GuangzhouGuangzhou InternationalInternational VascularVascular BiologyBiology ConferenceConference June 25, 2017

Organized by: Zhongshan Opthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology Welcome Acknowledgement

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

On behalf of the Chinese Vascular Biology Organization (CVBO), we are delighted to welcome you to our first International Vascular Biology Conference in Guangzhou, China.

With the boost of economy, education and sciences in China in the past twenty years and a growing number of researchers returned to China from abroad, research in vascular biology in China is catching up and has made important contributions to the field, which promises a better progress in both basic and translational research in the future. The goals of this conference are to promote vascular biology research by establishing a platform for researchers and trainees to share and exchange cutting edge knowledge in vascular biology, and to boost communication, collaboration and education.

We hereby welcome you to the beautiful city of Guangzhou, the “City of Flowers”, and hope that you will enjoy the great food and beautiful scenes of Guangzhou.

We wish you a productive and enjoyable conference while staying in Guangzhou!

Sincerely,

Dr. Napoleone Ferrara Dr. Yizhi Liu Dr. Xuri Li

01 Guangzhou International Vascular Biology Conference 2017

The Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center (ZOC)

The Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center (ZOC) is affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, the southern gateway to China. Since its inception in 1983, ZOC has been the largest eye care center in China. ZOC consists of three components: the Affiliated Ophthalmic Hospital, the Ophthalmic Research Institute, and the Department of Blindness Prevention. ZOC has more than 300 ophthalmologists and offers a full spectrum of tertiary subspecialty care for common and complicated eye diseases. In 2016, ZOC has managed an annual workload of 1,010,000 outpatient visits and more than 60,000 surgeries. In addition, the State Key Laboratory for Ophthalmology (SKLO), the only one of its kind in China, is hosted by ZOC.

ZOC has actively participated in international academic events for years. In 2015, the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) set its permanent headquarter at ZOC in the Zhujiang New Town. In 2014, the Nature Magazine Chinese Forum was held in ZOC in Guangzhou. In 2015, the Congress of the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology had its annual conference at ZOC. ZOC has also established collaborations with many institutions and organizations, such as the WHO, Johns Hopkins University and NIH/NEI. ZOC has taken on arduous tasks, carried forward our predecessors’ legacy and opened up new vistas in ophthalmology in China. ZOC strives to become one of the leading ophthalmic centers in the world.

02 The State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology (SKLO) at ZOC

The State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology (SKLO) is the only one of its kind in China, and is established by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Chinese government. The history of SKLO is very closely related to the first Western eye hospital in China established in 1835 in Guangzhou. The SKLO is currently led by Professor Yizhi Liu, an internationally recognized doctor and scientist in the field of stem cell and developmental biology.

SKLO has more than 50 researchers, who actively conduct both basic and translational research in the fields of stem cell and developmental biology, neurobiology, vascular biology, immunology, gene therapy, ophthalmic diseases, etc, resulting in publication in the journals of Nature, JAMA, Science, PNAS, and Ophthalmology, etc. In 2016, the study on stem cell-mediated lens repair from Prof. Yizhi Liu’s team was recognized as one of the top 8 notable advances in the field of life sciences by Nature Medicine.

SKLO’s goals are to advance our knowledge on the visual system in health and diseases, preserve and restore vision, and ultimately improve the quality of life.

