Wei Hu, PhD
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Featured Publications
Regulatory T cells function in established systemic inflammation and reverse fatal autoimmunity
Hu W, Wang Z, Feng Y, Schizas M, Hoyos B, van der Veeken J, Verter J, Bou-Puerto R, Rudensky A. Regulatory T cells function in established systemic inflammation and reverse fatal autoimmunity. Nature Immunology 2021, 22: 1163-1174. PMID: 34426690, PMCID: PMC9341271, DOI: 10.1038/s41590-021-01001-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRegulatory T cellsTreg cellsFatal autoimmune diseaseSystemic inflammationAutoimmune diseasesT cellsPro-inflammatory effector cellsFatal autoimmune inflammationFOXP3 protein expressionSevere tissue inflammationTranscription factor Foxp3Autoimmune inflammationFatal autoimmunityInflammatory mediatorsEffector cellsImmune activationImmunosuppressive functionTissue inflammationDiseased miceImmune homeostasisInflammatory responseFactor Foxp3Long-term protectionInflammationLoss of functionExpression of Foxp3 by T follicular helper cells in end-stage germinal centers
Jacobsen J, Hu W, R Castro T, Solem S, Galante A, Lin Z, Allon S, Mesin L, Bilate A, Schiepers A, Shalek A, Rudensky A, Victora G. Expression of Foxp3 by T follicular helper cells in end-stage germinal centers. Science 2021, 373 PMID: 34437125, PMCID: PMC9007630, DOI: 10.1126/science.abe5146.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFollicular helper cellsGerminal centersHelper cellsFormation of GCsExpression of Foxp3Effective antibody responseTranscription factor Foxp3Acute surgeAntibody responseFactor Foxp3T cellsFoxp3Immunoglobulin somatic hypermutationGC sizeAffinity maturationPotential regulatorCellsEctopic expressionSomatic hypermutationExpressionAntibodiesDifferential outcome of TRIF-mediated signaling in TLR4 and TLR3 induced DC maturation
Hu W, Jain A, Gao Y, Dozmorov I, Mandraju R, Wakeland E, Pasare C. Differential outcome of TRIF-mediated signaling in TLR4 and TLR3 induced DC maturation. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2015, 112: 13994-13999. PMID: 26508631, PMCID: PMC4653191, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1510760112.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdaptor Proteins, Vesicular TransportAnimalsBase SequenceBlotting, WesternCD4-Positive T-LymphocytesCell ProliferationDendritic CellsFlow CytometryGene Expression RegulationLipopolysaccharidesMiceMice, KnockoutMolecular Sequence DataSequence Analysis, RNASignal TransductionToll-Like Receptor 3Toll-Like Receptor 4ConceptsIFN regulatory factor 3Toll-like receptorsType I IFNIndependent of type I IFNsRecognition of pathogen-associated molecular patternsSignaling pathwayPathogen-associated molecular patternsI IFNTRIF-mediated signalingActivation of mitogen-activated protein kinasesMitogen-activated protein kinaseRegulatory factor 3IFN-BSignaling pathways of TLR4TRIF signaling pathwayType I IFN-dependentProtein kinaseMyeloid differentiation factorMolecular patternsMolecular mechanismsDC maturationUp-regulatedFactor 3Secretion of proinflammatory cytokinesTLR3-TRIFIRAK-1 bypasses priming and directly links TLRs to rapid NLRP3 inflammasome activation
Lin K, Hu W, Troutman T, Jennings M, Brewer T, Li X, Nanda S, Cohen P, Thomas J, Pasare C. IRAK-1 bypasses priming and directly links TLRs to rapid NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2013, 111: 775-780. PMID: 24379360, PMCID: PMC3896167, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1320294111.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptorToll-like receptorsCaspase-1 activationLeucine-rich repeatCell death programAssembly of inflammasomesCaspase-1Cytosolic protein complexesIRAK-1IL-1 receptor-associated kinaseActivate caspase-1Receptor-associated kinaseCaspase-1 cleavageEarly host defenseDeath programOligomerization domain-like receptorVirulence factorsNucleotide bindingMicrobial recognitionStimulate Toll-like receptorsListeria monocytogenesProtein complexesPathogen infectionPro-IL-18Virulent microbesPriming Microenvironments Dictate Cytokine Requirements for T Helper 17 Cell Lineage Commitment
Hu W, Troutman T, Edukulla R, Pasare C. Priming Microenvironments Dictate Cytokine Requirements for T Helper 17 Cell Lineage Commitment. Immunity 2011, 35: 1010-1022. PMID: 22137454, PMCID: PMC3246047, DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2011.10.013.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAntigensAntigens, CDCell DifferentiationCell LineageCytokinesDendritic CellsIntegrin alpha ChainsInterleukin-6Lymphoid TissueMembrane GlycoproteinsMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutMice, TransgenicMyeloid Differentiation Factor 88Receptors, Interleukin-1Signal TransductionTh17 CellsConceptsDendritic cellsInterleukin-6Cytokine requirementsCell lineage commitmentDifferentiation of CD4(+) T cellsLineage cellsCD4(+) T cellsActivation of pattern recognition receptorsTh17 lineage cellsTransforming growth factor-bCutaneous immune systemTh17 cell lineage commitmentLineage commitmentT helper 17Th17 cell polarizationSecretion of cytokinesTh17 cell primingGrowth factor BSite of primingTh17 cell differentiationIL-6-independentPattern recognition receptorsT-helperT cellsCell priming
