Voluntary Faculty
Voluntary faculty are typically clinicians or others who are employed outside of the School but make significant contributions to department programs at the medical center or at affiliate institutions.
Voluntary rank detailsHe (Howard) Zhang
Assistant Clinical ProfessorAbout
Research
Publications
2026
Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of the terminal ileum identifies BCMA as a therapeutic target in IgA nephropathy
Zhang Y, Wang L, Wu J, Wan N, Liu X, Lin M, Li J, Wang J, Wu J, Peng J, Dang S, Xie T, Yang H, Zhang X, Li Y, Zhou X, Liu L, Shi S, Lu T, Wung P, Haddon D, Jiang Y, Gaowa N, Lv J, Zhang Z, Li C, Cheng R, Zhang H. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis of the terminal ileum identifies BCMA as a therapeutic target in IgA nephropathy. HLife 2026, 4: 233-248. DOI: 10.1016/j.hlife.2025.12.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchB-cell maturation antigenIgAN patientsPlasma cellsB cell maturation antigen expressionIgA nephropathyCynomolgus monkeysHealthy controlsClinical evaluationSerum immunoglobulinsCellular driversEstimated glomerular filtration rateAberrant mucosal immune responseTerminal ileal biopsiesTherapeutic targetGlomerular filtration rateMucosal immune responsesIgA+ plasma cellsReceptors B-cell maturation antigenSingle-cell transcriptome analysisBioinformatic profilingIgG+ plasma cellsMaturation antigenT cellsB cellsFiltration rateWCN26-6969 EVALUATING SIBEPRENLIMAB IN PATIENTS WITH IgA NEPHROPATHY: RESULTS FROM AN INTERIM ANALYSIS OF THE CHINA COHORT OF THE PHASE 3 VISIONARY TRIAL
Zhang H, Liew A, Wong M, Xie D, Wang C, Lu W, Li G, Xia J, Fajardo C, Hafkin J, Lv J. WCN26-6969 EVALUATING SIBEPRENLIMAB IN PATIENTS WITH IgA NEPHROPATHY: RESULTS FROM AN INTERIM ANALYSIS OF THE CHINA COHORT OF THE PHASE 3 VISIONARY TRIAL. Kidney International Reports 2026, 11: 106284. DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2026.106284.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchWCN26-5543 EFFICACY OF ATRASENTAN BY RENIN–ANGIOTENSIN SYSTEM INHIBITOR DOSE IN IgA NEPHROPATHY PATIENTS FROM EAST ASIA: POST HOC ANALYSIS FROM THE PHASE III ALIGN TRIAL
Zhang H, Barratt J, Heerspink H, Jardine M, Kohan D, Levin A, Liew A, Mallik S, Patel A, Morris E, Li Y, Dahlke M, Lafayette R. WCN26-5543 EFFICACY OF ATRASENTAN BY RENIN–ANGIOTENSIN SYSTEM INHIBITOR DOSE IN IgA NEPHROPATHY PATIENTS FROM EAST ASIA: POST HOC ANALYSIS FROM THE PHASE III ALIGN TRIAL. Kidney International Reports 2026, 11: 106247. DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2026.106247.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchWCN26-1861 ATRASENTAN VS PLACEBO IN SUBGROUPS OF PATIENTS FROM EAST ASIA WITH IgA NEPHROPATHY (IgAN): INTERIM DATA FROM THE PHASE III ALIGN TRIAL
Heerspink H, Jardine M, Kohan D, Lafayette R, Levin A, Liew A, Zhang H, Mallik S, Patel A, Li Y, Wang Y, Dahlke M, Barratt J. WCN26-1861 ATRASENTAN VS PLACEBO IN SUBGROUPS OF PATIENTS FROM EAST ASIA WITH IgA NEPHROPATHY (IgAN): INTERIM DATA FROM THE PHASE III ALIGN TRIAL. Kidney International Reports 2026, 11: 106179. DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2026.106179.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTriptolide capsule enables proteinuria reduction and renal stabilization in advanced alport syndrome beyond standard therapy
Song Z, Li N, Li Y, Zhang H, Zhou X. Triptolide capsule enables proteinuria reduction and renal stabilization in advanced alport syndrome beyond standard therapy. Rheumatology & Autoimmunity 2026 DOI: 10.1002/rai2.70045.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEvidence from multicenter clinical studies and humanized mouse models indicates that glomerular mesangial IgA2 deposition contributes to the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy
Li R, Ma Y, Xie X, Qin A, Chen Q, Zhang Y, Tian W, Yu X, Li G, Jin J, Zhang H, Lv J. Evidence from multicenter clinical studies and humanized mouse models indicates that glomerular mesangial IgA2 deposition contributes to the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy. Kidney International 2026 PMID: 41833637, DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2026.02.018.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchIgA2 depositsIntraperitoneal administrationIgA nephropathyMouse modelIgAN casesLactobacillus casei cell wall extractChinese clinical centersSignificant kidney dysfunctionHumanized mouse modelInterstitial macrophage infiltrationMulticenter clinical studyPathogenesis of IgA nephropathyComplement C3 activationLaser capture microdissectionDevelopment of IgANKidney biopsyHealthy donorsTubular atrophyMacrophage infiltrationKidney dysfunctionClinical studiesGlomerular depositionClinical centersFreund's adjuvantIgANClinical characteristics and APOE variant spectrum in Chinese patients with lipoprotein glomerulopathy.
Li M, Li Y, Jiang L, Wang X, Liu Z, Song Z, You R, Chen Y, Zhou X, Zhang H. Clinical characteristics and APOE variant spectrum in Chinese patients with lipoprotein glomerulopathy. Chinese Medical Journal 2026 PMID: 41796052, DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000003978.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAuthors' Reply: Does rs477155 Stratify Glucocorticoid Toxicity in IgA Nephropathy?
Xu L, Zhou X, Zhang H. Authors' Reply: Does rs477155 Stratify Glucocorticoid Toxicity in IgA Nephropathy? Journal Of The American Society Of Nephrology 2026 PMID: 41774504, DOI: 10.1681/asn.0000001027.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDual-hit cystic kidneys: ADPKD with de novo HNF1B deletion
Li M, Zhang J, Li Y, Liu Z, You R, Song Z, Zhang H, Zhou X. Dual-hit cystic kidneys: ADPKD with de novo HNF1B deletion. Kidney International 2026 PMID: 41824608, DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2025.10.017.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMulti-omics analyses reveal the pathogenic role of terminal ileum-derived IgA+β7+ cells in IgA nephropathy
Liu X, Wang L, Lin M, Jia N, Liu G, Peng J, Wang J, Xie T, Dang S, Wu J, Zhou X, Liu L, Shi S, Lv J, Barratt J, Zhang Y, Zhang H. Multi-omics analyses reveal the pathogenic role of terminal ileum-derived IgA+β7+ cells in IgA nephropathy. Kidney International 2026, 109: 780-795. PMID: 41571098, DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2025.12.026.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGd-IgA1Mouse modelPlasmablasts/plasma cellsIgA nephropathyDysregulated B-cell responsesMouse model of IgANB cell responsesMonoclonal antibody in vitroIgA-IgG complexesElevated levelsModel of IgANGalactose-deficient IgA1Antibodies in vitroGene expression signaturesMesangial IgA depositionIgAN mouse modelDysregulation of enzymesLevels in vitroIleal originTerminal ilealImmune cellsMulti-omics analysisIgA-IgGPlasma cellsB cells