Featured Publications
SUMOylation of VEGFR2 regulates its intracellular trafficking and pathological angiogenesis
Zhou HJ, Xu Z, Wang Z, Zhang H, Zhuang Z, Simons M, Min W. SUMOylation of VEGFR2 regulates its intracellular trafficking and pathological angiogenesis. Nature Communications 2018, 9: 3303. PMID: 30120232, PMCID: PMC6098000, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05812-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsCorneaCysteine EndopeptidasesDiabetes MellitusEndopeptidasesGene DeletionGene Knock-In TechniquesGene SilencingGolgi ApparatusHuman Umbilical Vein Endothelial CellsHumansIntracellular SpaceMaleMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutNeovascularization, PathologicProtein TransportRetinaSignal TransductionSUMO-1 ProteinSumoylationVascular Endothelial Growth Factor AVascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2ConceptsPathological angiogenesisPotential therapeutic targetRegulation of VEGFR2Non-sumoylated formEndothelial-specific deletionDiabetic miceHindlimb ischemiaTherapeutic targetDiabetic settingControl of angiogenesisEndothelial cellsAngiogenesisVEGFR2Surface expressionVEGFR2 activityTissue repairSENP1
2024
SRF SUMOylation modulates smooth muscle phenotypic switch and vascular remodeling
Xu Y, Zhang H, Chen Y, Pober J, Zhou M, Zhou J, Min W. SRF SUMOylation modulates smooth muscle phenotypic switch and vascular remodeling. Nature Communications 2024, 15: 6919. PMID: 39134547, PMCID: PMC11319592, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51350-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVascular smooth muscle cellsSerum response factorCardiovascular diseaseVSMC synthetic phenotypeVascular remodelingNeointimal formationSENP1 deficiencySerum response factor activitySmooth muscle phenotypic switchingPhenotypic switchingPathogenesis of cardiovascular diseaseSmooth muscle cellsPost-translational SUMOylationTreatment of cardiovascular diseasesInhibitor AZD6244Phospho-ELK1Increased nuclear accumulationLysosomal localizationGene transcriptionNuclear accumulationMuscle cellsCoronary arteryCVD patientsVSMC phenotypic switchTherapeutic potential
2022
Brown adipose TRX2 deficiency activates mtDNA-NLRP3 to impair thermogenesis and protect against diet-induced insulin resistance
Huang Y, Zhou JH, Zhang H, Canfrán-Duque A, Singh AK, Perry RJ, Shulman G, Fernandez-Hernando C, Min W. Brown adipose TRX2 deficiency activates mtDNA-NLRP3 to impair thermogenesis and protect against diet-induced insulin resistance. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2022, 132 PMID: 35202005, PMCID: PMC9057632, DOI: 10.1172/jci148852.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBrown adipose tissueBAT inflammationInsulin resistanceMitochondrial reactive oxygen speciesReactive oxygen speciesAberrant innate immune responsesDiet-induced insulin resistanceSystematic metabolismDiet-induced obesityNLRP3 inflammasome pathwayWhole-body energy metabolismCGAS/STINGInnate immune responseFatty acid oxidationExcessive mitochondrial reactive oxygen speciesMetabolic benefitsImmune responseInflammasome pathwayAdipose tissueInflammationInhibition reversesLipid uptakeLipid metabolismThioredoxin 2Adaptive thermogenesis
2020
Mitophagy-mediated adipose inflammation contributes to type 2 diabetes with hepatic insulin resistance
He F, Huang Y, Song Z, Zhou HJ, Zhang H, Perry RJ, Shulman GI, Min W. Mitophagy-mediated adipose inflammation contributes to type 2 diabetes with hepatic insulin resistance. Journal Of Experimental Medicine 2020, 218: e20201416. PMID: 33315085, PMCID: PMC7927432, DOI: 10.1084/jem.20201416.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdipocytesAdipose TissueAnimalsDiabetes Mellitus, Type 2Diet, High-FatEnergy MetabolismFatty LiverGene DeletionGene TargetingGluconeogenesisHomeostasisHumansHyperglycemiaInflammationInsulin ResistanceLipogenesisLiverMaleMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutMitochondriaMitophagyNF-kappa BOxidative StressPhenotypeReactive Oxygen SpeciesSequestosome-1 ProteinSignal TransductionThioredoxinsConceptsHepatic insulin resistanceWhite adipose tissueInsulin resistanceAdipose inflammationType 2 diabetes mellitusLipid metabolic disordersNF-κB inhibitorAdipose-specific deletionWhole-body energy homeostasisAltered fatty acid metabolismFatty acid metabolismT2DM progressionT2DM patientsDiabetes mellitusReactive oxygen species pathwayHepatic steatosisMetabolic disordersNF-κBP62/SQSTM1Adipose tissueHuman adipocytesEnergy homeostasisExcessive mitophagyOxygen species pathwayInflammationBMX Represses Thrombin-PAR1–Mediated Endothelial Permeability and Vascular Leakage During Early Sepsis