2024
Women in STEM becoming independent: The journey to independence is an immensely gratifying odyssey
Campbell C, Funk M, Hattori Y, Hu W, Jeschke J, Lau C, Ling G, Liu S, Lloréns-Rico V, Nemes E. Women in STEM becoming independent: The journey to independence is an immensely gratifying odyssey. Journal Of Experimental Medicine 2024, 221: e20240842. PMID: 38861021, PMCID: PMC11167372, DOI: 10.1084/jem.20240842.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2023
Distinct metabolic requirements regulate B cell activation and germinal center responses
Sharma R, Smolkin R, Chowdhury P, Fernandez K, Kim Y, Cols M, Alread W, Yen W, Hu W, Wang Z, Violante S, Chaligné R, Li M, Cross J, Chaudhuri J. Distinct metabolic requirements regulate B cell activation and germinal center responses. Nature Immunology 2023, 24: 1358-1369. PMID: 37365386, PMCID: PMC11262065, DOI: 10.1038/s41590-023-01540-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNaïve B cellsB cellsGerminal centersB cell-dependent immune responsesExtrafollicular B cell responsesCell-dependent immune responsesB cell responsesGerminal center responseB cell activationMetabolic requirementsAntibody responseDistinct metabolic requirementsHigh-affinity antibodiesT cellsExtrafollicular sitesImmune responseProliferating lymphocytesCenter responseClonal proliferationCell activationCell responsesGC reactionLactate dehydrogenaseAerobic glycolysisNaïveConserved transcriptional connectivity of regulatory T cells in the tumor microenvironment informs new combination cancer therapy strategies
Glasner A, Rose S, Sharma R, Gudjonson H, Chu T, Green J, Rampersaud S, Valdez I, Andretta E, Dhillon B, Schizas M, Dikiy S, Mendoza A, Hu W, Wang Z, Chaudhary O, Xu T, Mazutis L, Rizzuto G, Quintanal-Villalonga A, Manoj P, de Stanchina E, Rudin C, Pe’er D, Rudensky A. Conserved transcriptional connectivity of regulatory T cells in the tumor microenvironment informs new combination cancer therapy strategies. Nature Immunology 2023, 24: 1020-1035. PMID: 37127830, PMCID: PMC10232368, DOI: 10.1038/s41590-023-01504-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTreg cell depletionRegulatory T cellsT cellsCell depletionEffector T cellsInjury-induced inflammationTreg cell functionSolid organ cancersAntigen presenting cellsExperimental lung cancerLung adenocarcinoma progressionAccessory cell typesT cell activationRational combination treatmentsTreg cellsCorresponding monotherapiesOrgan cancersLung cancerInjury settingPresenting cellsVEGF blockadeAdenocarcinoma progressionCombination treatmentMyeloid cellsCell activation
2022
Genetic tracing reveals transcription factor Foxp3-dependent and Foxp3-independent functionality of peripherally induced Treg cells
van der Veeken J, Campbell C, Pritykin Y, Schizas M, Verter J, Hu W, Wang Z, Matheis F, Mucida D, Charbonnier L, Chatila T, Rudensky A. Genetic tracing reveals transcription factor Foxp3-dependent and Foxp3-independent functionality of peripherally induced Treg cells. Immunity 2022, 55: 1173-1184.e7. PMID: 35700740, PMCID: PMC9885886, DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2022.05.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPTreg cellsTranscription factor Foxp3Treg cellsFactor Foxp3Absence of Foxp3Foxp3-independent mannerPeripheral Treg cellsRegulatory T cellsRole of Foxp3Genetic tracingSuppress autoimmunityTolerogenic signalsEffector TT cellsFoxp3Mature CD4Commensal microbiotaCell lineagesCellsCell expansionCell programTTregsColitisCD4Autoimmunity
2020
The Transcription Factor Foxp3 Shapes Regulatory T Cell Identity by Tuning the Activity of trans-Acting Intermediaries
van der Veeken J, Glasner A, Zhong Y, Hu W, Wang Z, Bou-Puerto R, Charbonnier L, Chatila T, Leslie C, Rudensky A. The Transcription Factor Foxp3 Shapes Regulatory T Cell Identity by Tuning the Activity of trans-Acting Intermediaries. Immunity 2020, 53: 971-984.e5. PMID: 33176163, PMCID: PMC8363055, DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2020.10.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAutoimmune DiseasesAutoimmunityBinding SitesChromatin Assembly and DisassemblyDisease Models, AnimalEpigenesis, GeneticFemaleForkhead Transcription FactorsGene Expression RegulationImmunohistochemistryMaleMiceNucleotide MotifsOrgan SpecificityProtein BindingT-Lymphocytes, RegulatoryTrans-ActivatorsConceptsRegulatory T Cell IdentityChromatin accessibilityCell identityT cell identityDNA sequence motifsGene expression patternsMajor chromatinChromatin regionsTF bindingSequence motifsTCF7 geneEpigenetic featuresGenetic variationNegative regulationNull allelesExpression patternsPresence of DNATreg cell identityFOXP3 functionTCF1MotifIndirect mannerCellsTranscription factor Foxp3Chromatin
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