Zhe Yang

Zhe Yang


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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3 December 2025 in Molecular Biomedicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ASAsif Shahzad
Asif Shahzad
YNYueli Ni
Yueli Ni
YYYinfeng Yang
Yinfeng Yang
WLWenjing Liu
Wenjing Liu
ZTZhuoran Teng
Zhuoran Teng
QZQiao Zhang
Qiao Zhang
Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are web-like structures composed of DNA, histones, and antimicrobial proteins that extend the defensive repertoire of neutrophils beyond classical phagocytosis and degranulation. Initially considered solely antimicrobial, NETs are now recognized as dynamic regulators of immunity, inflammation, and tissue remodeling. Their formation is orchestrated by the generation of reactive oxygen species, neutrophil elastase-mediated chromatin remodeling, and peptidyl arginine deiminase 4-driven histone citrullination. At the same time, clearance involves DNase activity and macrophage-mediated phagocytosis. In physiological contexts, NETs immobilize and kill pathogens, restrict biofilm formation, and coordinate immune cell crosstalk, thereby supporting host defense and repair. However, when NET formation or clearance becomes dysregulated, these structures drive a broad spectrum of pathologies. Aberrant NET activity has been implicated in infectious diseases (bacterial, viral, fungal), autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus, ANCA-associated vasculitis, rheumatoid arthritis, Gout, and psoriasis, cardiovascular disorders including atherosclerosis, thrombosis, acute coronary syndrome, Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and viral myocarditis, as well as cancer progression, metastasis, and other inflammation-associated disorders such as asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and pregnancy-related complications. Advances in imaging, proteomics, and single-cell sequencing have expanded our ability to characterize NETs across contexts, revealing stimulus- and disease-specific heterogeneity. At the translational levels, therapies that inhibit NETs formation, promote their degradation, or regulate their release, including PAD4 and elastase inhibitors, DNase-based approaches, and antibody strategies, are under active investigation. By integrating these advances, this review provides a framework for translating NET biology into clinically relevant applications.

1 January 2022 in International Journal of Medical Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
QZQiao Zhang
Qiao Zhang
YNYueli Ni
Yueli Ni
SWShujie Wang
Shujie Wang
YAYannick Luther Agbana
Yannick Luther Agbana
QHQiaoqiao Han
Qiaoqiao Han
YZYuechun Zhu
Yuechun Zhu
Background: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a cell metabolic disease with high metastasis rate and poor prognosis. Our previous studies demonstrate that glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), the first and rate-limiting enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway, is highly expressed in ccRCC and predicts poor outcomes of ccRCC patients. The aims of this study were to confirm the oncogenic role of G6PD in ccRCC and unravels novel mechanisms involving Cyclin E1 and MMP9 in G6PD-mediated ccRCC progression.

24 February 2025 in Scientific Reports
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ASAsif Shahzad
Asif Shahzad
WLWenjing Liu
Wenjing Liu
SHShoukat Hussain
Shoukat Hussain
YNYueli Ni
Yueli Ni
KCKun Cui
Kun Cui
ZYZhe Yang
Zhe Yang
Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders that can lead to severe health problems, and the current treatments often have harmful side effects. Therefore, there is a growing interest in discovering new antidiabetic drugs with fewer adverse effects, and natural products are a promising source for this purpose. Cicer arietinum and Hordeum vulgare are plants with high levels of phytochemicals that have been shown to have therapeutic properties. This study investigates the anti-diabetic potential of C. arietinum and H. vulgare seeds and their secondary metabolites. We employed a comprehensive approach combining in vitro, in silico, and in vivo methods to evaluate the efficacy of the compounds. Our findings reveal that the extracts of C. arietinum (IC50 55.08 μg/mL) and H. vulgare (IC50 115.8 ± 5 μg/mL) demonstrated a stronger inhibitory effect on α-amylase compared to acarbose (standard drug) (IC50 196.3 ± 10 μg/mL). Similarly, both C. arietinum and H. vulgare exhibited significant inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase (IC50 100.2 ± 5 μg/mL and IC50 216.2 ± 5 μg/mL, respectively) compared to acarbose (IC50 246.5 ± 10 μg/mL). To further investigate their mechanism of action, a computational screening of 194 phytochemicals from these plants was conducted, followed by molecular docking with α-amylase (PDB ID#1B2Y) and α-Glucosidase (PDB ID# 5NN8) receptors. According to the binding affinities and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, Medicagol, Euphol, Stigmasterol, and Beta-Sitosterol emerged as promising candidates for diabetes treatment. Molecular dynamics showed that Medicagol was a strong inhibitor against selected receptor proteins because the ligand–protein complexes remained stabilized during the entire simulation time of 100 ns. In vitro analysis also confirmed that Medicagol, stigmasterol, and Euphol have significant potential for type 2 diabetes prevention via inhibition of carbohydrates hydrolyzing enzymes. In vivo study demonstrated significant therapeutic effects in STZ-induced diabetes mice. Including reductions in hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance. Histopathological analysis revealed that plant extracts mitigated STZ-induced pancreatic and liver damage. Additionally, extracts enhanced antioxidant defenses by increasing SOD, CAT, and GSH levels, while decreasing MDA levels in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas, highlighting their protective role against oxidative stress. These results support the potential of Cicer arietinum and Hordeum vulgare as natural sources for developing antidiabetic agents.

