Douglas Millay, PhD

The Millay Lab is interested in understanding how precursor cells fuse to form multi-nucleated skeletal muscle. We recently discovered a necessary component (named myomaker) of the muscle fusion machinery. The lab's goal is to delineate the mechanisms by which this multi-pass membrane protein directs cell-cell fusion and manipulate muscle cell fusion as a strategy for in vivo cell therapy.

Peer Reviewed Publications

Reid, Andrea L; Wang, Yimin; Samani, Adrienne; Hightower, Rylie M; Lopez, Michael A; Gilbert, Shawn R; Ianov, Lara; Crossman, David K; Dell'Italia, Louis J; Millay, Douglas P; van Groen, Thomas; Halade, Ganesh V; Alexander, Matthew S  (2020). DOCK3 is a dosage-sensitive regulator of skeletal muscle and Duchenne muscular dystrophy-associated pathologies. Human molecular genetics, 29 (17) , 2855-2871More Information

Petrany, Michael J; Song, Taejeong; Sadayappan, Sakthivel; Millay, Douglas P  (2020). Myocyte-derived Myomaker expression is required for regenerative fusion but exacerbates membrane instability in dystrophic myofibers. JCI insight, 5 (9) More Information

Nikolaou, Sia; Cramer, Alyssa Aw; Hu, Liangjun; Goh, Qingnian; Millay, Douglas P; Cornwall, Roger  (2019). Proteasome inhibition preserves longitudinal growth of denervated muscle and prevents neonatal neuromuscular contractures. JCI insight, 4 (23) More Information

Aulet, Ricardo Mario; Trieu, Vanessa; Landrigan, Gary P; Millay, Donna J  (2019). Changes in Opioid Prescribing Habits for Patients Undergoing Rhinoplasty and Septoplasty. JAMA facial plastic surgery, 21 (6) , 487-490More Information

Petrany, Michael J; Millay, Douglas P  (2019). Cell Fusion: Merging Membranes and Making Muscle. Trends in cell biology, 29 (12) , 964-973More Information

Goh, Qingnian; Song, Taejeong; Petrany, Michael J; Cramer, Alyssa Aw; Sun, Chengyi; Sadayappan, Sakthivel; Lee, Se-Jin; Millay, Douglas P  (2019). Myonuclear accretion is a determinant of exercise-induced remodeling in skeletal muscle. eLife, 8More Information

Song, Taejeong; Manoharan, Palanikumar; Millay, Douglas P; Koch, Sheryl E; Rubinstein, Jack; Heiny, Judith A; Sadayappan, Sakthivel  (2019). Dilated cardiomyopathy-mediated heart failure induces a unique skeletal muscle myopathy with inflammation. Skeletal muscle, 9 (1) , 4More Information

Leikina, Evgenia; Gamage, Dilani G; Prasad, Vikram; Goykhberg, Joanna; Crowe, Michael; Diao, Jiajie; Kozlov, Michael M; Chernomordik, Leonid V; Millay, Douglas P  (2018). Myomaker and Myomerger Work Independently to Control Distinct Steps of Membrane Remodeling during Myoblast Fusion. Developmental cell, 46 (6) , 767-780.e7More Information

Sampath, Srihari C; Sampath, Srinath C; Millay, Douglas P  (2018). Myoblast fusion confusion: the resolution begins. Skeletal muscle, 8 (1) , 3More Information

Gamage, Dilani G; Leikina, Eugenia; Quinn, Malgorzata E; Ratinov, Anthony; Chernomordik, Leonid V; Millay, Douglas P  (2017). Insights into the localization and function of myomaker during myoblast fusion. The Journal of biological chemistry, 292 (42) , 17272-17289More Information

Quinn, Malgorzata E; Goh, Qingnian; Kurosaka, Mitsutoshi; Gamage, Dilani G; Petrany, Michael J; Prasad, Vikram; Millay, Douglas P  (2017). Myomerger induces fusion of non-fusogenic cells and is required for skeletal muscle development. Nature communications, 8, 15665More Information

