Wenji Li

Prof. Dr. Wenji Li


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

20Years (2007-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 December 2015 in The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
YHYing Huang
Ying Huang
WLWenji Li
Wenji Li
Zheng-Yuan SuZheng-Yuan Su
Zheng-Yuan Su
AKAh-Ng Kong
Ah-Ng Kong

14 March 2018 in Carcinogenesis
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
YGYue Guo
Yue Guo
RWRenyi Wu
Renyi Wu
JGJohn M Gaspar
John M Gaspar
DSDavit Sargsyan
Davit Sargsyan
Zheng-Yuan SuZheng-Yuan Su
Zheng-Yuan Su
AKAh-Ng Kong
Ah-Ng Kong
Inflammation is highly associated with colon carcinogenesis. Epigenetic mechanisms could play an important role in the initiation and progression of colon cancer. Curcumin, a dietary phytochemical, shows promising effects in suppressing colitis-associated colon cancer in azoxymethane-dextran sulfate sodium (AOM-DSS) mice. However, the potential epigenetic mechanisms of curcumin in colon cancer remain unknown. In this study, the anticancer effect of curcumin in suppressing colon cancer in an 18-week AOM-DSS colon cancer mouse model was confirmed. We identified lists of differentially expressed and differentially methylated genes in pairwise comparisons and several pathways involved in the potential anticancer effect of curcumin. These pathways include LPS/IL-1-mediated inhibition of RXR function, Nrf2-mediated oxidative stress response, production of NO and ROS in macrophages and IL-6 signaling. Among these genes, Tnf stood out with decreased DNA CpG methylation of Tnf in the AOM-DSS group and reversal of the AOM-DSS induced Tnf demethylation by curcumin. These observations in Tnf methylation correlated with increased and decreased Tnf expression in RNA-seq. The functional role of DNA methylation of Tnf was further confirmed by in vitro luciferase transcriptional activity assay. In addition, the DNA methylation level in a group of inflammatory genes was decreased in the AOM+DSS group but restored by curcumin and was validated by pyrosequencing. This study shows for the first time epigenomic changes in DNA CpG methylation in the inflammatory response from colitis-associated colon cancer and the reversal of their CpG methylation changes by curcumin. Future clinical epigenetic studies with curcumin in inflammation-associated colon cancer would be warranted.

5 December 2016 in Chemical Research in Toxicology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
WLWenji Li
Wenji Li
YGYue Guo
Yue Guo
CZChengyue Zhang
Chengyue Zhang
RWRenyi Wu
Renyi Wu
AYAnne Yuqing Yang
Anne Yuqing Yang
AKAh-Ng Kong
Ah-Ng Kong

28 January 2016 in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
CZChengyue Zhang
Chengyue Zhang
LSLimin Shu
Limin Shu
HKHyuck Kim
Hyuck Kim
TKTin Oo Khor
Tin Oo Khor
RWRenyi Wu
Renyi Wu
AKAh-Ng Kong
Ah-Ng Kong

12 March 2019 in Molecular Pharmaceutics
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
DCDavid Cheng
David Cheng
WLWenji Li
Wenji Li
LWLujing Wang
Lujing Wang
TLTiffany Lin
Tiffany Lin
GPGeorge Poiani
George Poiani
AKAh-Ng Kong
Ah-Ng Kong

16 October 2017 in Molecular Pharmaceutics
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
CZChengyue Zhang
Chengyue Zhang
CWChao Wang
Chao Wang
WLWenji Li
Wenji Li
RWRenyi Wu
Renyi Wu
YGYue Guo
Yue Guo
AKAh-Ng Kong
Ah-Ng Kong