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Xiaoyang Wu

TitleAssociate Professor
InstitutionUniversity of Chicago
DepartmentBen May Department of Cancer Research
AddressChicago IL 60637
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    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse overview
    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.

    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse education and training
    Nanjing University, Nanjing, ChinaBS06/1997Biochemistry
    Nanjing University, Nanjing, ChinaMS06/2000Molecular Biology
    Cornell University, Ithaca, NYPh.D.01/2006Pharmacology
    Collapse awards and honors
    2007AACR-Anna D Barker Fellowship in Basic Cancer Research
    2008The Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund for Medical Research
    2011The Cancer Research Foundation Young Investigator Award
    2012V scholar award, the V foundation
    2012ACS (American Cancer Society) research scholar award

    Collapse Research 
    Collapse research activities and funding
    R21AR080761     (WU, XIAOYANG)Jun 7, 2022 - May 31, 2024
    NIH
    Development of a novel lymphocyte engineering approach for treatment of vitiligo
    Role: Principal Investigator
    R01DA047785     (XU, MING)Sep 30, 2019 - Jul 31, 2025
    NIH
    A cutaneous gene therapy for cocaine abuse and alcohol co-abuse
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
    R21AA027172     (XU, MING)Sep 5, 2018 - Aug 31, 2020
    NIH
    A Novel cutaneous gene therapy for combating alcohol use disorder
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
    R01OD023700     (WU, XIAOYANG)Mar 1, 2017 - Dec 31, 2021
    NIH
    Development of epidermal progenitor cell-based therapy for regenerative medicine
    Role: Principal Investigator
    R01AR063630     (WU, XIAOYANG)Sep 16, 2013 - Aug 31, 2018
    NIH
    Coordinated cytoskeletal dynamics in skin somatic stem cells - Resubmission 01
    Role: Principal Investigator

    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse selected publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
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    PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. 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.
    2. 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. PMID: 28894637; PMCID: PMC5592843.
      Citations: 25     Fields:    
    3. 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. PMID: 28777946; PMCID: PMC5555372.
      Citations: 19     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    4. Zhang J, Yue J, Wu X. Spectraplakin family proteins - cytoskeletal crosslinkers with versatile roles. J Cell Sci. 2017 Aug 01; 130(15):2447-2457. PMID: 28679697; PMCID: PMC5558266.
      Citations: 21     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    5. Lee J, Lee P, Wu X. Molecular and cytoskeletal regulations in epidermal development. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2017 09; 69:18-25. PMID: 28577925; PMCID: PMC5583032.
      Citations: 4     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    6. 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. PMID: 28541346; PMCID: PMC5458510.
      Citations: 16     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    7. 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. PMID: 28507225; PMCID: PMC5494465.
      Citations: 25     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    8. 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. PMID: 27216888; PMCID: PMC5476826.
      Citations: 28     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    9. 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. PMID: 26527684; PMCID: PMC4692207.
      Citations: 19     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    10. Liu H, Yue J, Gou X, Chen SY, Wu X, Lei Q, He YY. Ultraviolet B Inhibits Skin Wound Healing by Affecting Focal Adhesion Dynamics. Photochem Photobiol. 2015 Jul-Aug; 91(4):909-16. PMID: 25918970; PMCID: PMC4513668.
      Citations: 6     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    11. Yue J, Xie M, Gou X, Lee P, Wu X, Schneider MD. Microtubules regulate focal adhesion dynamics through MAP4K4. Dev Cell. 2014 Dec 08; 31(5):572-85. PMID: 25490267; PMCID: PMC4261153.
      Citations: 71     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    12. Suozzi KC, Wu X, Fuchs E. Spectraplakins: master orchestrators of cytoskeletal dynamics. J Cell Biol. 2012 May 14; 197(4):465-75. PMID: 22584905; PMCID: PMC3352950.
      Citations: 83     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    13. 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. PMID: 21295697; PMCID: PMC3050560.
      Citations: 108     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    14. 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. PMID: 18854161; PMCID: PMC2703712.
      Citations: 144     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    15. 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. PMID: 16767080.
      Citations: 88     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    16. 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. PMID: 16054026.
      Citations: 79     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    17. 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. PMID: 14676198.
      Citations: 80     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
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