03 Guangzhou International Vascular Biology Conference 2017

Conference information

会议地址：中山大学中山眼科中心珠江新城院区科技楼二楼学术报告厅 Conference Venue: Academic hall, 2F, Science Building, Zhongshan Opthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, No.7 Jinsui Road, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District , Guangzhou, China

无线网络：sysuzoc；密码：ykzx8733

Wifi: sysuzoc, Key: ykzx8733

酒店地址：广州市天河区珠江新城金穗路5号威珀斯酒店 电话：188 1396 6176 (谭经理), 020 - 3893 3888

Hotel venue: Vaperse Hotel, No.5 Jinsui Road, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District, Guangzhou Tel: 188 1396 6176, 020 - 3893 3888

早餐：威珀斯酒店2楼帕萃美食餐厅 电话：188 1396 6176 (谭经理), 020 - 80732998

Breakfast: 2Fl, Peturs Restaurant, Vaperse Hotel Tel: 188 1396 6176, 020 - 8073 2998

04 Conference Program

8:30 AM – 5 PM Sunday, June 25, 2017

State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center

Jinsui Road 7, Zhujiang New Town, Guangzhou, China

Morning Session

Chairs: Jan Kitajewski, Zhongjun Zhou

8:50am - 9:00am Opening welcome Yizhi Liu, SKLO, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center (ZOC), Sun Yat-Sen University

9:00am - 9:30am Novel insights in the regulation of angiogenesis Napoleone Ferrara, University of California, San Diego, USA

9:30am - 9:40am Discussion

9:40am - 10:10am Conbercept: from lab to bed Michael Yu, Innovent Biologics, Inc

10:10am - 10:20am Discussion

10:20am - 10:35am Coffee/tea break

10:35am - 11:05am Novel roles of VEGF-B in angiogenesis Xuri Li, SKLO, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center (ZOC), Sun Yat-Sen University

05 Guangzhou International Vascular Biology Conference 2017

11:05am - 11:15am Discussion

11:15pm - 11:30pm Effect of PDGF-C on mouse embryonic stem cells Weisi Lu, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center (ZOC), Sun Yat-Sen University

11:30pm - 11:35pm Discussion

11:35pm - 11:50pm Function and Mechanisms of Mig6 in angiogenesis Chunsik Lee, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center (ZOC), Sun Yat-Sen University

11:50pm - 11:55pm Discussion

12:00pm - 1:45 pm Lunch

Afternoon Session

Chairs: Napoleone Ferrara, Michael Yu, Xuri Li

2:00pm - 2:30pm Notch functions in angiogenesis by diverse mechanisms Jan Kitajewski, University of Illinois Chicago, USA

2:30pm - 2:40pm Discussion

2:40pm - 3:10pm MT1-MMP is a critical regulator of lymphangiogenesis Zhongjun Zhou, The University of Hong Kong

3:10pm - 3:20pm Discussion

3:20pm - 3:35pm Effect of VEGF-B on insulin secretion Geng Tian, Binzhou Medical University

3:35pm - 3:40pm Discussion

06 3:40pm - 3:55pm PDGF-B signaling network in carcinogenesis Jia Mi, Binzhou Medical University

3:55pm - 4:00pm Discussion

4:00pm - 4:15pm Coffee/tea break

4:15pm - 4:30pm Function of VEGFRs in retinal pigment epithelial cells Rong Ju, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center (ZOC), Sun Yat-Sen University

4:30pm - 4:35pm Discussion

4:35pm - 4:50pm Protective effect of Caveolin-1 on Retinal Ganglion Cells Zhongshu Tang, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center (ZOC), Sun Yat-Sen University

4:50pm - 4:55pm Discussion

07 Guangzhou International Vascular Biology Conference 2017

Introduction of Lecturers

Yizhi Liu,M.D., Ph.D. Napoleone Ferrara, M.D. Michael Yu, Ph.D. Jan Kitajewski, Ph.D.

Zhongjun Zhou, Ph.D. Xuri Li, Ph.D. Chunsik Lee, Ph.D. Rong Ju, Ph.D.

Zhongshu Tang, Ph.D. Geng Tian, Ph.D. Jia Mi, Ph.D. Weisi Lu, Ph.D.

