Featured Publications
The Growth Factor Progranulin Binds to TNF Receptors and Is Therapeutic Against Inflammatory Arthritis in Mice
Tang W, Lu Y, Tian QY, Zhang Y, Guo FJ, Liu GY, Syed NM, Lai Y, Lin EA, Kong L, Su J, Yin F, Ding AH, Zanin-Zhorov A, Dustin ML, Tao J, Craft J, Yin Z, Feng JQ, Abramson SB, Yu XP, Liu CJ. The Growth Factor Progranulin Binds to TNF Receptors and Is Therapeutic Against Inflammatory Arthritis in Mice. Science 2011, 332: 478-484. PMID: 21393509, PMCID: PMC3104397, DOI: 10.1126/science.1199214.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultAgedAnimalsAnti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-SteroidalArthritis, ExperimentalCartilage, ArticularFemaleGranulinsHumansIntercellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsLigandsMaleMiceMice, Inbred StrainsMice, KnockoutMice, TransgenicMiddle AgedProgranulinsProtein Interaction Domains and MotifsReceptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type IReceptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type IIRecombinant Fusion ProteinsRecombinant ProteinsSignal TransductionT-Lymphocytes, RegulatoryTumor Necrosis Factor-alphaYoung AdultConceptsInflammatory arthritisAdministration of progranulinAntagonist of TNFαCollagen-induced arthritisArthritis mouse modelPGRN-deficient miceNew potential therapeutic interventionsPotential therapeutic interventionsGrowth factor progranulinNecrosis factor receptorRheumatoid arthritisMouse modelArthritisTherapeutic interventionsProgranulinTNF receptorFactor receptorMiceReceptorsInflammationTissue repairTNFαIntracellular signalingAtsttrinTNFR
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
2016
Foxo4‐ and Stat3‐dependent IL‐10 production by progranulin in regulatory T cells restrains inflammatory arthritis
Fu W, Hu W, Shi L, Mundra J, Xiao G, Dustin M, Liu C. Foxo4‐ and Stat3‐dependent IL‐10 production by progranulin in regulatory T cells restrains inflammatory arthritis. The FASEB Journal 2016, 31: 1354-1367. PMID: 28011648, PMCID: PMC5349791, DOI: 10.1096/fj.201601134r.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsArthritis, ExperimentalCell Cycle ProteinsCells, CulturedForkhead Transcription FactorsGranulinsIntercellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsInterleukin-10MAP Kinase Signaling SystemMiceMice, Inbred DBAPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProgranulinsSTAT3 Transcription FactorT-Lymphocytes, RegulatoryConceptsIL-10 productionRegulatory T cellsInflammatory arthritisIL-10T cellsAnti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10Forkhead box protein O4PI3K pathwayCollagen-induced arthritisCytokine IL-10Green fluorescent protein reporter miceTranscription factorsSequencing screenSignal transducerJNK signalingTranscription 3K pathwayImmunological mechanismsAutoimmune diseasesInflammatory conditionsMouse modelArthritisPresent new insightsReporter miceProgranulinExtracellular matrix protein 1, a direct targeting molecule of parathyroid hormone‐related peptide, negatively regulates chondrogenesis and endochondral ossification via associating with progranulin growth factor
Kong L, Zhao Y, Tian Q, Feng J, Kobayashi T, Merregaert J, Liu C. Extracellular matrix protein 1, a direct targeting molecule of parathyroid hormone‐related peptide, negatively regulates chondrogenesis and endochondral ossification via associating with progranulin growth factor. The FASEB Journal 2016, 30: 2741-2754. PMID: 27075243, PMCID: PMC4970607, DOI: 10.1096/fj.201600261r.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsExtracellular matrix protein 1Matrix protein 1Protein 1Endochondral ossificationCellular signaling pathwaysGrowth factorRegulation of chondrogenesisEndochondral bone formationUnrecognized regulatorChondrogenic growth factorsInteraction networksPTHrP regulationCartilage developmentSignaling pathwaysParathyroid hormone-related peptideTarget transgeneMatrix proteinsChondrocyte differentiationCellular interactionsHormone-related peptideChondrogenesisChondrocyte hypertrophyPTHrP actionOverexpressionPathway
2013
The promotion of bone healing by progranulin, a downstream molecule of BMP-2, through interacting with TNF/TNFR signaling
Zhao Y, Tian Q, Frenkel S, Liu C. The promotion of bone healing by progranulin, a downstream molecule of BMP-2, through interacting with TNF/TNFR signaling. Biomaterials 2013, 34: 6412-6421. PMID: 23746860, PMCID: PMC3713419, DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2013.05.030.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBone healing processBone formationHealing processEctopic bone formationTNF-α transgenic miceBone healingTNFR2-deficient miceRole of PGRNTreatment of fracturesTNF-α signalingEndochondral ossificationPotential molecular targetsEctopic bone formation modelInflammatory osteoclastogenesisTNF/TNFRPGRN deficiencyInflammatory conditionsDeficient miceRecombinant PGRNBone regenerationTransgenic micePGRNMiceCritical mediatorGrowth factorProgranulin deficiency exaggerates, whereas progranulin‐derived Atsttrin attenuates, severity of dermatitis in mice
Zhao Y, Tian Q, Liu C. Progranulin deficiency exaggerates, whereas progranulin‐derived Atsttrin attenuates, severity of dermatitis in mice. FEBS Letters 2013, 587: 1805-1810. PMID: 23669357, PMCID: PMC3683372, DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2013.04.037.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInflammatory skin diseaseSeverity of dermatitisMouse dermatitis modelNF-κB signalingPotential molecular targetsInflammatory arthritisDermatitis modelSkin inflammationPGRN levelsSevere inflammationProgranulin deficiencySkin diseasesProtective roleInflammationMolecular targetsPGRNAtsttrinDermatitisOxazoloneArthritisTNFαProgranulinDiseaseMiceProtein
2011
GEP constitutes a negative feedback loop with MyoD and acts as a novel mediator in controlling skeletal muscle differentiation
Wang D, Bai X, Tian Q, Lai Y, Lin E, Shi Y, Mu X, Feng J, Carlson C, Liu C. GEP constitutes a negative feedback loop with MyoD and acts as a novel mediator in controlling skeletal muscle differentiation. Cellular And Molecular Life Sciences 2011, 69: 1855-1873. PMID: 22179841, PMCID: PMC3319484, DOI: 10.1007/s00018-011-0901-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMyoD transcription factorGranulin-epithelin precursorTranscription factorsMyoblast fusionMyotube formationMuscle-specific transcription factorsC2C12 myoblast fusionE-box sequenceSkeletal muscle differentiationFusion of myoblastsNegative feedback loopGrowth factorEmbryonic developmentRegulatory regionsMuscle differentiationSkeletal muscle tissueC2C12 myoblastsRegulatory loopSiRNA approachNovel mediatorAutocrine growth factorJunBKnockdown miceMyoblastsTissue repair