22 July 2020 in BMC Cancer
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
YAYannick Luther AGBANA
Yannick Luther AGBANA
MAManzama-Esso Abi
Manzama-Esso Abi
YNYue Li Ni
Yue Li Ni
GXGuohang Xiong
Guohang Xiong
JCJing Chen
Jing Chen
YZYuechun Zhu
Yuechun Zhu
Background: Long intergenic non-coding RNA 00511 (LINC00511) is highly expressed in diverse cancers and has a correlation with poor clinical outcomes for cancer patients. In view of contradictory data among published data, we aim to evaluate the prognostic role of LINC00511 for cancer patients. Methods: In the present study, a meta-analysis of related studies has been performed to investigate the prognostic significance of LINC00511 in cancer patients. Relevant studies published before December 22, 2019 were systematically searched online in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases. The relationship between LINC00511 expression and cancer patients’ survival, including overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS)/relapse-free survival (RFS) and progression-free survival (PFS), was evaluated using pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The association between LINC00511 expression and clinicopathological features was assessed using odd ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% CIs. Results: A total of 14 eligible studies with 1883 patients were enrolled in the present meta-analysis. The results demonstrated that elevated expression of LINC00511 was significantly associated with poor OS (HR = 2.62; 95% CI: 2.00–3.45; p < 0.001), PFS (HR = 1.80; 95% CI: 1.29–2.51; p = 0.001) and DFS/RFS (HR = 2.90; 95% CI: 1.04–8.12; p = 0.04). Additionally, High LINC00511 expression was associated with large tumor size (OR = 3.10; 95% CI: 1.97–4.86; p < 0.00001), lymph node metastasis (OR = 3.11; 95% CI: 2.30–4.21; p < 0.00001), advanced clinical stage (OR = 3.95; 95% CI: 2.68–5.81; p < 0.00001), distant metastasis (OR = 2.39; 95% CI: 1.16–4.93; p = 0.02), and disease recurrence (OR = 4.62; 95% CI: 2.47–8.65; p < 0.00001). Meanwhile, no correlation was found between LINC00511 expression and age, gender, and histological grade. These findings were consolidated by the results of bioinformatics analysis. Conclusions: Based on our findings, LINC00511 may serve as a novel prognostic biomarker for cancer patients.

17 November 2022 in Metabolites
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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XZXuedan Zhang
Xuedan Zhang
XLXiaoyu Li
Xiaoyu Li
GXGuohang Xiong
Guohang Xiong
FYFang Yun
Fang Yun
YFYu Feng
Yu Feng
YZYuechun Zhu
Yuechun Zhu
A high-fat diet plays an important role in aggravating cancers. Palmitic acid (PA) is one of the components of saturated fatty acids; it has been reported to promote tumor proliferation in melanomas, but the signal transduction pathway mediated by palmitic acid remains unclear. This study showed that palmitic acid can promote the lung metastasis of melanomas. Moreover, the interaction between palmitic acid and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) was predicted by molecular docking. The experimental results proved that palmitic acid could promote the TLR4 and Toll/IL-1 receptor domain-containing adaptor-inducing IFN-β (TRIF) expression. The expression of Pellino1 (Peli1) and the phosphorylation of NF-kappa B (pNF-κB) were downregulated after the suppression of TLR4 and the silencing of Peli1 also inhibited the phosphorylation of NF-κB. Therefore, we concluded that palmitic acid promoted the lung metastasis of melanomas through the TLR4/TRIF-Peli1-pNF-κB pathway.

15 October 2024 in Oncology Reports
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ASAsif Shahzad
Asif Shahzad
WLWenjing Liu
Wenjing Liu
YSYijian Sun
Yijian Sun
XLXiangjie Liu
Xiangjie Liu
JXJiaojiao Xia
Jiaojiao Xia
QZQiao Zhang
Qiao Zhang
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is distinguished by its varied metabolic reprogramming driven by tumor suppressor gene dysregulation and oncogene activation. Tumors can adapt nutrient uptake and metabolism pathways to meet the altered biosynthetic, bioenergetic and redox demands of cancer cells, whereas conventional chemotherapeutics and molecular inhibitors predominantly target individual metabolic pathways without addressing this adaptability. Flavonoids, which are well‑known for their antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory properties, offer a unique approach by influencing multiple metabolic targets. The present comprehensive review reveals the intricate processes of RCC metabolic reprogramming, encompassing glycolysis, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and fatty acid biosynthesis. The insights derived from the present review may contribute to the understanding of the specific anticancer mechanisms of flavonoids, potentially paving the way for the development of natural antitumor drugs focused on the metabolic reprogramming of RCC.