08 Introduction of Lecturers

Yizhi Liu,M.D., Ph.D. Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University

Dr.Yizhi Liu has served as the director of the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University since Feb 2012. He has been elected to the standing committee member of Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) and Chairman of Ophthalmology Association of Guangdong Province, as well as Editor-in-Chief of Molecular Vision and Associate Editor-in-Chief of Current Molecular Medicine. Dr. Liu has been admitted as the chief scientist with his research project granted by the National Program on Key Basic Research Project (973 Program), and has published more than 60 peer-reviewed papers to date in international scientific journals such as Nature, Proc Natl Acad Sci and OPHTHALMOLOGY. Dr. Liu is focusing on the regulatory mechanisms of ocular stem cells activation, proliferation and differentiation during the process of eye development and regeneration, as well as exploring their potential in the repair of damaged eye tissues and treatment of blinding disease.

Representative Publications

1. Lin H, Ouyang H, Zhu J, Huang S, Liu Z, Chen S, Cao G, Li G, Signer RA, Xu Y, Chung C, Zhang Y, Lin D, Patel S, Wu F, Cai H, Hou J, Wen C, Jafari M, Liu X, Luo L, Zhu J, Qiu A, Hou R, Chen B, Chen J, Granet D, Heichel C, Shang F, Li X, Krawczyk M, Skowronska-Krawczyk D, Wang Y, Shi W, Chen D, Zhong Z, Zhong S, Zhang L, Chen S, Morrison SJ, Maas RL, Zhang K*, Liu Y*. Lens regeneration using endogenous stem cells with gain of visual function. Nature. 2016 Mar 17;531(7594):323-8.

2. Zhao L, Chen XJ, Zhu J, Xi YB, Yang X, Hu LD, Ouyang H, Patel SH, Jin X, Lin D, Wu F, Flagg K, Cai H, Li G, Cao G, Lin Y, Chen D, Wen C, Chung C, Wang Y, Qiu A, Yeh E, Wang W, Hu X, Grob S, Abagyan R, Su Z, Tjondro HC, Zhao XJ, Luo H, Hou R, Jefferson J, Perry P, Gao W, Kozak I, Granet D, Li Y, Sun X, Wang J, Zhang L, Liu Y, Yan YB, Zhang K. Lanosterol reverses protein aggregation in cataracts. Nature. 2015 Jul 30;523(7562):607-11.

3. Ouyang H, Xue Y, Lin Y, Zhang X, Xi L, Patel S, Cai H, Luo J, Zhang M, Zhang M, Yang Y, Li G, Li H, Jiang W, Yeh E, Lin J, Pei M, Zhu J,Cao G, Zhang L, Yu B, Chen S, Fu XD, Liu Y*,Zhang K. WNT7A and PAX6 define corneal epithelium homeostasis and pathogenesis. Nature. 2014 Jul 17;511(7509):358-61.

4. Gong L, Ji WK, Hu XH, Hu WF, Tang XC, Huang ZX, Li L, Liu M, Xiang SH, Wu E, Woodward Z, Liu YZ*, Nguyen QD*, Li DW*. Sumoylation differentially regulates Sp1 to control cell differentiation. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2014 Apr 15;111(15):5574-9.

5. Chen X, Xiao W, Chen W, Luo L, Ye S, Liu Y*. The epigenetic modifier trichostatin A, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, suppresses proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of lens epithelial cells. Cell Death Dis. 2013 Oct 24;4:e884.

09 Guangzhou International Vascular Biology Conference 2017

Napoleone Ferrara, M.D. University of California, San Diego, USA

Dr. Ferrara earned his M.D. degree in 1981 from the University of Catania Medical School in Italy. After completing his postdoctoral research at the University of California, San Francisco, he joined Genentech Inc. in 1988. It is there where he spent nearly 25 years working on the molecular characterization and therapeutic applications of VEGF-A, which resulted in the development of , the first anti-angiogenic agent to be approved by the FDA for cancer therapy. His research also led to the development of , which has been FDA-approved for the treatment of multiple intraocular neovascular disorders. In January 2013, Dr. Ferrara joined the University of California, San Diego as a Distinguished Professor of Pathology, Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Ophthalmology and Senior Deputy Director for Basic Sciences of the Moores Cancer Center.

