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Research Interests:
Studies in Dr. Liu's laboratory are focused on dissecting the cellular and molecular pathways leading to chronic renal fibrosis, and exploring novel strategies for therapeutic interventions. Using a series of experimental approaches, we are addressing several fundamental issues in renal fibrosis, such as what types of cells produce a large amount of matrix proteins under pathologic conditions and how they are regulated. Current studies in our laboratory include: 1) to decipher the mechanism controlling the regulation of tubular epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in renal fibrogenesis; 2) to unravel the interactions and cross-talks of the intracellular signal pathways activated by anti-fibrotic hepatocyte growth factor and pro-fibrotic transforming growth factor-beta in kidney cells; 3) to develop novel therapeutic strategies aimed at ameliorating renal fibrosis and kidney dysfunction.
Selected Publications:
View Dr. Liu's publications on PubMed
- Hu K, Yang J, Tanaka S, Gonias SL, Mars WM, and Liu Y. 2006. Tissue-type plasminogen activator acts as a cytokine that triggers intracellular signal transduction and induces matrix metalloproteinase-9 gene expression. J. Biol. Chem. 281: 2120-2127.
- Giannopoulou M, Iszkula SC, Dai C, Tan X, Yang J, Michalopoulos GK, and Liu Y. 2006. Distinctive role of Stat3 and Erk-1/2 activation in mediating interferon-gamma inhibition of TGF-beta1 action. Am. J. Physiol. Renal Physiol. 290: F1234-F1240.
- Xia J, Dai C, Michalopoulos GK, and Liu Y. 2006. Hepatocyte growth factor attenuates liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation. Am. J. Pathol. 168: 1500-1512.
- Li Y, Wen X, Spataro BC, Hu K, Dai C, and Liu Y. 2006. Hepatocyte growth factor is a downstream effector that mediates the anti-fibrotic action of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma agonists. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 17: 54-65.
- Dai C, Stolz DB, Bastacky SI, St-Arnaud R, Wu C, Dedhar S, and Liu Y. 2006. Essential role of integrin-linked kinase in podocyte biology: bridging the integrin and slit diaphragm signaling. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 17: 2164-2175.
- Tan R, Zhang J, Tan X, Zhang X, Yang J, and Liu Y. 2006. Downregulation of SnoN expression in obstructive nephropathy is mediated by an enhanced ubiquitin-dependent degradation. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 17: 2781-2791.
- Tan X, Li Y, and Liu Y. 2006. Paricalcitol attenuates renal interstitial fibrosis in obstructive nephropathy. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 17: 3382-3393.
- Liu Y. 2006. Renal fibrosis: New insights into the pathogenesis and therapeutics. Kidney Int. 69: 213-217.
- Apte U, Zeng G, Muller P, Tan X, Micsenyi A, Cipley B, Dai C, Liu Y, Kaestner KH, and Monga SP. 2006. Activation of Wnt/beta-catenin pathway during hepatocyte growth factor-induced hepatomegaly. Hepatology. 44: 992-1002.
- Li Y, Yang J, Luo JH, Dedhar S, and Liu Y. 2007. Tubular epithelial cell dedifferentiation is driven by the helix-loop-helix transcription inhibitor Id1. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 18: 449-460.
- Tan R, Zhang X, Yang J, Li Y, and Liu Y. 2007. Molecular basis for the cell type-specific induction of SnoN expression by hepatocyte growth factor. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 18: 2340-2349.
- Li Y, Dai C, Wu C, and Liu Y. 2007. PINCH-1 promotes tubular epithelial to mesenchymal transition by interacting with integrin-linked kinase. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 18: 2534-2543.
- Hu K, Wu C, Mars WM, and Liu Y. 2007. Tissue-type plasminogen activator promotes murine myofibroblast activation through LDL receptor-related protein 1-mediated integrin signaling. J. Clin. Invest. 117: 3821-3832.
- Poncelet AC, Schnaper HW, Tan R, Liu Y, and Runyan CE. 2007. Cell phenotype-specific down-regulation of Smad3 involves decreased gene activation as well as protein degradation. J. Biol. Chem. 282: 15534-15540.
- Zhang J, Yang J, and Liu Y. 2008. Role of Bcl-xL induction in HGF-mediated renal epithelial cell survival after oxidant stress. Int. J. Clin. Exp. Pathol. 1: 242-253.
- Li Y, Kang YS, Dai C, Kiss LP, Wen X, and Liu Y. 2008. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition is a potential pathway leading to podocyte dysfunction and proteinuria. Am. J. Pathol. 172: 299-308.
- Hu K, Lin L, Tan X, Yang J, Bu G, Mars WM, and Liu Y. 2008. tPA protects renal interstitial fibroblasts and myofibroblasts from apoptosis. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 19: 503-514.
- Tan R, He W, Lin X, Kiss LP, and Liu Y. 2008. Smad ubiquitination regulatory factor-2 in the fibrotic kidney: regulation, target specificity and functional implication. Am. J. Physiol. Renal Physiol. 294: F1076-F1083.
- Giannopoulou M, Dai C, Tan X, Wen X, Michalopoulos GK, and Liu Y. 2008. Hepatocyte growth factor exerts its anti-inflammatory action by disrupting nuclear factor-kB signaling. Am. J. Pathol. 173: 30-41.
- Hu K, Mars WM, and Liu Y. 2008. Novel actions of tissue-type plasminogen activator in chronic kidney disease. Front. Biosci. 13: 5174-5186.
- Tan X, Wen X, and Liu Y. 2008. Paricalcitol inhibits renal inflammation by promoting vitamin D receptor-mediated sequestration of NF-kB signaling. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 19: 1741-1752.
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