Huabing Li, PhD
Cards
About
Titles
Assistant Professor Adjunct
Biography
Dr. Li graduated from Nankai University with B.S. and M.S. degrees, then obtained his Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry in 2011 in Vincenzo Pirrotta lab at Rutgers, the state University of New Jersey, working on Polycomb mediated long-distance chromatin interactions in Drosophila. He continued his postdoc training with Dr. Richard Flavell at Yale University School of Medicine since 2012, working on regulatory RNAs and RNA epigenetic switches of the immune system. Dr. Li established his independent lab at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine since 2017. The lab is especially interested in the physiological functions and molecular mechanisms of RNA epigenetic modifications and related RNA binding proteins in immune cells and related immune disease with mouse disease models. Combined with the state-of-the-art technologies and international collaboration, we aim to reveal novel fucntions and mechanisms of inflammation and autoimmune disease, which will contribute to the identification of potential targets for anti-autoimmune and anti-tumor drug development.
Education & Training
- PhD
- Rutgers University (2011)
- MS
- Nankai University (2005)
- BS
- Nankai University (2002)
Research
Publications
2022
RNA methylation in immune cells
Chen Y, Oh M, Flavell R, Li H. RNA methylation in immune cells. Advances In Immunology 2022, 155: 39-94. PMID: 36357012, DOI: 10.1016/bs.ai.2022.08.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDiverging regulation of Bach2 protein and RNA expression determine cell fate in early B cell response
Hu Q, Xu T, Zhang M, Zhang H, Liu Y, Li H, Chen C, Zheng J, Zhang Z, Li F, Shen N, Zhang W, Melnick A, Huang C. Diverging regulation of Bach2 protein and RNA expression determine cell fate in early B cell response. Cell Reports 2022, 40: 111035. PMID: 35793628, PMCID: PMC9550188, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111035.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBach2 proteinCell fateActivated B cellsMemory B cellsB cellsCell fate choiceDetermines cell fateCell fate outcomesRapamycin complex 1B cell fateEffector cellsGerminal centre B cell fatePivotal transcription factorB cell receptor affinityEarly B cell responsesTranscription factorsDependent translationB cell responsesPrimary humoral responseGC fateMechanistic targetHumoral responseProteinPlasma cellsDifferential dynamicsDENR controls JAK2 translation to induce PD-L1 expression for tumor immune evasion
Chen B, Hu J, Hu X, Chen H, Bao R, Zhou Y, Ye Y, Zhan M, Cai W, Li H, Li HB. DENR controls JAK2 translation to induce PD-L1 expression for tumor immune evasion. Nature Communications 2022, 13: 2059. PMID: 35440133, PMCID: PMC9018773, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29754-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPD-L1 expressionTumor immune evasionImmune evasionReduced PD-L1 expressionDeath ligand 1Tumor-killing activityT cellsTherapeutic targetTumor growthCancer cellsCRISPR/Cas9 screeningLigand 1Cell homeostasisKinase 2ExpressionEvasionCD8ImmunotherapyCellsIFNγDysfunctionRBP dysfunctionTumorsCancerm6A mRNA modification maintains colonic epithelial cell homeostasis via NF-κB–mediated antiapoptotic pathway
Zhang T, Ding C, Chen H, Zhao J, Chen Z, Chen B, Mao K, Hao Y, Roulis M, Xu H, Kluger Y, Zou Q, Ye Y, Zhan M, Flavell RA, Li HB. m6A mRNA modification maintains colonic epithelial cell homeostasis via NF-κB–mediated antiapoptotic pathway. Science Advances 2022, 8: eabl5723. PMID: 35333576, PMCID: PMC8956260, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abl5723.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMucosal barrier dysfunctionInflammatory bowel diseaseBarrier dysfunctionColonic epithelial cellsColonic mucosal barrier dysfunctionEpithelial cellsStem cellsNF-κB pathwayPotential therapeutic targetEpithelial cell deathEpithelial cell homeostasisSevere colitisBowel diseaseColonic stem cellsTherapeutic targetMouse colonStem cell apoptosisDysfunctionMajor causeCell apoptosisImportant modulatorPathological processesAntiapoptotic pathwaysSpecific deletionCell homeostasis
2021
m6A mRNA methylation-directed myeloid cell activation controls progression of NAFLD and obesity
Qin Y, Li B, Arumugam S, Lu Q, Mankash SM, Li J, Sun B, Li J, Flavell RA, Li HB, Ouyang X. m6A mRNA methylation-directed myeloid cell activation controls progression of NAFLD and obesity. Cell Reports 2021, 37: 109968. PMID: 34758326, PMCID: PMC8667589, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109968.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-alcoholic fatty liver diseaseProgression of NAFLDLineage-restricted deletionFatty liver diseaseMultiple mRNA transcriptsMyeloid cell activationDiet-induced developmentMethyladenosine (m<sup>6</sup>A) RNA modificationMRNA metabolismProtein methyltransferaseLiver diseaseRNA modificationsCellular stressMetabolic reprogrammingDDIT4 mRNACell activationObesityDifferential expressionMammalian targetMRNA transcriptsSignificant downregulationCytokine stimulationPathway activityMetabolic phenotypeMRNA levelsMETTL3-mediated m6A RNA methylation promotes the anti-tumour immunity of natural killer cells