Dr. Ferrara has authored over 300 scientific publications. He is also the recipient of numerous awards including the Lasker-deBakey Clinical Medical Research Award, the in Life Sciences, the Champalimaud Vision Award and the Gairdner Foundation International Award. Dr. Ferrara is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, USA.

Representative Publications

1. Xin H, Zhong C, Nudleman E, Ferrara N.Evidence for Pro-angiogenic Functions of VEGF-Ax. Cell. 2016 Sep 22;167(1):275-284.e6.

2. Liang W, Ferrara N. The Complex Role of Neutrophils in Tumor Angiogenesis and Metastasis. Cancer Immunol Res. 2016 Feb;4(2):83-91

3. Ferrara N, Adamis AP. Ten years of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2016 Jun;15(6):385-403.

4. Chung, AS, Wu, X, Zhuang, G, Ngu, H, Zhang, N, Kasman, I, Jiang, Z, Meng, G, Peale, F, Ouyang, W, Ferrara, N. IL-17 mediated paracrine network promotes tumor resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy. Nature Med. 19, 1114-1123, 2013.

5. Bais, C, Wu, X, Yao, J, Crawford, Y, McCutcheon, K, Tan, C, Yang, S, Vernes, JM, Easthan-Anderson, J, Haughney, P, Kowanetz, M, Hagenbeck T, Kasman, I, Meng, G, Hongo, JA, Stephan, JP, Shibuya, M, Ferrara, N. PlGF blockade does not inhibit angiogenesis during primary tumor growth. Cell. 141, 166-177, 2010.

10 Introduction of Lecturers

Michael Yu, Ph.D. Innovent Biologics, Inc

Dr. Yu received his doctorate degree in Molecular Genetics from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and completed his post-doctoral training at the University of California San Francisco where he worked for two years following. He is the inventor of the world’s first oncolytic virus product, Oncorine and China’s first novel antibody product, Conbercept, which has made him the only Chinese scientist who has invented and successfully developed two ‘Class I’ drugs in China. He was recognized as “Top Ten Persons in Innovation in China” in 2014, “The EY Entrapper of the Year in China” in 2015 and Person of the Year in Innovation for Science and Technology in 2016.

Dr.Yu has been Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Innovent Biologics since its inception in 2011. Prior to the position, Dr. Yu was a co-founder, President and CEO of Chengdu Kanghong Biotech since its inception in 2006 until 2011. Prior to his return to China, Dr. Yu was Vice President of Research and Development at Applied Genetics and Calyon, the latter was acquired by Cell Genesys in 2001 where he worked for three years following the acquisition.

Representative Publications

1. Li Y, Zhu P, Verma A, Prasad T, Deng H, Yu D*, Li Q*. A novel bispecific molecule delivered by recombinant AAV2 suppresses ocular inflammation and choroidal neovascularization. J Cell Mol Med. 2017 Mar 22.

2. Cheng L, Yang Q, Li C, Dai L, Yang Y, Wang Q, Ding Y, Zhang J, Liu L, Zhang S, Fan P, Hu X, Xiang R, Yu D, Wei Y, Deng H. DDA1, a novel oncogene, promotes lung cancer progression through regulation of cell cycle. J Cell Mol Med. 2017 Feb 17.

3. Zhang J, Lin Y, Li C, Zhang X, Cheng L, Dai L, Wang Y, Wang F, Shi G, Li Y, Yang Q, Cui X, Liu Y, Wang H, Zhang S, Yang Y, Xiang R, Li J, Yu D, Wei Y, Deng H. IL-35 Decelerates the Inflammatory Process by Regulating Inflammatory Cytokine Secretion and M1/M2 Macrophage Ratio in Psoriasis. J Immunol. 2016 Sep 15;197(6):2131-44.

