Anthony W. Ashton

About

2020-present — Professor, Program in Cardiovascular Medicine at LIMR

2007-2020 — Scientific Director, Division of Perinatal Research, Kolling Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney

2006-2020 — Senior Lecturer, R.D. Wright Research Scientist, Kolling Medical Research Institute

2006-2020 — Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Research descriptions

Dr. Ashton studies RNA alternate splicing (AS), a cellular process for changing genomic instructions into functional proteins. AS plays an important role in the regulation of gene expression, protein diversity and ultimately, in species evolution. Indeed, it’s changes in AS, not the size of the genome, that have driven the evolution and biological distinctiveness of homo sapiens.

He seeks to understand the mechanisms of action for AS as they relate to cardiac disorders and cancer and to develop diagnostic tests that could determine clinical outcomes such as disease onset and progression. In particular, he focuses on cardiac disorders that occur during pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia (a high-risk condition characterized by high blood pressure and renal failure) that can lead to heart problems in women later in life. Currently there are no diagnostic tests or treatments for pre-eclampsia, other than traditional therapies for high blood pressure.

Dr. Ashton uncovered a protein generated by AS in the placenta, and his research has shown it’s the primary driver of pre-eclampsia. By understanding and targeting this AS pathway, he and his team hope to uncover novel diagnostics and therapeutics that will translate into significant advances in obstetric care.

His oncology research is focused on the ways in which AS impacts breast cancer and melanoma.

Publications

• Role of GPCR Signaling in Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity. Biswal N, Harish R, … Pestell RG, Ashton AW. Cells. 2025 Jan 22;14(3):169. doi: 10.3390/cells14030169
• A cyclin D1 intrinsically disordered domain accesses modified histone motifs to govern gene transcription. Jiao X, Di Sante G, … Ashton AW, … Pestell RG. Oncogenesis. 2024 Jan 8;13(1):4. doi: 10.1038/s41389-023-00502-1
• The Role and Therapeutic Targeting of CCR5 in Breast Cancer. Hamid R, Alaziz M, … Ashton AW… Pestell RG. Cells. 2023 Sep 8;12(18):2237. doi: 10.3390/cells12182237.
• Preparing to strike: Acute events in signaling by the serpentine receptor for thromboxane A2. Ashton AW. Pharmacol Ther. 2023 Jun 13:108478. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108478
• Transcriptomic Comparison of Human Peripartum and Dilated Cardiomyopathy Identifies Differences in Key Disease Pathways. Taylor J, Yeung ACY, Ashton A, et al. Journal of Cardiovasc Dev Dis. 2023; 10(5):188. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcdd10050188
• The DACH1 gene is frequently deleted in prostate cancer, restrains prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, decreases DNA damage repair, and predicts therapy responses. Li Z, Jiao X, … Ashton AW, … DuHadaway JB, … Pestell RG. Oncogene. 2023 Jun;42(22):1857-1873.
• Acetylation of nuclear receptors in health and disease: an update. Ashton AW, Dhanjal HK, … Pestell RG. FEBS J. 2022 Dec 5. doi: 10.1111/febs.16695
• The Role and Regulation of Thromboxane A2 Signaling in Cancer-Trojan Horses and Misdirection. Ashton AW, Zhang Y, et al. Molecules. 2022 Sep 22;27(19):6234.
• Mechanisms Governing Metabolic Heterogeneity in Breast Cancer and Other Tumors. Patra S, Elahi N, … Ashton AW … Pestell RG. Front Oncol. 2021 Sep 23;11:700629. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.700629.
• An Update on Glioblastoma Biology, Genetics, and Current Therapies: Novel Inhibitors of the G Protein-Coupled Receptor CCR5. Lah Turnšek T, Jiao X, … Ashton AW, et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Apr 24;22(9):4464.
• Non-Genomic Effects of Aldosterone. Vitamins and Hormones. Mihailidou A, Tzakos A, Ashton AW. 2019;109(133):133-49.
• Unique mechanisms of connective tissue growth factor regulation in airway smooth muscle in asthma: relationship with airway remodeling. Wang J, Faiz A, Ge Q, Vermeulen CJ, … Ashton, AW, et al. J Cell Mol Med. 2018;22(5):2826-37.
• Analyzing Trophoblast Function Using Cell-based Assays. Powell KL, Ashton AW. Methods Mol Bio. 2018;1710:233-46.
• Utility of metabolic profiling of serum in the diagnosis of pregnancy complications. Powell K, Carrozzi A, Stephens AS, Tasevski V, Morris JM, Ashton AW, et al. Placenta. 2018;66:65-73.
• Trypanosoma cruzi produces the specialized pro-resolving mediators Resolvin D1, Resolvin D5 and Resolvin E2. Colas RA, Ashton AW, Mukherjee S, et al. Infect. Immun. 2018; Mar 22;86(4).
• Tumstatin regulates the angiogenic and inflammatory potential of airway smooth muscle extracellular matrix. Harkness LM, Weckmann M, Kopp M, Ashton AW, Burgess JK. J Cell Mol Med. 2017;Dec 21(12):3288-97.
• Role for the thromboxane A2 receptor β-isoform in the pathogenesis of intrauterine growth restriction. Powell KL, Stevens V, Upton DH, … Ashton AW, et al. Scientific Reports. 2016;6:28811.
• Embryonic/fetal mortality and intrauterine growth restriction is not exclusive to the CBA/J sub-strain in the CBA × DBA model. McKelvey KJ, Yenson VM, Ashton AW, et al. Scientific Reports. 2016;Oct 21;6:35138.
• NF-κB Regulation in T-cells in Pregnancy is Mediated via Fas/FasL Interactions: The Signal for which is Derived from Exosomes Present in Maternal Plasma. McCracken SA, Hadfield KA, Macfarlane M, Ashton AW, Morris JM. Reproductive Immunology: Open Access. 2016;1:1-8.