Stanford Advisors


Lab Affiliations


All Publications


  • The intestinal microbiota and cellular therapy: implications for impact and mechanisms. Blood Xie, J., Smith, M. 2024

    Abstract

    The microbiota, comprising bacteria, fungi, and viruses residing within our body, functions as a key modulator in host health and states, including immune responses. Studies have linked microbiota and microbiota-derived metabolites to immune cell functions. In this review, we probe the complex relationship between the human microbiota and clinical outcomes of cellular therapies that leverage immune cells to fight various cancers. With a particular emphasis on hematopoietic cell transplantation and chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy, we explore the potential mechanisms underpinning this interaction. We also highlight the interventional applications of the microbiota in cellular therapy, while outlining future research directions in the field.

    View details for DOI 10.1182/blood.2024024219

    View details for PubMedID 39141827

  • Regulation of endocrine cell alternative splicing revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing in type 2 diabetes pathogenesis COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY Wang, J., Wen, S., Chen, M., Xie, J., Lou, X., Zhao, H., Chen, Y., Zhao, M., Shi, G. 2024; 7 (1): 778

    Abstract

    The prevalent RNA alternative splicing (AS) contributes to molecular diversity, which has been demonstrated in cellular function regulation and disease pathogenesis. However, the contribution of AS in pancreatic islets during diabetes progression remains unclear. Here, we reanalyze the full-length single-cell RNA sequencing data from the deposited database to investigate AS regulation across human pancreatic endocrine cell types in non-diabetic (ND) and type 2 diabetic (T2D) individuals. Our analysis demonstrates the significant association between transcriptomic AS profiles and cell-type-specificity, which could be applied to distinguish the clustering of major endocrine cell types. Moreover, AS profiles are enabled to clearly define the mature subset of β-cells in healthy controls, which is completely lost in T2D. Further analysis reveals that RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) and FXR1 family proteins are predicted to induce the functional impairment of β-cells through regulating AS profiles. Finally, trajectory analysis of endocrine cells suggests the β-cell identity shift through dedifferentiation and transdifferentiation of β-cells during the progression of T2D. Together, our study provides a mechanism for regulating β-cell functions and suggests the significant contribution of AS program during diabetes pathogenesis.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s42003-024-06475-0

    View details for Web of Science ID 001258127300001

    View details for PubMedID 38937540

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC11211498

  • SHP-1 inhibition targets leukaemia stem cells to restore immunosurveillance and enhance chemosensitivity by metabolic reprogramming NATURE CELL BIOLOGY Xu, X., Yu, Y., Zhang, W., Ma, W., He, C., Qiu, G., Wang, X., Liu, Q., Zhao, M., Xie, J., Tao, F., Perry, J. M., Liu, Q., Rao, S., Kang, X., Zhao, M., Jiang, L. 2024

    Abstract

    Leukaemia stem cells (LSCs) in acute myeloid leukaemia present a considerable treatment challenge due to their resistance to chemotherapy and immunosurveillance. The connection between these properties in LSCs remains poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that inhibition of tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 in LSCs increases their glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, enhancing their sensitivity to chemotherapy and vulnerability to immunosurveillance. Mechanistically, SHP-1 inhibition leads to the upregulation of phosphofructokinase platelet (PFKP) through the AKT-β-catenin pathway. The increase in PFKP elevates energy metabolic activities and, as a consequence, enhances the sensitivity of LSCs to chemotherapeutic agents. Moreover, the upregulation of PFKP promotes MYC degradation and, consequently, reduces the immune evasion abilities of LSCs. Overall, our study demonstrates that targeting SHP-1 disrupts the metabolic balance in LSCs, thereby increasing their vulnerability to chemotherapy and immunosurveillance. This approach offers a promising strategy to overcome LSC resistance in acute myeloid leukaemia.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41556-024-01349-3

    View details for Web of Science ID 001157622000002

    View details for PubMedID 38321204

    View details for PubMedCentralID 6934414

  • CXCR4high megakaryocytes regulate host-defense immunity against bacterial pathogens. eLife Wang, J., Xie, J., Wang, D., Han, X., Chen, M., Shi, G., Jiang, L., Zhao, M. 2022; 11

    Abstract

    Megakaryocytes (MKs) continuously produce platelets to support hemostasis and form a niche for hematopoietic stem cell maintenance in the bone marrow. MKs are also involved in inflammatory responses; however, the mechanism remains poorly understood. Using single-cell sequencing, we identified a CXCR4 highly expressed MK subpopulation, which exhibited both MK-specific and immune characteristics. CXCR4high MKs interacted with myeloid cells to promote their migration and stimulate the bacterial phagocytosis of macrophages and neutrophils by producing TNFalpha and IL-6. CXCR4high MKs were also capable of phagocytosis, processing, and presenting antigens to activate T cells. Furthermore, CXCR4high MKs also egressed circulation and infiltrated into the spleen, liver, and lung upon bacterial infection. Ablation of MKs suppressed the innate immune response and T cell activation to impair the anti-bacterial effects in mice under the Listeria monocytogenes challenge. Using hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell lineage-tracing mouse lines, we show that CXCR4high MKs were generated from infection-induced emergency megakaryopoiesis in response to bacterial infection. Overall, we identify the CXCR4high MKs, which regulate host-defense immune response against bacterial infection.

    View details for DOI 10.7554/eLife.78662

    View details for PubMedID 35904250

  • Loss of sphingosine kinase 2 promotes the expansion of hematopoietic stem cells by improving their metabolic fitness. Blood Li, C., Wu, B., Li, Y., Liu, Y., Wang, J., Xie, J., Xu, X., Tian, X., Ye, Z., Guan, J., Chen, J., Xie, S., Zhang, B., Cai, B., Wang, Q., Yu, H., Lan, T., Man, C. H., Kang, X., Qian, P., Perry, J. M., He, A., Jiang, L., Zhao, M. 2022

    Abstract

    Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have reduced capacities to properly maintain and replenish the hematopoietic system during myelosuppressive injury or aging. Expanding and rejuvenating HSCs for therapeutic purposes has been a long-sought goal, with limited progress. Here, we show that enzyme sphingosine kinase 2 (Sphk2), which generates the lipid metabolite sphingosine-1-phosphate, is highly expressed in HSCs. The deletion of Sphk2 markedly promotes self-renewal and increases the regenerative potential of HSCs. More importantly, Sphk2 deletion globally preserves the young HSC gene expression pattern, improves the function, and sustains the multilineage potential of HSCs during aging. Mechanistically, Sphk2 interacts with prolyl hydroxylase 2 and the Von Hippel-Lindau protein to facilitate HIF1alpha ubiquitination in the nucleus independent of the Sphk2 catalytic activity. Deletion of Sphk2 increases hypoxic responses by stabilizing the HIF1alpha protein to upregulate PDK3, a glycolysis checkpoint protein for HSC quiescence, which subsequently enhances the function of HSCs by improving their metabolic fitness; specifically, it enhances anaerobic glycolysis but suppresses mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and generation of reactive oxygen species. Overall, targeting Sphk2 to enhance the metabolic fitness of HSCs is a promising strategy to expand and rejuvenate functional HSCs.

    View details for DOI 10.1182/blood.2022016112

    View details for PubMedID 35881840