4. Fu Y, Deng J, Jiang Q, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Yao Y, Cheng F, Chen X, Xu F, Huang M, Yang Y, Zhang S, Yu D, Zhao RC, Wei Y, Deng H. Rapid generation of functional hepatocyte-like cells from human adipose-derived stem cells. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2016 Aug 5;7(1):105.

5. Dai L, Cui X, Zhang X, Cheng L, Liu Y, Yang Y, Fan P, Wang Q, Lin Y, Zhang J, Li C, Mao Y, Wang Q, Su X, Zhang S, Peng Y, Yang H, Hu X, Yang J, Huang M, Xiang R, Yu D, Zhou Z, Wei Y, Deng H. SARI inhibits angiogenesis and tumour growth of human colon cancer through directly targeting ceruloplasmin. Nat Commun. 2016 Jun 29;7:11996.

11 Guangzhou International Vascular Biology Conference 2017

Jan Kitajewski, Ph.D. University of Illinois Chicago, USA

Dr. Jan Kitajewski is the Head of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). He received his B.A. from the University of California Berkeley in Biochemistry, his Ph.D. from Princeton University in Molecular Biology, and conducted Postdoctoral training at the University of California San Francisco. He currently serves as the President of the North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO). For the last two decades, Dr. Kitajewski has conducted research as an Ob/Gyn and Pathology faculty member at Columbia University.

Dr. Kitajewski studies tumor angiogenesis, the process of new blood vessel formation. A pioneer in studying Notch in the vasculature, Dr. Kitajewski identified Notch4 as an endothelial Notch and established roles for Notch in developmental and tumor angiogenesis. His research includes the study of several angiogenic pathways, including Anthrax Toxin Receptors and Chloride Intracellular Channels. Dr. Kitajewski works actively to develop therapeutics for oncology use by targeting tumor angiogenesis, and his group developed Notch inhibitors, called “Notch decoys” that block tumor growth by reducing tumor vessel function.

Representative Publications

1. Tattersall IW, Du J, Cong Z, Cho BS, Klein AM, Dieck CL, Chaudhri RA, Cuervo H, Herts JH, Kitajewski J. In vitro modeling of endothelial interaction with macrophages and pericytes demonstrates Notch signaling function in the vascular microenvironment. Angiogenesis. 2016 Apr;19(2):201-15.

2. Dubeykovskaya Z, Si Y, Chen X, Worthley DL, Renz BW, Urbanska AM, Hayakawa Y, Xu T, Westphalen CB, Dubeykovskiy A, Chen D, Friedman RA, Asfaha S, Nagar K, Tailor Y, Muthupalani S, Fox JG, Kitajewski J, Wang TC. Neural innervation stimulates splenic TFF2 to arrest myeloid cell expansion and cancer. Nat Commun. 2016 Feb 4;7:10517.

3. Kangsamaksin T, Murtomaki A, Kofler NM, Cuervo H, Chaudhri RA, Tattersall IW, Rosenstiel PE, Shawber CJ, Kitajewski J. NOTCH decoys that selectively block DLL/NOTCH or JAG/NOTCH disrupt angiogenesis by unique mechanisms to inhibit tumor growth. Cancer Discov. 2015 Feb;5(2):182-97.

4. Murtomaki A, Uh MK, Kitajewski C, Zhao J, Nagasaki T, Shawber CJ, Kitajewski J. Notch signaling functions in lymphatic valve formation. Development. 2014 Jun;141(12):2446-51.

5. Galic V, Shawber CJ, Reeves C, Shah M, Murtomaki A, Wright J, Herzog T, Tong GX, Kitajewski J. NOTCH2 expression is decreased in epithelial ovarian cancer and is related to the tumor histological subtype. Pathol Discov. 2013 Aug 16;1:4.