Goh, Qingnian; Millay, Douglas P  (2017). Requirement of myomaker-mediated stem cell fusion for skeletal muscle hypertrophy. eLife, 6More Information

Mitani, Yasuyuki; Vagnozzi, Ronald J; Millay, Douglas P  (2017). In vivo myomaker-mediated heterologous fusion and nuclear reprogramming. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 31 (1) , 400-411More Information

Zeve, Daniel; Millay, Douglas P; Seo, Jin; Graff, Jonathan M  (2016). Exercise-Induced Skeletal Muscle Adaptations Alter the Activity of Adipose Progenitor Cells. PloS one, 11 (3) , e0152129More Information

Millay, Douglas P; Gamage, Dilani G; Quinn, Malgorzata E; Min, Yi-Li; Mitani, Yasuyuki; Bassel-Duby, Rhonda; Olson, Eric N  (2016). Structure-function analysis of myomaker domains required for myoblast fusion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 113 (8) , 2116-21More Information

Millay, Douglas P; Sutherland, Lillian B; Bassel-Duby, Rhonda; Olson, Eric N  (2014). Myomaker is essential for muscle regeneration. Genes & development, 28 (15) , 1641-6More Information

Burr, Adam R; Millay, Douglas P; Goonasekera, Sanjeewa A; Park, Ki Ho; Sargent, Michelle A; Collins, James; Altamirano, Francisco; Philipson, Kenneth D; Allen, Paul D; Ma, Jianjie; López, José Rafael; Molkentin, Jeffery D  (2014). Na+ dysregulation coupled with Ca2+ entry through NCX1 promotes muscular dystrophy in mice. Molecular and cellular biology, 34 (11) , 1991-2002More Information

Millay, Douglas P; O'Rourke, Jason R; Sutherland, Lillian B; Bezprozvannaya, Svetlana; Shelton, John M; Bassel-Duby, Rhonda; Olson, Eric N  (2013). Myomaker is a membrane activator of myoblast fusion and muscle formation. Nature, 499 (7458) , 301-5More Information

Millay, Douglas P; Olson, Eric N  (2013). Making muscle or mitochondria by selective splicing of PGC-1?. Cell metabolism, 17 (1) , 3-4More Information

Hatley, Mark E; Tang, Wei; Garcia, Matthew R; Finkelstein, David; Millay, Douglas P; Liu, Ning; Graff, Jonathan; Galindo, Rene L; Olson, Eric N  (2012). A mouse model of rhabdomyosarcoma originating from the adipocyte lineage. Cancer cell, 22 (4) , 536-46More Information

Zeve, Daniel; Seo, Jin; Suh, Jae Myoung; Stenesen, Drew; Tang, Wei; Berglund, Eric D; Wan, Yihong; Williams, Linda J; Lim, Ajin; Martinez, Myrna J; McKay, Renée M; Millay, Douglas P; Olson, Eric N; Graff, Jonathan M  (2012). Wnt signaling activation in adipose progenitors promotes insulin-independent muscle glucose uptake. Cell metabolism, 15 (4) , 492-504More Information

Pei, Jimin; Millay, Douglas P; Olson, Eric N; Grishin, Nick V  (2011). CREST--a large and diverse superfamily of putative transmembrane hydrolases. Biology direct, 6, 37More Information

Goonasekera, Sanjeewa A; Lam, Chi K; Millay, Douglas P; Sargent, Michelle A; Hajjar, Roger J; Kranias, Evangelia G; Molkentin, Jeffery D  (2011). Mitigation of muscular dystrophy in mice by SERCA overexpression in skeletal muscle. The Journal of clinical investigation, 121 (3) , 1044-52More Information

Wansapura, Janaka P; Millay, Douglas P; Dunn, R Scott; Molkentin, Jeffery D; Benson, D Woodrow  (2011). Magnetic resonance imaging assessment of cardiac dysfunction in ?-sarcoglycan null mice. Neuromuscular disorders : NMD, 21 (1) , 68-73More Information

