Pierre Coulombe, PhD
Cell & Developmental Biology
3062 Biomedical Sciences Research Bldg.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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About
Dr. Pierre A. Coulombe, a native of Montréal, Québec, Canada, serves as the G. Carl Huber Professor and Chair of the Department of Cell & Developmental Biology at the University of Michigan Medical School. He is jointly appointed in the Department of Dermatology and is a member of the Rogel Cancer Center, and the Center for Plasticity and Organ Design, at the same institution. Dr. Coulombe joined U-M in 2017 following a 25 year-stay on faculty, including 9 years as the EV McCollum Professor and Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Coulombe’s research is focused on cell differentiation, tissue homeostasis and response to stress in surface epithelia. His research is relevant to the pathophysiology of rare skin disorders, psoriasis and related conditions, and non-melanoma skin cancer. Besides research, Dr. Coulombe has a long standing passion for graduate and post-graduate education and training, and with the Pachyonychia Project, a patient and rare disease advocacy group.
Links
Cell & Developmental Biology Lab website twitter
Qualifications
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Postdoctoral FellowUniversity of Chicago, Molecular Biology & Genetics, Chicago, United States
1988 - 1992
Postdoctoral Research
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PhD, PharmacologyUniversité de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
1982 - 1987
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BScUniversité du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
1979 - 1982
Center Memberships
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Center MemberFrankel Institute for Heart and Brain Health
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Center MemberRogel Cancer Center
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Center MemberCenter for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design
Research Overview
- Cell differentiation and tissue homeostasis in surface epithelia
- Regulation of inflammation and innate immunity
- Structure, properties, and function of intermediate filaments
- Role of keratin proteins in signaling pathways and in the nucleus
- Role of keratin proteins in tumor inception and growth
Recent Publications
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Cohen E, Xu Y, Ghodke S, Orosco A, Wang D, Johnson CN, Steen K, Sarkar MK, Özlü N, Tsoi LC, Gudjonsson JE, Marchal L, Hovnanian A, Parent CA, Coulombe PA. Sci Transl Med, 2026 Apr 8; 18 (844): eadx9123Journal ArticleKeratin 16 inhibits type I interferon responses in differentiating keratinocytes of stressed and diseased skin.
DOI:10.1126/scitranslmed.adx9123 PMID: 41950305 -
Pineda C, Cohen E, Su B, Yeom J, Kim J, Lee C-H, Coulombe PA. Mol Biol Cell, 2026 Mar 25; mbcE25050238Journal ArticleA role for Keratin 17 in Rac1-mediated DNA damage response in keratinocytes.
DOI:10.1091/mbc.E25-05-0238 PMID: 41880216 -
Redmond CJ, Steiner SN, Cohen E, Johnson CN, Özlü N, Coulombe PA. Journal of Cell Biology, 2026 Mar 2; 225 (3):Journal ArticleKeratin 15 promotes a progenitor cell state in basal keratinocytes of skin epidermis
DOI:10.1083/jcb.202503046 PMID: 41511042 -
Ceccacci S, Roger K, Marchal L, Ragot H, Schwartz J, Coulombe PA, Guerrera IC, Hovnanian A. J Invest Dermatol, 2026 Jan 23;Journal ArticleProteomics reveals altered lipid biosynthesis and keratin hyperphosphorylation in pachyonychia congenita.
DOI:10.1016/j.jid.2026.01.011 PMID: 41581590 -
Yeom J, Lee S, Ko YH, Hong E, Kim JH, Coulombe PA, Lee CH. European Journal of Cell Biology, 2025 Dec 1; 104 (4):Journal ArticleStructure and function of the keratin 17 tail domain associated with keratin intermediate filament organization
DOI:10.1016/j.ejcb.2025.151519 PMID: 41043210 -
Wang Y, Jerome NA, Kelleher AJ, Henderson ML, Day ML, Coulombe PA, Palmbos PL. Oncogene, 2025 Nov 4; 44 (42): 4047 - 4057.Journal ArticleTRIM29 promotes bladder cancer invasion by regulating the intermediate filament network and focal adhesion
DOI:10.1038/s41388-025-03557-z PMID: 40908312 -
Steiner SN, Horst E, Athaiya M, Johnson CN, Shen JY, Kerns ML, Mehta G, Iglesias-Bartolome R, Coulombe PA. bioRxiv, 2025 Sep 17;Journal ArticleUnder Pressure: A unique mechanoresponsive mechanism of body site-specific keratin regulation in palmoplantar epidermis.
DOI:10.1101/2025.09.15.676359 PMID: PMC12458307 -
Sengupta S, Cohen E, Serrenho J, Ott K, Coulombe PA, Parent CA. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2025 Sep 1; 36 (10):Journal ArticleTGFβ1–TNFα-regulated secretion of neutrophil chemokines is independent of epithelial–mesenchymal transition in breast tumor cells
DOI:10.1091/mbc.E25-07-0340 PMID: 40833805
Featured News & Stories
New study hints at cause of pachyonychia congenita and a long-awaited potential treatment
New study hints at the cause of a painful skin condition—and at a long-awaited potential treatment