12 Introduction of Lecturers

Zhongjun Zhou, Ph.D. The University of Hong Kong

Prof. Zhongjun Zhou received his BS degree from Xiamen University, and PhD degree in Pathophysiology from Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (1993). He also obtained a PhD in Medical Biochemistry from Karolinska Institute, SWEDEN (2004). His research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of aging, particularly the regulation of chromatin remodeling and DNA repair as well as stem cell renewal. He is also interested in growth factor signaling regulated by MT1-MMP during development.

He received several awards for his significant contribution to the fields including the Distinguished Overseas Young Chinese Scholar Award (2006) from Natural Science Foundation of CHINA, the Outstanding Research Award of University of Hong Kong (2014) and Croucher Senior Research Fellow (2015).

Prof Zhou is the Editor-in-Chief of journal “Translational Medicine of Aging” and an associate editor of journal “Mutation Research”. He is the founding Chairman of Asian Society of Aging Research.

Representative Publications

1. Wong HL, Jin G, Cao R, Zhang S, Cao Y, Zhou Z. MT1-MMP sheds LYVE-1 on lymphatic endothelial cells and suppresses VEGF-C production to inhibit lymphangiogenesis. Nat Commun. 2016 Mar 1;7:10824

2. Ghosh S, Liu B, Wang Y, Hao Q, Zhou Z. Lamin A Is an Endogenous SIRT6 Activator and Promotes SIRT6-Mediated DNA Repair. Cell Rep. 2015 Nov 17;13(7):1396-406.

3. Osório L, Wu X, Zhou Z. Distinct spatiotemporal expression of ISM1 during mouse and chick development. Cell Cycle. 2014;13(10):1571-82.

4. Liu B, Wang Z, Zhang L, Ghosh S, Zheng H, Zhou Z. Depleting the methyltransferase Suv39h1 improves DNA repair and extends lifespan in a progeria mouse model. Nat Commun. 2013;4:1868.

5. Liu B, Ghosh S, Yang X, Zheng H, Liu X, Wang Z, Jin G, Zheng B, Kennedy BK, Suh Y, Kaeberlein M, Tryggvason K, Zhou Z. Resveratrol rescues SIRT1-dependent adult stem cell decline and alleviates progeroid features in laminopathy-based progeria. Cell Metab. 2012 Dec 5;16(6):738-50

13 Guangzhou International Vascular Biology Conference 2017

Xuri Li, Ph.D. Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University

Dr. Xuri Li is a Professor and Scientific Director of the State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology at the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center (ZOC), Sun Yat-Sen University. Dr. Li is a special expert of the Chinese governmental 1000-Program, and a leading expert of Guangdong province. Before joining the ZOC in 2012, Dr. Li served as a Principal Investigator at the National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute in the US during 2005-2012. Dr. Li graduated from Shanghai Medical University in Shanghai, received her PhD from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and did her postdoctoral work at the Karolinska Institute and The Vesalius Research Center, Leuven University, Belgium.

Dr. Li's team strives to understand the processes of angiogenesis, vasculogenesis and neurogenesis in the eye in development, normal physiology and various pathologies. We characterize the functional properties of important angiogenic and antiangiogenic molecules using animal models, cultured cells and molecular approaches.

Representative Publications

1. Jia X, Zhao C, Chen Q, Du Y, Huang L, Ye Z, Ren X, Wang S, Lee C, Tang Z, Li X*, Ju R*. JAM-C maintains VEGR2 expression to promote retinal pigment epithelium cell survival under oxidative stress. Thromb Haemost. 2017 Apr 3;117(4):750-757.

2. He C, Zhao C, Kumar A, Lee C, Chen M, Huang L, Wang J, Ren X, Jiang Y, Chen W, Wang B, Gao Z, Zhong Z, Huang Z, Zhang F, Huang B, Ding H, Ju R, Tang Z, Liu Y, Cao Y, Li X*, Liu X*. Vasoprotective effect of PDGF-CC mediated by HMOX1 rescues retinal degeneration. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Oct 14;111(41):14806-111.

