Cynthia R. L. Webster
Professor
Department of Clinical Sciences
Internal Medicine
Phone: 508-839-7950
Fax: 508-839-8787

Education
DVM - Cornell University - 1985
BS - Simmons College - 1978

Board Certification
American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine

General Research Interest
Role of endogenous toxins in cholestatic liver disease, bile acid hepatotoxicity, hepatocyte apoptosis, cholestatic liver disease in dogs and cats.

Research Sponsor Interest

• Federally Funded Research

Selected Research Projects

1. Role of cAMP signaling through cAMP-GEF in hepatocyte survival.

2. Role of the extracellular matrix in hepatocyte survival from apoptosis.

3. Role of bile acids apoptosis in cholestatic liver disease.

Research and Clinical Interests

• Signal transduction in hepatocyte apoptosis

• Molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis in cholestatic liver disease

• Hormonal control of hepatocyte survival

• Canine and feline cholestatic liver disease

• Canine and feline biliary tract disease

Major Specialized Equipment Items Available

• Fully equipped cell biology laboratory
• Isolation and culture of primary hepatocytes

Selected Publications

1. Schonoff C, Gillian H. Webster CRL, Anwer M. (2008)  Protein kinase C mediated cyclic AMP
   stimulated translocation of Ntcp and MRP2 in rat hepatocytes. Hepatology;47:1309-1316.
2. Shih J, Keating J, Freeman L, Webster CRL. (2007) Chronic hepatitis in Labrador retrievers: Clinical
   presentation and prognostic factors. J Vet Intern Med. 21:33-39.
3. Sutherland-Smith J, Penninck DG, Keating J, Webster CRL. (2007) The morphologic significance of
   ultrasonographic intestinal mucosal striations. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 48: 51-57.
4. Buote, NJ, Mitchell S, Penninck D, Freeman LM, Webster CRL. (2006)  Extrahepatic biliary tract
   obstruction treated with cholecystoenterostomy in cats: 22 cases (1994-2003)  J Am Vet Med
    Assoc 228: 1376-1382.
5. Cullen K, McCool J, Anwer MS, Webster CRL. (2004). Activation of cAMP-guanine exchange factor
   (cAMP-GEF) confers protein kinase A independent protection from hepatocyte apoptosis.  Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 287: G334-G343.
6. Webster CRL, Boria PB, Usechak P, Anwer MS.  (2002). S-adenosylmethionine and cAMP confer
   differential cytoprotection against bile acid induced apoptosis in primary cultures of rat
   hepatocytes and in a canine renal tubular cell line. J Veterinary Therapeutic 3:  474-484
7. Webster CRL, Usechek P, Anwer M.  (2002).  cAMP inhibits bile acid induced apoptosis by blocking
   caspase activation and cytochrome C release.  Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 283: