Featured Publications
TNFR2/14-3-3ε signaling complex instructs macrophage plasticity in inflammation and autoimmunity
Fu W, Hu W, Yi Y, Hettinghouse A, Sun G, Bi Y, He W, Zhang L, Gao G, Liu J, Toyo-oka K, Xiao G, Solit D, Loke P, Liu C. TNFR2/14-3-3ε signaling complex instructs macrophage plasticity in inflammation and autoimmunity. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2021, 131 PMID: 34185706, PMCID: PMC8363273, DOI: 10.1172/jci144016.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMacrophage polarizationMacrophage plasticityPI3K/Akt/mTORPathogenesis of inflammationMyeloid-specific deletionNF-κB activationAkt/mTORInflammatory arthritisAntiinflammatory pathwayImmunoregulatory roleAutoimmune diseasesProtective effectTherapeutic implicationsInflammationTNFR2 signalingAutoimmunityTNFR2TNFR2 activationReceptor complexDiseaseIntracellular regulatorsActivationMolecule 14TNFR1Arthritis
2023
Tau deficiency inhibits classically activated macrophage polarization and protects against collagen-induced arthritis in mice
Chen M, Fu W, Xu H, Liu C. Tau deficiency inhibits classically activated macrophage polarization and protects against collagen-induced arthritis in mice. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2023, 25: 146. PMID: 37559125, PMCID: PMC10410869, DOI: 10.1186/s13075-023-03133-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInflammatory cell infiltrationPro-inflammatory cytokinesRheumatoid arthritisAnkle jointSerum levelsCell infiltrationMacrophage polarizationOsteoclast activityCartilage damagePathogenesis of RACollagen-induced arthritis modelTau-/- miceCollagen-induced arthritisInflammatory joint diseasePro-inflammatory functionsProgression of CIAPotential therapeutic targetRole of tauInflammatory arthritisBone erosionArthritis incidenceBone lossClinical scoresArthritis modelInflammatory disorders
2022
Penfluridol targets acid sphingomyelinase to inhibit TNF signaling and is therapeutic against inflammatory autoimmune diseases
Chen Y, Liu R, Cui Y, Hettinghouse A, Fu W, Zhang L, Zhang C, Liu C. Penfluridol targets acid sphingomyelinase to inhibit TNF signaling and is therapeutic against inflammatory autoimmune diseases. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2022, 24: 27. PMID: 35045889, PMCID: PMC8767691, DOI: 10.1186/s13075-021-02713-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInflammatory autoimmune diseaseAnti-TNF activityNF-κB activationInflammatory arthritisAutoimmune diseasesAcid sphingomyelinase activityTherapeutic effectTumor necrosis factor αInhibitory effectTNFα-transgenic miceCollagen-induced arthritisSeverity of arthritisInflammatory cytokine productionM1 macrophage polarizationBone marrow-derived macrophagesNecrosis factor αNF-κB activitySphingomyelinase activitySmall molecule drug libraryRAW 264.7 macrophage cell lineMarrow-derived macrophagesAcid sphingomyelinaseDrug affinity responsive target stabilityCytokine productionChronic schizophrenia
2019
Fexofenadine inhibits TNF signaling through targeting to cytosolic phospholipase A2 and is therapeutic against inflammatory arthritis
Liu R, Chen Y, Fu W, Wang S, Cui Y, Zhao X, Lei Z, Hettinghouse A, Liu J, Wang C, Zhang C, Bi Y, Xiao G, Chen Z, Liu C. Fexofenadine inhibits TNF signaling through targeting to cytosolic phospholipase A2 and is therapeutic against inflammatory arthritis. Annals Of The Rheumatic Diseases 2019, 78: 1524. PMID: 31302596, PMCID: PMC8157820, DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2019-215543.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAnti-TNF activityCytosolic phospholipase A2Inflammatory arthritisTNF-α transgenic miceInflammatory arthritis modelInflammatory rheumatic diseasesCollagen-induced arthritisAnti-inflammatory activityPhospholipase A2New therapeutic interventionsActivated B cellsTNF-α signalingNecrosis factor-alpha signalingDrug affinity responsive target stabilityDBA/1 miceRheumatic diseasesArthritis modelAutoimmune diseasesCellular thermal shiftSerial screeningB cellsTransgenic miceArthritisDrug AdministrationTherapeutic interventions
2018
Role of ADAMTS‐12 in Protecting Against Inflammatory Arthritis in Mice By Interacting With and Inactivating Proinflammatory Connective Tissue Growth Factor
