Daqiang Zhao

Dr. Daqiang Zhao

orcid

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

View All Publications
7 May 2020 in Science
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
HDHehua Dai
Hehua Dai
PLPeixiang Lan
Peixiang Lan
DZDaqiang Zhao
Daqiang Zhao
KAKhodor Abou-Daya
Khodor Abou-Daya
WLWentao Liu
Wentao Liu
FLFadi G. Lakkis
Fadi G. Lakkis
Innate immune cells remember: Immunological memory is a phenomenon by which immune cells can quickly recognize an antigen that the host has previously encountered. Certain cells of the innate immune system exhibit memory-like responses know as trained immunity. Rapid, antigen-specific secondary (anamnestic) responses were long thought to be the domain of B and T cells. However, Dai et al. report that monocytes and macrophages can acquire memory specific for particular major histocompatibility complex I antigens using paired A-type immunoglobulin-like receptors (PIR-As) (see the Perspective by Dominguez-Andrés and Netea). This pathway contributes to recognition and rejection of allograft-transplanted tissue from a donor of the same species. Genetic depletion or blockade of PIR-As in mice diminished the rejection of kidney and heart allografts. This work, which expands immunological memory to include myeloid cells, points to targets that may improve organ transplantation outcomes in the future. Science , this issue p. 1122 ; see also p. 1052

4 March 2021 in Science Immunology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
KAKhodor I. Abou-Daya
Khodor I. Abou-Daya
RTRoger Tieu
Roger Tieu
DZDaqiang Zhao
Daqiang Zhao
RRRayan Rammal
Rayan Rammal
FSFaruk Sacirbegovic
Faruk Sacirbegovic
FLFadi G. Lakkis
Fadi G. Lakkis
Tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) contained at sites of previous infection provide local protection against reinfection. Whether they form and function in organ transplants where cognate antigen persists is unclear. This is a key question in transplantation as T cells are detected long term in allografts, but it is not known whether they are exhausted or are functional memory T cells. Using a mouse model of kidney transplantation, we showed that antigen-specific and polyclonal effector T cells differentiated in the graft into TRM and subsequently caused allograft rejection. TRM identity was established by surface phenotype, transcriptional profile, and inability to recirculate in parabiosis and retransplantation experiments. Graft TRM proliferated locally, produced interferon-γ upon restimulation, and their in vivo depletion attenuated rejection. The vast majority of antigen-specific and polyclonal TRM lacked phenotypic and transcriptional exhaustion markers. Single-cell analysis of graft T cells early and late after transplantation identified a transcriptional program associated with transition to the tissue-resident state that could serve as a platform for the discovery of therapeutic targets. Thus, recipient effector T cells differentiate into functional graft TRM that maintain rejection locally. Targeting these TRM could improve renal transplant outcomes.

14 April 2023 in Science Immunology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
RTRoger Tieu
Roger Tieu
QZQiang Zeng
Qiang Zeng
DZDaqiang Zhao
Daqiang Zhao
GZGang Zhang
Gang Zhang
NFNeda Feizi
Neda Feizi
FLFadi G. Lakkis
Fadi G. Lakkis
Our understanding of tissue-resident memory T (T RM ) cell biology has been largely developed from acute infection models in which antigen is cleared and sterilizing immunity is achieved. Less is known about T RM cells in the context of chronic antigen persistence and inflammation. We investigated factors that underlie T RM maintenance in a kidney transplantation model in which T RM cells drive rejection. In contrast to acute infection, we found that T RM cells declined markedly in the absence of cognate antigen, antigen presentation, or antigen sensing by the T cells. Depletion of graft-infiltrating dendritic cells or interruption of antigen presentation after T RM cells were established was sufficient to disrupt T RM maintenance and reduce allograft pathology. Likewise, removal of IL-15 transpresentation or of the IL-15 receptor on T cells during T RM maintenance led to a decline in T RM cells, and IL-15 receptor blockade prevented chronic rejection. Therefore, antigen and IL-15 presented by dendritic cells play nonredundant key roles in CD8 T RM cell maintenance in settings of antigen persistence and inflammation. These findings provide insights that could lead to improved treatment of chronic transplant rejection and autoimmunity.

30 January 2023 in Immunity
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
FSFaruk Sacirbegovic
Faruk Sacirbegovic
MGMatthias Günther
Matthias Günther
AGAlessandro Greco
Alessandro Greco
DZDaqiang Zhao
Daqiang Zhao
XWXi Wang
Xi Wang
WSWarren D. Shlomchik
Warren D. Shlomchik

16 July 2025 in Science Translational Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
DZDaqiang Zhao
Daqiang Zhao
HDHehua Dai
Hehua Dai
CMCamila Macedo
Camila Macedo
SSSteven M. Sanders
Steven M. Sanders
CECharbel Elias
Charbel Elias
ACAravind Cherukuri
Aravind Cherukuri
Donor-recipient mismatches in histocompatibility antigens recognized by lymphoid cells have been demonstrated to adversely affect allograft outcomes. In contrast, it remains unclear whether mismatches sensed by innate myeloid cells have a similar effect. We investigated the consequences of mismatch in the polymorphic gene encoding signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα) on kidney allograft pathology and survival in mice and humans. We found that SIRPα variants elicit monocyte activation by binding to CD47 and that eliminating SIRPα mismatch or recipient CD47 expression prevented chronic allograft pathology in mice receiving major histocompatibility complex (MHC)–mismatched renal allografts. Human genomic analysis identified two haplotype categories, A and B, encoding SIRPα variants with distinct CD47 binding interfaces. In kidney transplant recipients ( N = 455), SIRPα mismatch was associated with increased acute rejection and graft fibrosis in the first posttransplant year, and A recipients of B kidneys had reduced long-term graft survival (hazard ratio, 3.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.5 to 6.9; P = 0.002), a finding that was confirmed in an independent validation cohort ( N = 258). Moreover, monocytes in these graft recipients had an activated phenotype. The effects of SIRPα mismatch were independent of ancestry, human leukocyte antigen mismatch, donor-specific antibodies, and delayed graft function. Therefore, these data demonstrate that a donor-recipient mismatch that causes innate immune activation is a determinant of kidney transplantation outcomes.

1 January 2023 in BioMed Research International
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ZPZiwen Pan
Ziwen Pan
YYYuanyuan Yang
Yuanyuan Yang
RCRui Cao
Rui Cao
YQYang Qiu
Yang Qiu
SLShanglin Li
Shanglin Li
DZDaqiang Zhao
Daqiang Zhao
Background. Renal ischemia‐reperfusion injury (RIRI) plays an important role in the poor prognosis of patients with renal transplants. However, the potential targets and mechanism of IRI are still unclear. Method. Differential gene expression (DEG) analysis and weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) were performed on the GSE27274 dataset. Pathway enrichment analysis on the DEGs was performed. To identify the hub DEGs, we constructed a protein‐protein interaction (PPI) network. Finally, the hub genes were verified, and candidate drugs were screened from the DsigDB database. Results. A hundred DEGs and four hub genes (Atf3, Psmb6, Psmb8, and Psmb10) were screened out. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that 100 DEGs were mainly enriched in apoptosis and the TNF signaling pathway. The four hub genes were verified in animal models and another dataset (GSE148420). Thereafter, a PPI network was used to identify the four hub genes (Atf3, Psmb6, Psmb8, and Psmb10). Finally, eight candidate drugs were identified as potential drugs. Conclusion. Three hub genes (Psmb6, Psmb8, and Psmb10) were associated with RIRI and could be potential novel biomarkers for RIRI.