Patrick Splinter Email & Phone Number

My longstanding and primary research interests lie in epigenetic regulation of various genes involved in the phenotypic transition of cholangiocytes during disease state. Initial studies focused on gene expression alterations in reactive cholangiocytes in response to acute stimulation. Recently, I am focusing on the genetic alterations of cholangiocytes which occur in chronic biliary diseases (e.g., Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis [PSC]).The first area of interest that I am currently pursuing is the epigenetic regulation of key genes during the progression of cells from a reactive phenotype to a senescent cholangiocytes. representing PSC in vitro. We have used many different techniques including RNA sequencing, CHIP sequencing and ATAC Sequencing to show fundamental differences in senescent cholangiocytes because of epigenetic changes. This is an area of current investigation as we are currently exploring various pathways to target with therapy. A second area of interest is cholangiocyte heterogeneity as these cells have different responses to injury. Many insult-treated cholangiocytes become senescent but not all do. Some cholangiocytes in fact follow distinct non-senescent cell fates. This is of great importance and interest to me as it involves PSC. The epigenetic alterations which drive the unique cell fates during cholangiocyte response is also an area of active investigation currently.

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  Principal Research Technologist

  Mayo Clinic

  Jan 1998 - Present - Rochester, Mn