Wei J, Fu W, Hettinghouse A, He W, Lipson K, Liu C. Role of ADAMTS‐12 in Protecting Against Inflammatory Arthritis in Mice By Interacting With and Inactivating Proinflammatory Connective Tissue Growth Factor. Arthritis & Rheumatology 2018, 70: 1745-1756. PMID: 29750395, PMCID: PMC6203634, DOI: 10.1002/art.40552.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsConnective tissue growth factorCIA mouse modelADAMTS-12Inflammatory arthritisTissue growth factorMouse modelCollagen-induced arthritis modelGrowth factorRheumatoid arthritis developmentEnzyme-linked immunosorbentRA patientsArthritis developmentPannus formationSerum levelsCartilage destructionArthritis modelInflammatory cytokinesEnhanced osteoclastogenesisHealthy subjectsArthritisAnkle jointTomography scanningInflammationSusceptibility genesCritical regulatorTHU0056 14–3–3 is a molecular switch regulating macrophage polarisation in inflammatory arthritis
Fu W, Hettinghouse A, Liu C. THU0056 14–3–3 is a molecular switch regulating macrophage polarisation in inflammatory arthritis. Annals Of The Rheumatic Diseases 2018, 77: 252. DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2018-eular.4729.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAnti-inflammatory actionTNF receptor 2Mean fluorescence intensityAnti-inflammation actionClinical arthritis scoreInflammatory arthritisCIA miceAnti-inflammatory effectsAnti-inflammatory activityMacrophage polarizationProtective effectArthritis scoreCritical downstream mediatorM2 polarizationΔ miceM1-M2 polarizationPresence of progranulinAnti-inflammatory pathwaySeverity of CIADownstream mediatorSignificant decreasePercentage of CD206Hallmarks of macrophagesPGRN effectsWT miceOP0224 Adamts-12 protects against inflammatory arthritis through interacting with proinflammatory ctgf
Fu W, Wei J, Hettinghouse A, He W, Liu C. OP0224 Adamts-12 protects against inflammatory arthritis through interacting with proinflammatory ctgf. Annals Of The Rheumatic Diseases 2018, 77: 160. DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2018-eular.4748.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCollagen-induced arthritisClinical arthritis scoreInflammatory arthritisADAMTS-12Arthritis scoreCTGF antibodyIL-1βDisease onsetHistological analysisAccelerated disease onsetCIA mouse modelAnti-inflammatory cytokinesRheumatoid arthritis developmentPro-inflammatory roleFurther tissue destructionDestruction of boneSignificant increaseCritical regulatorCIA miceRA patientsArthritis developmentArthritis incidenceKO miceNormal inflammationSafranin O staining
2017
Progranulin derivative Atsttrin protects against early osteoarthritis in mouse and rat models
Wei J, Fu W, Ding Y, Hettinghouse A, Lendhey M, Schwarzkopf R, Kennedy O, Liu C. Progranulin derivative Atsttrin protects against early osteoarthritis in mouse and rat models. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2017, 19: 280. PMID: 29258611, PMCID: PMC5735869, DOI: 10.1186/s13075-017-1485-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTherapeutic effectOA modelPain-related markersAnti-catabolic effectsRole of progranulinDegenerative joint diseaseMurine OA modelMultiple murine modelsNew therapeutic alternativesTumor necrosis factor receptorIntra-articular deliveryNecrosis factor receptorInflammatory arthritisPGRN deficiencyOA phenotypeSafranin O stainingTherapeutic alternativeRat modelJoint diseaseOsteoarthritis progressionPreventative effectMurine modelCartilage degradationDegenerative factorsEarly osteoarthritis
2016
Foxo4‐ and Stat3‐dependent IL‐10 production by progranulin in regulatory T cells restrains inflammatory arthritis
Fu W, Hu W, Shi L, Mundra J, Xiao G, Dustin M, Liu C. Foxo4‐ and Stat3‐dependent IL‐10 production by progranulin in regulatory T cells restrains inflammatory arthritis. The FASEB Journal 2016, 31: 1354-1367. PMID: 28011648, PMCID: PMC5349791, DOI: 10.1096/fj.201601134r.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsArthritis, ExperimentalCell Cycle ProteinsCells, CulturedForkhead Transcription FactorsGranulinsIntercellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsInterleukin-10MAP Kinase Signaling SystemMiceMice, Inbred DBAPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProgranulinsSTAT3 Transcription FactorT-Lymphocytes, RegulatoryConceptsIL-10 productionRegulatory T cellsInflammatory arthritisIL-10T cellsAnti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10Forkhead box protein O4PI3K pathwayCollagen-induced arthritisCytokine IL-10Green fluorescent protein reporter miceTranscription factorsSequencing screenSignal transducerJNK signalingTranscription 3K pathwayImmunological mechanismsAutoimmune diseasesInflammatory conditionsMouse modelArthritisPresent new insightsReporter miceProgranulin