Li Z, Yin M, Zhang H, Ni W, Pierce R, Zhou HJ, Min W. BMX Represses Thrombin-PAR1–Mediated Endothelial Permeability and Vascular Leakage During Early Sepsis. Circulation Research 2020, 126: 471-485. PMID: 31910739, PMCID: PMC7035171, DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.119.315769.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPAR1 internalizationPuncture-induced sepsisCecal ligationVascular leakageEndothelial permeabilityExpression of BmxThrombin-PAR1Early sepsisEndothelial cellsPuncture modelSignal inactivationPAR1 antagonist SCH79797Negative regulatorLung epithelial cellsTransendothelial electrical resistanceAdult stageEmbryonic stagesCultured endothelial cellsPulmonary leakageCellular analysisLung injuryPathological stimuliEndothelium dysfunctionPlatelet dysfunctionSepsis
2019
Short AIP1 (ASK1-Interacting Protein-1) Isoform Localizes to the Mitochondria and Promotes Vascular Dysfunction
Li Z, Li L, Zhang H, Zhou HJ, Ji W, Min W. Short AIP1 (ASK1-Interacting Protein-1) Isoform Localizes to the Mitochondria and Promotes Vascular Dysfunction. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis And Vascular Biology 2019, 40: 112-127. PMID: 31619063, PMCID: PMC7204498, DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.119.312976.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAorta, ThoracicApoptosisArteriosclerosisBlotting, WesternCells, CulturedDisease Models, AnimalDNAEndothelium, VascularGene Expression RegulationGenome-Wide Association StudyHumansMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, TransgenicMicroscopy, FluorescenceMitochondriaRas GTPase-Activating ProteinsSignal TransductionConceptsN-terminal pleckstrin homology domainHuman genome-wide association studiesGenome-wide association studiesPleckstrin homology domainMitochondrial reactive oxygen species generationEndothelial cellsH3K9 trimethylationHomology domainReactive oxygen species productionOxygen species productionReactive oxygen speciesReactive oxygen species generationAssociation studiesRegulatory factorsEpigenetic inhibitionEC activationOxygen species generationDependent pathwayVascular endothelial cellsProteolytic degradationSpecies productionOxygen speciesVascular homeostasisMitochondriaSpecies generationCD34+KLF4+ Stromal Stem Cells Contribute to Endometrial Regeneration and Repair
Yin M, Zhou HJ, Lin C, Long L, Yang X, Zhang H, Taylor H, Min W. CD34+KLF4+ Stromal Stem Cells Contribute to Endometrial Regeneration and Repair. Cell Reports 2019, 27: 2709-2724.e3. PMID: 31141693, PMCID: PMC6548470, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.04.088.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEndometrial regenerationEndometrial epitheliumStem cellsLocal stem cellsEndometrial repairHuman endometriumUterine hyperplasiaStromal stem cellsCD34Regenerative capacitySM22αEpitheliumCellsProliferative signalingTranscriptional activityRepairKLF4EndometriumHyperplasiaERαProtein SUMOylationRegeneration modelMice
2017
ASK1-dependent endothelial cell activation is critical in ovarian cancer growth and metastasis
Yin M, Zhou HJ, Zhang J, Lin C, Li H, Li X, Li Y, Zhang H, Breckenridge DG, Ji W, Min W. ASK1-dependent endothelial cell activation is critical in ovarian cancer growth and metastasis. JCI Insight 2017, 2: e91828. PMID: 28931753, PMCID: PMC5621912, DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.91828.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTumor-associated macrophagesOvarian cancer growthOvarian cancerTranscoelomic metastasisCancer growthTumor growthOrthotopic ovarian cancer modelPeritoneal tumor growthInflammation-mediated tumorigenesisOvarian cancer modelEndothelial cell activationJunction protein VE-cadherinOvarian cancer progressionTAM infiltrationMacrophage infiltrationVascular leakageMacrophage transmigrationVascular permeabilityMouse modelVascular endotheliumMetastasis cancerTherapeutic targetMacrophage activationColon cancerCancer model
2014
Diacylglycerol Kinase (DGK) Inhibitor II (R59949) Could Suppress Retinal Neovascularization and Protect Retinal Astrocytes in an Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy Model
Yang L, Xu Y, Li W, Yang B, Yu S, Zhou H, Yang C, Xu F, Wang J, Gao Y, Huang Y, Lu L, Liang X. Diacylglycerol Kinase (DGK) Inhibitor II (R59949) Could Suppress Retinal Neovascularization and Protect Retinal Astrocytes in an Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy Model. Journal Of Molecular Neuroscience 2014, 56: 78-88. PMID: 25451596, DOI: 10.1007/s12031-014-0469-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHypoxia-inducible factorVascular endothelial growth factorRetinal neovascularizationRetinopathy modelHIF-1α/VEGF pathwayOxygen-induced retinopathy modelExposure of hyperoxiaSuppress retinal neovascularizationPostnatal day 7Endothelial growth factorProlyl hydroxylasesOIR miceOIR modelRetinal astrocytesIntraperitoneal injectionPathologic neovascularizationVEGF pathwayDay 7Astrocyte morphologyHIF-1αNeovascularizationPHD-2Room airHIF-α subunitsGrowth factor
