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 14TNFR1Arthritis14-3-3 epsilon is an intracellular component of TNFR2 receptor complex and its activation protects against osteoarthritis
Fu W, Hettinghouse A, Chen Y, Hu W, Ding X, Chen M, Ding Y, Mundra J, Song W, Liu R, Yi Y, Attur M, Samuels J, Strauss E, Leucht P, Schwarzkopf R, Liu C. 14-3-3 epsilon is an intracellular component of TNFR2 receptor complex and its activation protects against osteoarthritis. Annals Of The Rheumatic Diseases 2021, 80: 1615-1627. PMID: 34226187, PMCID: PMC8595573, DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-220000.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPathogenesis of osteoarthritisTNFR2 complexTherapeutic effectSingle-cell RNA-seqIntracellular componentsReceptor complexExtracellular signal-regulated kinaseNuclear factor kappa BSignal-regulated kinaseCommon joint diseaseFactor kappa BChondrocyte-specific deletionProteomic screenElk-1RNA-seqTranscription factorsCell-based assaysTNF signalingTNFR2 pathwayInducible componentJoint diseaseActivity screenTherapeutic targetKappa BOsteoarthritis
2023
Unraveling the mechanisms behind joint damage
Fu W, Liu C. Unraveling the mechanisms behind joint damage. ELife 2023, 12: e89778. PMID: 37366155, PMCID: PMC10299819, DOI: 10.7554/elife.89778.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPathogenic mechanisms of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis
Chen M, Fu W, Xu H, Liu C. Pathogenic mechanisms of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews 2023, 70: 54-66. PMID: 36906448, PMCID: PMC10518688, DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2023.03.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGlucocorticoid-induced osteoporosisExogenous glucocorticoidsGC excessBone cellsBone formationImpaired bone formationMultiple adverse effectsLong-term useExcessive glucocorticoidsAutoimmune diseasesBone resorptionPrescribed medicinesEnhanced osteoclastogenesisPathogenic mechanismsProcess of osteoblastogenesisGlucocorticoidsHigh dosesOsteoclast apoptosisApoptosis of osteoblastsMature osteoclastsAdverse effectsOsteoclastsDifferentiation of osteoblastsOsteoporosisOsteoclastogenesis
2021
Progranulin associates with Rab2 and is involved in autophagosome-lysosome fusion in Gaucher disease
Zhao X, Liberti R, Jian J, Fu W, Hettinghouse A, Sun Y, Liu C. Progranulin associates with Rab2 and is involved in autophagosome-lysosome fusion in Gaucher disease. Journal Of Molecular Medicine 2021, 99: 1639-1654. PMID: 34453183, PMCID: PMC8541919, DOI: 10.1007/s00109-021-02127-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLysosomal storage diseaseGaucher diseaseAutophagosome-lysosome fusionCommon lysosomal storage diseasePGRN deficiencyNovel therapiesAnimal modelsProgranulinLC3-IIMolecular targetsCrucial mediatorCritical moleculesStorage diseaseDiseaseAutophagic fluxC-terminal fragmentImpaired fusionPatient fibroblastsAutophagyImpairmentKey regulator
2020
Repurposing FDA-approved drugs for SARS-CoV-2 through an ELISA-based screening for the inhibition of RBD/ACE2 interaction
Fu W, Chen Y, Wang K, Hettinghouse A, Hu W, Wang J, Lei Z, Chen Z, Stapleford K, Liu C. Repurposing FDA-approved drugs for SARS-CoV-2 through an ELISA-based screening for the inhibition of RBD/ACE2 interaction. Protein & Cell 2020, 12: 586-591. PMID: 33210243, PMCID: PMC7673315, DOI: 10.1007/s13238-020-00803-w.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMonitoring Atsttrin-Mediated Inhibition of TNFα/NF-κβ Activation Through In Vivo Bioluminescence Imaging
Hettinghouse A, Fu W, Liu C. Monitoring Atsttrin-Mediated Inhibition of TNFα/NF-κβ Activation Through In Vivo Bioluminescence Imaging. Methods In Molecular Biology 2020, 2248: 201-210. PMID: 33185877, PMCID: PMC8140391, DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1130-2_14.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTumor necrosis factorDouble mutant miceNF-κBOverexpression of TNFMutant miceBioluminescence imagingTransgenic reporter mouse modelNF-κB luciferaseNF-κβ activationVivo bioluminescence imagingReporter mouse modelAutoimmune conditionsTNF-TgNF-κβNecrosis factorImmune responseMouse modelMolecular mediatorsTransgenic modelTherapeutic objectivesVivo efficacyProgranulinPotential therapeuticsAtsttrinLuciferase activity
2018
Chitinase-3-like Protein 1: A Progranulin Downstream Molecule and Potential Biomarker for Gaucher Disease
Jian J, Chen Y, Liberti R, Fu W, Hu W, Saunders-Pullman R, Pastores G, Chen Y, Sun Y, Grabowski G, Liu C. Chitinase-3-like Protein 1: A Progranulin Downstream Molecule and Potential Biomarker for Gaucher Disease. EBioMedicine 2018, 28: 251-260. PMID: 29396296, PMCID: PMC5835567, DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2018.01.022.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGD patientsHealthy controlsGaucher diseaseDownstream moleculesExpression of CHI3L1Serum CHI3L1Serum levelsPGRN levelsTherapeutic effectClinical biomarkersPatientsPotential biomarkersNull miceCHI3L1ProgranulinElevated levelsBiomarkersWhole-genome microarraysDiseaseCHIT1Genome microarraysNovel regulatorImmunohistochemistryLevelsMice
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