Wissing, Erin R; Millay, Douglas P; Vuagniaux, Grégoire; Molkentin, Jeffery D  (2010). Debio-025 is more effective than prednisone in reducing muscular pathology in mdx mice. Neuromuscular disorders : NMD, 20 (11) , 753-60More Information

Millay, Douglas P; Goonasekera, Sanjeewa A; Sargent, Michelle A; Maillet, Marjorie; Aronow, Bruce J; Molkentin, Jeffery D  (2009). Calcium influx is sufficient to induce muscular dystrophy through a TRPC-dependent mechanism. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 106 (45) , 19023-8More Information

Millay, Douglas P; Maillet, Marjorie; Roche, Joseph A; Sargent, Michelle A; McNally, Elizabeth M; Bloch, Robert J; Molkentin, Jeffery D  (2009). Genetic manipulation of dysferlin expression in skeletal muscle: novel insights into muscular dystrophy. The American journal of pathology, 175 (5) , 1817-23More Information

Millay, Douglas P; Sargent, Michelle A; Osinska, Hanna; Baines, Christopher P; Barton, Elisabeth R; Vuagniaux, Grégoire; Sweeney, H Lee; Robbins, Jeffrey; Molkentin, Jeffery D  (2008). Genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of mitochondrial-dependent necrosis attenuates muscular dystrophy. Nature medicine, 14 (4) , 442-7More Information

Parsons, Stephanie A; Millay, Douglas P; Sargent, Michelle A; Naya, Francisco J; McNally, Elizabeth M; Sweeney, H Lee; Molkentin, Jeffery D  (2007). Genetic disruption of calcineurin improves skeletal muscle pathology and cardiac disease in a mouse model of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. The Journal of biological chemistry, 282 (13) , 10068-78More Information

Parsons, Stephanie A; Millay, Douglas P; Sargent, Michelle A; McNally, Elizabeth M; Molkentin, Jeffery D  (2006). Age-dependent effect of myostatin blockade on disease severity in a murine model of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. The American journal of pathology, 168 (6) , 1975-85More Information

Parsons, Stephanie A; Millay, Douglas P; Wilkins, Benjamin J; Bueno, Orlando F; Tsika, Gretchen L; Neilson, Joel R; Liberatore, Christine M; Yutzey, Katherine E; Crabtree, Gerald R; Tsika, Richard W; Molkentin, Jeffery D  (2004). Genetic loss of calcineurin blocks mechanical overload-induced skeletal muscle fiber type switching but not hypertrophy. The Journal of biological chemistry, 279 (25) , 26192-200More Information

Hindi, Sajedah M; Millay, Douglas P  (2022). All for One and One for All: Regenerating Skeletal Muscle. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology, 14 (8) More Information

Millay, Douglas P  (2022). Regulation of the myoblast fusion reaction for muscle development, regeneration, and adaptations. Experimental cell research, 415 (2) , 113134More Information

Eigler, Tamar; Zarfati, Giulia; Amzallag, Emmanuel; Sinha, Sansrity; Segev, Nadav; Zabary, Yishaia; Zaritsky, Assaf; Shakked, Avraham; Umansky, Kfir-Baruch; Schejter, Eyal D; Millay, Douglas P; Tzahor, Eldad; Avinoam, Ori  (2021). ERK1/2 inhibition promotes robust myotube growth via CaMKII activation resulting in myoblast-to-myotube fusion. Developmental cell, 56 (24) , 3349-3363.e6More Information

Bengtsen, Mads; Winje, Ivan Myhre; Eftestøl, Einar; Landskron, Johannes; Sun, Chengyi; Nygård, Kamilla; Domanska, Diana; Millay, Douglas P; Meza-Zepeda, Leonardo A; Gundersen, Kristian  (2021). Comparing the epigenetic landscape in myonuclei purified with a PCM1 antibody from a fast/glycolytic and a slow/oxidative muscle. PLoS genetics, 17 (11) , e1009907More Information