2013
Functional Analyses of TNFR2 in Physiological and Pathological Retina AngiogenesisTNFR2 Mediates Retinal Angiogenesis
Wan T, Xu Z, Zhou HJ, Zhang H, Luo Y, Li Y, Min W. Functional Analyses of TNFR2 in Physiological and Pathological Retina AngiogenesisTNFR2 Mediates Retinal Angiogenesis. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 2013, 54: 211-221. PMID: 23188724, PMCID: PMC3544528, DOI: 10.1167/iovs.12-10364.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAngiopoietin-2AnimalsAnimals, NewbornCell SurvivalDisease Models, AnimalEndothelium, VascularEpithelial CellsGene ExpressionHumansHypoxiaInfant, NewbornMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutMice, TransgenicNeovascularization, PathologicNF-kappa BOxygenProtein-Tyrosine KinasesReceptor, TIE-2Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type IIRetinaRetinal NeovascularizationRetinopathy of PrematurityVascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2ConceptsTumor necrosis factor receptor 2Wild-type C57BL/6 miceTNFR2 deletionTNFR2-KOOIR modelOxygen-induced retinopathy modelNecrosis factor receptor 2Pathological neovascular tuftsRetinal vascular repairVascular ECsRetinal vascular developmentIschemia-induced revascularizationRetinal vasculature developmentFactor receptor 2Vascular endothelial cellsPreretinal neovascularizationVascular developmentC57BL/6 miceNeovascular tuftsKO miceNeonatal miceIsolectin stainingVascular repairBone marrow kinasePostnatal day
2012
TMP Prevents Retinal Neovascularization and Imparts Neuroprotection in an Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy ModelTMP Blocks Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy
Liang X, Zhou H, Ding Y, Li J, Yang C, Luo Y, Li S, Sun G, Liao X, Min W. TMP Prevents Retinal Neovascularization and Imparts Neuroprotection in an Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy ModelTMP Blocks Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 2012, 53: 2157-2169. PMID: 22410554, PMCID: PMC4627509, DOI: 10.1167/iovs.11-9315.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAnimals, NewbornApoptosisDisease Models, AnimalDrugs, Chinese HerbalFluorescent Antibody Technique, IndirectGlial Fibrillary Acidic ProteinHypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha SubunitIn Situ Nick-End LabelingLigusticumMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMicroscopy, ConfocalNerve Tissue ProteinsNeuroprotective AgentsOxygenPyrazinesReperfusion InjuryRetinal NeovascularizationRetinal NeuronsReverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain ReactionRNA, MessengerVascular Endothelial Growth Factor AVasodilator AgentsConceptsEffects of tetramethylpyrazineVEGF mRNA expressionCell bodiesRetinal neovascularizationAvascular retinaMüller cellsMouse retinaHIF-1αMRNA expressionOxygen-induced retinopathy modelIschemia-induced cell deathHorizontal cell bodiesNeonatal C57BL/6J miceOuter plexiform layerPostnatal day 7Amacrine cell bodiesTUNEL-positive cellsMüller cell bodiesImparts NeuroprotectionNeurovascular recoveryNeurovascular repairControl miceC57BL/6J micePlexiform layerNormal saline
2011
Retro-orbital injection of FITC-dextran is an effective and economical method for observing mouse retinal vessels.
Li S, Li T, Luo Y, Yu H, Sun Y, Zhou H, Liang X, Huang J, Tang S. Retro-orbital injection of FITC-dextran is an effective and economical method for observing mouse retinal vessels. Molecular Vision 2011, 17: 3566-73. PMID: 22219652, PMCID: PMC3250377.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAnimals, NewbornDextransFluorescein AngiographyFluorescein-5-isothiocyanateHeart VentriclesHumansImage Processing, Computer-AssistedInfant, NewbornInjections, IntraocularMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMolecular ImagingOxygenPerfusionRetinaRetinal VesselsRetinopathy of PrematurityReverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain ReactionSoftwareConceptsMouse retinal vesselsRO injectionOIR miceOxygen-induced retinopathyRetro-orbital injectionLV perfusionRetinal vesselsFITC-dextranTotal retina areaArea of neovascularizationRetinal flatmountsRetinal neovascularizationVentricular perfusionNormal miceFluorescein isothiocyanate-dextranRetina areaLeft ventriclePostnatal micePerfusionMiceOrbital injectionInjectionSignificant differencesNeovascularizationVessels