Xiaoyang Wu | Committee on Cancer Biology

Research Summary

Given their pivotal role in tissue homeostasis and regenerative medicine, somatic/adult stem cells are of tremendous interest to both biomedical research field and the public. Skin and its appendages provide a protective barrier that keeps harmful microbes out and essential body fluids in. To perform these functions while confronting the physicochemical traumas from the outside world, human skin must undergo rejuvenation through homeostasis and wound repair. Both processes rely on the essential activities of skin somatic stem cells, including the activation and migration of epidermal stem cells upon wounding, as well as the delicate balance of epidermal stem cell proliferation, self-renewal and differentiation during tissue homeostasis. Understanding the underlying mechanisms is important, because dysregulation of these processes leads to many skin diseases including cancers. Research in my laboratory is dedicated to understanding the dynamics, signaling, and clinical applications of epidermal stem cells. Particularly, we are interested in three fundamental questions in this field: 1) regenerative medicine and tissue engineering with epidermal stem cells; 2) migration and cytoskeletal dynamics of epidermal stem/progenitor cells; and 3) molecular mechanisms controlling stemness and differentiation of epidermal stem cells.

Keywords

Adult Stem Cells, Tissue Engineering, Cell Motility, Regenerative Medicines, stemness and differentiation

Education

Nanjing University, Nanjing, China, BS Biochemistry 06/1997
Nanjing University, Nanjing, China, MS Molecular Biology 06/2000
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, Ph.D. Pharmacology 01/2006

Biosciences Graduate Program Association

Awards & Honors

2007 - AACR-Anna D Barker Fellowship in Basic Cancer Research
2008 - The Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund for Medical Research
2011 - The Cancer Research Foundation Young Investigator Award
2012 - ACS (American Cancer Society) research scholar award
2012 - V scholar award, the V foundation

Publications

Li Y, Zhang J, Yue J, Gou X, Wu X. Epidermal Stem Cells in Skin Wound Healing. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle). 2017 Sep 01; 6(9):297-307. View in: PubMed
Yue J, Gou X, Li Y, Wicksteed B, Wu X. Engineered Epidermal Progenitor Cells Can Correct Diet-Induced Obesity and Diabetes. Cell Stem Cell. 2017 08 03; 21(2):256-263.e4. View in: PubMed
Zhang J, Yue J, Wu X. Spectraplakin family proteins - cytoskeletal crosslinkers with versatile roles. J Cell Sci. 2017 Aug 01; 130(15):2447-2457. View in: PubMed
Lee J, Lee P, Wu X. Molecular and cytoskeletal regulations in epidermal development. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2017 09; 69:18-25. View in: PubMed
Ma Y, Yue J, Zhang Y, Shi C, Odenwald M, Liang WG, Wei Q, Goel A, Gou X, Zhang J, Chen SY, Tang WJ, Turner JR, Yang F, Liang H, Qin H, Wu X. ACF7 regulates inflammatory colitis and intestinal wound response by orchestrating tight junction dynamics. Nat Commun. 2017 05 25; 8:15375. View in: PubMed
Lee P, Jiang S, Li Y, Yue J, Gou X, Chen SY, Zhao Y, Schober M, Tan M, Wu X. Phosphorylation of Pkp1 by RIPK4 regulates epidermal differentiation and skin tumorigenesis. EMBO J. 2017 07 03; 36(13):1963-1980. View in: PubMed
Yue J, Zhang Y, Liang WG, Gou X, Lee P, Liu H, Lyu W, Tang WJ, Chen SY, Yang F, Liang H, Wu X. In vivo epidermal migration requires focal adhesion targeting of ACF7. Nat Commun. 2016 05 24; 7:11692. View in: PubMed
Liu H, Yue J, Huang H, Gou X, Chen SY, Zhao Y, Wu X. Regulation of Focal Adhesion Dynamics and Cell Motility by the EB2 and Hax1 Protein Complex. J Biol Chem. 2015 Dec 25; 290(52):30771-82. View in: PubMed
Liu H, Yue J, Lei Q, Gou X, Chen SY, He YY, Wu X. Ultraviolet B Inhibits Skin Wound Healing by Affecting Focal Adhesion Dynamics. Photochem Photobiol. 2015 Jul-Aug; 91(4):909-16. View in: PubMed
Yue J, Xie M, Gou X, Lee P, Schneider MD, Wu X. Microtubules regulate focal adhesion dynamics through MAP4K4. Dev Cell. 2014 Dec 08; 31(5):572-85. View in: PubMed
Suozzi KC, Wu X, Fuchs E. Spectraplakins: master orchestrators of cytoskeletal dynamics. J Cell Biol. 2012 May 14; 197(4):465-75. View in: PubMed
Wu X, Shen QT, Oristian DS, Lu CP, Zheng Q, Wang HW, Fuchs E. Skin stem cells orchestrate directional migration by regulating microtubule-ACF7 connections through GSK3ß. Cell. 2011 Feb 04; 144(3):341-52. View in: PubMed
Wu X, Kodama A, Fuchs E. ACF7 regulates cytoskeletal-focal adhesion dynamics and migration and has ATPase activity. Cell. 2008 Oct 03; 135(1):137-48. View in: PubMed
Wu X, Yoo Y, Okuhama NN, Tucker PW, Liu G, Guan JL. Regulation of RNA-polymerase-II-dependent transcription by N-WASP and its nuclear-binding partners. Nat Cell Biol. 2006 Jul; 8(7):756-63. View in: PubMed
Wu X, Gan B, Yoo Y, Guan JL. FAK-mediated src phosphorylation of endophilin A2 inhibits endocytosis of MT1-MMP and promotes ECM degradation. Dev Cell. 2005 Aug; 9(2):185-96. View in: PubMed
Wu X, Suetsugu S, Cooper LA, Takenawa T, Guan JL. Focal adhesion kinase regulation of N-WASP subcellular localization and function. J Biol Chem. 2004 Mar 05; 279(10):9565-76. View in: PubMed
Li Y, Kong Q, Yue J, Gou X, Xu M, Wu X. Protection against cocaine-seeking and acute overdose by genome-edited epidermal stem cells. Nature Biomedical Engineering. 2018.::::