Li Zhong

Li Zhong


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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19 January 2023 in Cell Death & Disease
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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JZJinqiu Zhao
Jinqiu Zhao
JBJie Bai
Jie Bai
FPFengling Peng
Fengling Peng
CQChan Qiu
Chan Qiu
YLYongguo Li
Yongguo Li
LZLi Zhong
Li Zhong
Liver fibrosis is a complex fibrotic process that develops early in the course of cirrhosis and is caused by chronic liver damage. The activation of hepatic stellate cells is primarily responsible for the fibrosis process. Studies show that NRP1 influences HSC motility and migration. However, whether NRP1 regulates HSC activation remains unknown. C57BL/6 male mice (6–8 weeks old) were intraperitoneally injected with 10% CCl4 in olive oil (5 μl/g body weight) every three days for four weeks to create an animal model of liver fibrosis. Control mice received olive oil (5 μl/g body weight). Different assays such as immunohistochemistry, immunostaining, Western blotting, qRT-PCR, immunoprecipitation, immunoprecipitation, and GST pull-down assays, and in vivo and in vitro ubiquitination assays were conducted. We found that NRP1 expression was significantly elevated both in mouse and human fibrotic livers, mainly in activated HSCs at the fibrotic foci. NRP1 promoted HSC activation via the cytokine TGF-β1, VEGFA, and PDGF-BB. Moreover, USP9X was found to be a critical deubiquitinating enzyme for the stability and high activity of NRP1 and NRP1 deubiquitination mediated by USP9X enhanced HSC activation and liver fibrosis. NRP1 deubiquitination mediated by USP9X enhances HSC activation, implying that targeting NRP1 or USP9X potentiates novel options in the treatment of liver fibrosis.

25 January 2022 in The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
CQChan Qiu
Chan Qiu
YLYi Liu
Yi Liu
SHShengjie Huang
Shengjie Huang
BNBo Ning
Bo Ning
SHSong He
Song He
LZLi Zhong
Li Zhong