmans T, Nefyodova E, Cardoen R, Mathieu C, Van der Schueren B, Confavreux CB, Clemens TL, Maes C, 2018 03 J Clin Invest 3 128 1087-1105

Loading-Induced Reduction in Sclerostin as a Mechanism of Subchondral Bone Plate Sclerosis in Mouse Knee Joints During Late-Stage Osteoarthritis.

Jia H, Ma X, Wei Y, Tong W, Tower RJ, Chandra A, Wang L, Sun Z, Yang Z, Badar F, Zhang K, Tseng WJ, Kramer I, Kneissel M, Xia Y, Liu XS, Wang JHC, Han L, Enomoto-Iwamoto M, Qin L, 2018 02 Arthritis Rheumatol 2 70 230-241

Pharmacologically Inactive Bisphosphonates as an Alternative Strategy for Targeting Osteoclasts: In Vivo Assessment of 5-Fluorodeoxyuridine-Alendronate in a Preclinical Model of Breast Cancer Bone Metastases.

Schem C, Tower RJ, Kneissl P, Rambow AC, Campbell GM, Desel C, Damm T, Heilmann T, Fuchs S, Zuhayra M, Trauzold A, Glüer CC, Schott S, Tiwari S, 2017 Mar J Bone Miner Res 3 32 536-548

Synchronic inverse seasonal rhythmus of energy density of food intake and sleep quality: a contribution to chrono-nutrition from a Polish adult population.

Stelmach-Mardas M, Iqbal K, Mardas M, Schwingshackl L, Walkowiak J, Tower RJ, Boeing H, 2017 06 Eur J Clin Nutr 6 71 718-722

Quality of life, depression and dietary intake in Obstructive Sleep Apnea patients.

Stelmach-Mardas M, Mardas M, Iqbal K, Tower RJ, Boeing H, Piorunek T, 2016 Jul Health Qual Life Outcomes 1 14 111

Contact of myeloma cells induces a characteristic transcriptome signature in skeletal precursor cells -Implications for myeloma bone disease.

Dotterweich J, Schlegelmilch K, Keller A, Geyer B, Schneider D, Zeck S, Tower RJ, Ebert R, Jakob F, Schütze N, 2016 12 Bone 93 155-166

The KISS1 Receptor as an In Vivo Microenvironment Imaging Biomarker of Multiple Myeloma Bone Disease.

Dotterweich J, Tower RJ, Brandl A, Müller M, Hofbauer LC, Beilhack A, Ebert R, Glüer CC, Tiwari S, Schütze N, Jakob F, 2016 PLoS One 5 11 e0155087

Utilizing time-lapse micro-CT-correlated bisphosphonate binding kinetics and soft tissue-derived input functions to differentiate site-specific changes in bone metabolism in vivo.

Tower RJ, Campbell GM, Müller M, Glüer CC, Tiwari S, 2015 May Bone 74 171-81

In vitro and in vivo toxicity of 5-FdU-alendronate, a novel cytotoxic bone-seeking duplex drug against bone metastasis.

Schott S, Vallet S, Tower RJ, Noor S, Tiwari S, Schem C, Busch C, 2015 Aug Invest New Drugs 4 33 816-26

TRAIL-R2 promotes skeletal metastasis in a breast cancer xenograft mouse model.

Fritsche H, Heilmann T, Tower RJ, Hauser C, von Au A, El-Sheikh D, Campbell GM, Alp G, Schewe D, Hübner S, Tiwari S, Kownatzki D, Boretius S, Adam D, Jonat W, Becker T, Glüer CC, Zöller M, Kalthoff H, Schem C, Trauzold A, 2015 Apr Oncotarget 11 6 9502-16

An ancestral role in peroxisome assembly is retained by the divisional peroxin Pex11 in the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica.

Chang J, Klute MJ, Tower RJ, Mast FD, Dacks JB, Rachubinski RA, 2015 Apr J Cell Sci 7 128 1327-40

Binding kinetics of a fluorescently labeled bisphosphonate as a tool for dynamic monitoring of bone mineral deposition in vivo.

Tower RJ, Campbell GM, Müller M, Will O, Glüer CC, Tiwari S, 2014 Sep J Bone Miner Res 9 29 1993-2003

Mesenchymal stem cell contact promotes CCN1 splicing and transcription in myeloma cells.

Dotterweich J, Ebert R, Kraus S, Tower RJ, Jakob F, Schütze N, 2014 Jun Cell Commun Signal 12 36

In vivo targeting of activated leukocytes by a ?2-integrin binding peptide.

Ranta TM, Suojanen J, Peñate-Medina O, Will O, Tower RJ, Glüer C, Kairemo K, Gahmberg CG, Koivunen E, Sorsa T, Saris PE, Reunanen J, 2014 Feb Mol Diagn Ther 1 18 39-44

Dynein light chain interaction with the peroxisomal import docking complex modulates peroxisome biogenesis in yeast.

Chang J, Tower RJ, Lancaster DL, Rachubinski RA, 2013 Oct J Cell Sci Pt 20 126 4698-706

Evaluation of the matrix effect of thermophilic anaerobic digestion on inactivation of infectious laryngotracheitis virus using real-time PCR and viral cell culture.

Gao T, Bowlby E, Tong Y, Wu JT, Wong L, Tower RJ, Pang X, Li X, 2012 Apr Bioresour Technol 110 692-6

The peroxin Pex34p functions with the Pex11 family of peroxisomal divisional proteins to regulate the peroxisome population in yeast.

Tower RJ, Fagarasanu A, Aitchison JD, Rachubinski RA, 2011 May Mol Biol Cell 10 22 1727-38

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Contact Information

  • Dr. Robert Tower
  • Department of Surgery
  • NL07.120J Kern Wildenthal Biomedical Research Building 6000 Harry Hines Blvd. Dallas, TX, 75235
  • @Tower_Lab
  • Email