Additional Contact Information: Department of Biomedical Sciences James H. Quillen College of Medicine PO Box 70577 Carl A Jones Hall (VA Bldg 1 & 119) Office: VA Bldg 1, Room 140 Lab: Bldg 119, Rm 211,212 Phone: 423-439-6322 Email: wangx3@etsu.edu

Education/Professional Experience:

• 2023-Present Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, East Tennessee State University 
• 2020-2023 Research Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, East Tennessee State University 
• 2017-2020 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Developmental Biology, Harvard University 
• 2013-2017 Ph.D, Biomedical Science. East Tennessee State University

Research/Teaching Interests:

1. Endothelial cell senescence in age-related cardiomyopathy
2. Hepatocyte reprogramming in sepsis-induced liver dysfunction
3. Novel role of LSECs in hepatic immune and metabolic function during sepsis

Current research interests of our lab centers on the critical role of the liver in bacterial infection and sepsis, as well as the senescence of endothelial cell in age-related cardiomyopathy. As a key organ in both metabolism and immunology, the liver is essential for metabolic adaption and pathogen clearance during infections. Our research projects are dedicated to understanding how hepatocyte phenotypic reprogramming impacts liver metabolic dysfunction in sepsis. Furthermore, we are intrigued by the functions and regulatory roles of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells in modulating hepatic immune and metabolic responses in the context of sepsis.

Laboratory Personnel:

• Joseph Adams, BS., Graduate Student
• Tingting Li, MD., Graduate Student

Active Research Funding:

R21 AG083408 Xiaohui Wang (PI) 09/01/2023 – 07/31/2025

Title: Role of endothelial cell senescence in age-related cardiomyopathy.

The goals of this grant is to: Investigate the role of endothelial cell senescence in age-related cardiomyocyte metabolic reprogramming and hypertrophic growth. We aim to understand the underlying mechanisms and develop preventive strategies for age-related cardiomyopathy.

Selected Publications:

Complete List of PubMed Publications

1. Liu Y, Wang X, Yang Y. Hepatic Hippo signaling inhibits the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Mol Hepatol. 2020 Sep 28. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 32981290.

2. Kim W, Cho YS, Wang X, Park O, Ma X, Kim H, Gan W, Jho EH, Cha B, Jeung YJ, Zhang L, Gao B, Wei W, Jiang J, Chung KS, Yang Y. Hippo signaling is intrinsically regulated during cell cycle progression by APC/CCdh1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 May 7;116(19):9423-9432

3. Wang X, Ha T, Hu Y, Liu L, Kao R, Kalbfleisch J, Williams D, Li C. TLR3 Mediates repair and regeneration of neonatal heart through glycolysis dependent YAP1 regulated miR-152 expression. Cell Death and Differentiation. 2018 May;25(5):966-982.

4. Wang X, Ha T, Liu L, Ren D, Zou J, Zhang X, Kalbfleisch J, Gao X, Williams D, Li C. MicroRNA125b protects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury via targeting p53mediated apoptotic signaling and TRAF6. Cardiovasc Res. 2014 Jun 1;102(3):385-95.

5. Wang X, Ha T, Liu L, Zou J, Zhang X, Kalbfleisch J, Gao X, Williams D, Li C. Increased expression of microRNA-146a decreases myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Cardiovasc Res. 2013 Mar 1;97 (3):432-42.

6. Wang X, Wang Z, Yao Y, Li J, Zhang X, Li C, Cheng Y, Ding G, Liu L, Ding Z. Essential role of ERK activation in neurite outgrowth induced by α-lipoic acid. Biochim Biophys Acta (BBA) - Molecular Cell Research. 2011; 1813:827-838.