Song H, Song J, Cheng M, Zheng M, Wang T, Tian S, Flavell RA, Zhu S, Li HB, Ding C, Wei H, Sun R, Peng H, Tian Z. METTL3-mediated m6A RNA methylation promotes the anti-tumour immunity of natural killer cells. Nature Communications 2021, 12: 5522. PMID: 34535671, PMCID: PMC8448775, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25803-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdenosineAnimalsCarcinogenesisCell Line, TumorGene DeletionHomeostasisInterleukin-15Killer Cells, NaturalLymphocytes, Tumor-InfiltratingMethylationMethyltransferasesMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutNeoplasmsProtein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktRNASignal TransductionTumor MicroenvironmentConceptsAnti-tumor immunityNK cellsTumor-infiltrating NK cellsNK cell infiltrationNatural killer cellsAccelerated tumor developmentExert critical rolesImmunosurveillance functionKiller cellsIL-15Cell infiltrationTumor microenvironmentTumor developmentProtein expressionSuppressed activationM6A RNA methylationEffector moleculesExpression levelsMETTL3Cells altersImmunityM6A methylationCellsPositive correlationHomeostasism6A demethylase ALKBH5 controls CD4+ T cell pathogenicity and promotes autoimmunity
Zhou J, Zhang X, Hu J, Qu R, Yu Z, Xu H, Chen H, Yan L, Ding C, Zou Q, Ye Y, Wang Z, Flavell RA, Li HB. m6A demethylase ALKBH5 controls CD4+ T cell pathogenicity and promotes autoimmunity. Science Advances 2021, 7: eabg0470. PMID: 34134995, PMCID: PMC8208713, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abg0470.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAlkB homolog 5T cell-specific ablationT cellsMRNA stabilityCell-specific ablationMethyladenosine (m<sup>6</sup>A) modificationHomolog 5Pathogenicity of CD4Messenger RNAErasersProtein expressionAdoptive transfer colitisExperimental autoimmune encephalomyelitisHomeostasis of CD4T cell responsesSpecific roleT cell pathogenicityCentral nervous systemPooled CRISPR screening identifies m6A as a positive regulator of macrophage activation
Tong J, Wang X, Liu Y, Ren X, Wang A, Chen Z, Yao J, Mao K, Liu T, Meng FL, Pan W, Zou Q, Liu J, Zhou Y, Xia Q, Flavell RA, Zhu S, Li HB. Pooled CRISPR screening identifies m6A as a positive regulator of macrophage activation. Science Advances 2021, 7: eabd4742. PMID: 33910903, PMCID: PMC8081357, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd4742.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMacrophage activationPotential cancer immunotherapy targetInnate immune cellsFaster tumor growthTNF-α productionInnate immune responseCancer immunotherapy targetCre miceImmune cellsImmunotherapy targetImmune responseLPS stimulationTumor growthBacterial infectionsTop candidate genesDeficient macrophagesMultiple cellular responsesMETTL3 deficiencyActivationUnknown roleMETTL3Negative regulatorBinding proteinCellular responsesRNA binding proteinMultiple Functions of RNA Methylation in T Cells: A Review
Chao Y, Li H, Zhou J. Multiple Functions of RNA Methylation in T Cells: A Review. Frontiers In Immunology 2021, 12: 627455. PMID: 33912158, PMCID: PMC8071866, DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.627455.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRNA methylationRNA modificationsMessenger RNAFate determinationEpigenetic regulationEpigenetic modificationsNoncoding RNAsCell homeostasisUbiquitous mechanismMethylationBiological significanceT cell homeostasisMultiple functionsCell proliferationEssential rolePotential therapeutic strategyRecent findingsRNAImmune responseBiological activityPathological statesT cellsCellsTherapeutic strategiesViral infectionMAP3K2-regulated intestinal stromal cells define a distinct stem cell niche
Wu N, Sun H, Zhao X, Zhang Y, Tan J, Qi Y, Wang Q, Ng M, Liu Z, He L, Niu X, Chen L, Liu Z, Li HB, Zeng YA, Roulis M, Liu D, Cheng J, Zhou B, Ng LG, Zou D, Ye Y, Flavell RA, Ginhoux F, Su B. MAP3K2-regulated intestinal stromal cells define a distinct stem cell niche. Nature 2021, 592: 606-610. PMID: 33658717, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03283-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsStem cell nicheR-spondin 1Intestinal stromal cellsCell nicheDistinct stem cell nichesIntestinal stem cell nicheStromal cellsIntestinal stem cellsStromal cell populationsTissue homeostasisReactive oxygen speciesIntestinal stemMolecular mechanismsAcute intestinal damageSpecific functionsPrimary cellular sourceStem cellsColon cryptsOxygen speciesCell populationsIntestinal injuryIntestinal damageNicheCellular sourceCells