3. Lee C, Zhang F, Tang Z, Liu Y, Li X*. PDGF-C: a new performer in the neurovascular interplay.Trends Mol Med. 2013 Aug;19(8):474-86.

4. Zhang F, Li Y, Tang Z, Kumar A, Lee C, Zhang L, Zhu C, Klotzsche-von Ameln A, Wang B, Gao Z, Zhang S, Langer HF, Hou X, Jensen L, Ma W, Wong W, Chavakis T, Liu Y, Cao Y, Li X*. Proliferative and survival effects of PUMA promote angiogenesis. Cell Rep. 2012 Nov 29;2(5):1272-85

5. Li, X*., Kumar, A., Zhang, F., Lee, C., Tang, Z., "Complicated life, complicated VEGF-B." Trends in Molecular Medicine 2012, 18(2): 119-127.

14 Introduction of Lecturers

Chunsik Lee, Ph.D. Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University

Prof. Chunsik Lee received his PhD degree from Uppsala University (Sweden) under the mentorship of Dr. Lena Claesson-Welsh. Dr. Lee completed his post-doctoral training at Dartmouth Medical School, NEI/NIH, and University of Maryland Medical School in the US. In 2013, Dr. Lee joined the faculty of the State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology as a professor and principal investigator. Dr. Lee’s current research mainly focuses on the functions and regulations of PDGF-C and VEGF-B in ocular and neurovascular diseases.

Representative Publications

1. Huang D, Zhao C, Ju R, Kumar A, Tian G, Huang L, Zheng L, Li X, Liu L, Wang S, Ren X, Ye Z, Chen W, Xing L, Chen Q, Gao Z, Mi J, Tang Z, Wang B, Zhang S, Lee C*, Li X*. VEGF-B inhibits hyperglycemia- and Macugen-induced retinal apoptosis. Sci Rep. 2016 18;6:26059

2. Luzina IG, Lockatell V, Hyun SW, Kopach P, Kang PH, Noor Z, Liu A, Lillehoj EP, Lee C, Miranda-Ribera A, Todd NW, Goldblum SE, Atamas SP. Elevated expression of NEU1 sialidase in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis provokes pulmonary collagen deposition, lymphocytosis, and fibrosis. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2016 310(10):L940-54

3. He C, Zhao C, Kumar A, Lee C, Chen M, Huang L, Wang J, Ren X, Jiang Y, Chen W, Wang B, Gao Z, Zhong Z, Huang Z, Zhang F, Huang B, Ding H, Ju R, Tang Z, Liu Y, Cao Y, Li X, Liu X. Vasoprotective effect of PDGF-CC mediated by HMOX1 rescues retinal degeneration. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2015111(41):14806-14811

4. Lee C, Liu A, Miranda-Ribera A, Hyun SW, Lillehoj EP, Cross AS, Passaniti A, Grimm PR, Kim BY, Welling PA, Madri JA, Delisser HM, Goldblum SE.NEU1 Sialidase Regulates the Sialylation State of CD31 and Disrupts CD31-driven Capillary-like Tube Formation in Human Lung Microvascular Endothelia. J Biol Chem. 2014 289(13):9121-35

5. Lee C, Zhang F, Tang Z, Liu Y, Li X. PDGF-C: a new performer in the neurovascular interplay. Trends Mol Med. 2013 19(8):474-86

15 Guangzhou International Vascular Biology Conference 2017

Rong Ju, Ph.D. Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University

Prof. Rong Ju graduated from Lanzhou University, China. He received his Master degree from the Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Science and his Ph. D degree from Ohio State University, USA. He completed his postdoctoral training at the Yale University with Dr. Craig Crews, and in Dartmouth College with Dr. Michael Simons. He then continued working in Dr. Michael Simons’ laboratory at the Yale School of Medicine as an Associate Research Scientist. In 2013, he joined the faculty of the State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology as a Professor and Investigator. Dr. Ju has published many scientific research papers in journals including PNAS, Molecular Cells, Cancer Research, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Scientific Reports, Thrombosis and haemostasis. His current research interests mainly focus on angiogenesis in ocular diseases. He is particularly interested in the roles of several important molecules in this process including VEGF-B, VEGFRs, Akt1 and syndecan-4.