Prasad, Vikram; Millay, Douglas P  (2021). Skeletal muscle fibers count on nuclear numbers for growth. Seminars in cell & developmental biology, 119, 3-10More Information

Yaseen, Wesal; Kraft-Sheleg, Ortal; Zaffryar-Eilot, Shelly; Melamed, Shay; Sun, Chengyi; Millay, Douglas P; Hasson, Peleg  (2021). Fibroblast fusion to the muscle fiber regulates myotendinous junction formation. Nature communications, 12 (1) , 3852More Information

Eder, Milton Mickey; Millay, Tamara A; Cottler, Linda B  (2021). A compendium of community engagement responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of clinical and translational science, 5 (1) , e133More Information

Milewski, David; Shukla, Samriddhi; Gryder, Berkley E; Pradhan, Arun; Donovan, Johnny; Sudha, Parvathi; Vallabh, Sushmitha; Pyros, Athena; Xu, Yan; Barski, Artem; Szabo, Sara; Turpin, Brian; Pressey, Joseph G; Millay, Douglas P; Khan, Javed; Kalinichenko, Vladimir V; Kalin, Tanya V  (2021). FOXF1 is required for the oncogenic properties of PAX3-FOXO1 in rhabdomyosarcoma. Oncogene, 40 (12) , 2182-2199More Information

Girardi, Francesco; Taleb, Anissa; Ebrahimi, Majid; Datye, Asiman; Gamage, Dilani G; Peccate, Cécile; Giordani, Lorenzo; Millay, Douglas P; Gilbert, Penney M; Cadot, Bruno; Le Grand, Fabien  (2021). TGF? signaling curbs cell fusion and muscle regeneration. Nature communications, 12 (1) , 750More Information

Golani, Gonen; Leikina, Evgenia; Melikov, Kamran; Whitlock, Jarred M; Gamage, Dilani G; Luoma-Overstreet, Gracia; Millay, Douglas P; Kozlov, Michael M; Chernomordik, Leonid V  (2021). Myomerger promotes fusion pore by elastic coupling between proximal membrane leaflets and hemifusion diaphragm. Nature communications, 12 (1) , 495More Information

Petrany, Michael J; Swoboda, Casey O; Sun, Chengyi; Chetal, Kashish; Chen, Xiaoting; Weirauch, Matthew T; Salomonis, Nathan; Millay, Douglas P  (2020). Single-nucleus RNA-seq identifies transcriptional heterogeneity in multinucleated skeletal myofibers. Nature communications, 11 (1) , 6374More Information

Hansson, Kenth-Arne; Eftestøl, Einar; Bruusgaard, Jo C; Juvkam, Inga; Cramer, Alyssa W; Malthe-Sørenssen, Anders; Millay, Douglas P; Gundersen, Kristian  (2020). Myonuclear content regulates cell size with similar scaling properties in mice and humans. Nature communications, 11 (1) , 6288More Information

Cramer, Alyssa A W; Prasad, Vikram; Eftestøl, Einar; Song, Taejeong; Hansson, Kenth-Arne; Dugdale, Hannah F; Sadayappan, Sakthivel; Ochala, Julien; Gundersen, Kristian; Millay, Douglas P  (2020). Nuclear numbers in syncytial muscle fibers promote size but limit the development of larger myonuclear domains. Nature communications, 11 (1) , 6287More Information

Leikina, Evgenia; Melikov, Kamran; Rabinovich, Anthony G; Millay, Douglas P; Chernomordik, Leonid V  (2020). Lipid Mixing Assay for Murine Myoblast Fusion and Other Slow Cell-cell Fusion Processes. Bio-protocol, 10 (5) , e3544More Information

Academic - CCHMC S Building
240 Albert Sabin Way
Cincinnati  Ohio, 45229
Phone: 513-803-743
douglas.millay@cchmc.org