Representative Publications

1. Jia X, Zhao C, Chen Q, Du Y, Huang L, Ye Z, Ren X, Wang S, Lee C, Tang Z, Li X*, Ju R*. JAM-C maintains VEGR2 expression to promote retinal pigment epithelium cell survival under oxidative stress. Thromb Haemost. 2017 Apr 3;117(4):750-757.

2. Zheng L, Zhao C, Du Y, Lin X, Jiang Y, Lee C, Tian G, Mi J, Li X, Chen Q, Ye Z, Huang L, Wang S, Ren X, Xing L, Chen W, Huang D, Gao Z, Zhang S, Lu W, Tang Z, Wang B, Ju R*, Li X*. PDGF-CC underlies resistance to VEGF-A inhibition and combinatorial targeting of both suppresses pathological angiogenesis more efficiently. Oncotarget. 2016 Nov 22;7(47):77902-77915.

3. Ju R, Zhuang ZW, Zhang J, Lanahan AA, Kyriakides T, Sessa WC, Simons M. Angiopoietin-2 secretion by endothelial cell exosomes: regulation by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and syndecan-4/syntenin pathways. J Biol Chem. 2014 Jan 3;289(1):510-9.

4. Ju R, Simons M.Syndecan 4 regulation of PDK1-dependent Akt activation. Cell Signal. 2013 Jan;25(1):101-5

5. Ju R, Cirone P, Lin S, Griesbach H, Slusarski DC, Crews CM.Activation of the planar cell polarity formin DAAM1 leads to inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Apr 13;107(15):6906-11.

16 Introduction of Lecturers

Zhongshu Tang, Ph.D. Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University

Prof. Zhongshu Tang received his Master degree in Neuroscience from the Institute of Physiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and his PhD degree in Biochemistry from the Max-Planck-Institute for Brain Research in Germany. He subsequently joined National Eye Institute /NIH for his postdoctoral training. In 2012, he joined the “100 Talent Program” of the Sun Yat-sen University and returned to China to join the SKLO /ZOC. Dr. Tang has published about 30 peer-reviewed papers. His major research interests covers: 1. Functions of the VEGF/PDGF families in angiogenesis and neuroprotection. 2. Mechanism of neurodegenerative diseases, including glaucoma and AMD. 3. Functions and mechanisms of post-translational modifications such as ubiquitination and sumoylation.

Representative Publications

1. Lee C, Zhang F, Tang Z, Liu Y, Li X. PDGF-C: a new performer in the neurovascular interplay. Trends Mol Med. 2013 Aug;19(8):474-86.

2. Li X, Kumar A, Zhang F, Lee C, Tang Z. Complicated life, complicated VEGF-B. Trends Mol Med. 2012 Feb;18(2):119-27

3. Tang Z, Zhang F, Li Y, Arjunan P, Kumar A, Lee C, Li X. A mouse model of the cornea pocket assay for angiogenesis study. J Vis Exp. 2011 Aug 18;(54).

4. Tang Z, Zhang S, Lee C, Kumar A, Arjunan P, Li Y, Zhang F, Li X. An optic nerve crush injury murine model to study retinal ganglion cell survival. J Vis Exp. 2011 Apr 25;(50).

5. Tang Z, Arjunan P, Lee C, Li Y, Kumar A, Hou X, Wang B, Wardega P, Zhang F, Dong L, Zhang Y, Zhang SZ, Ding H, Fariss RN, Becker KG, Lennartsson J, Nagai N, Cao Y, Li X. Survival effect of PDGF-CC rescues neurons from apoptosis in both brain and retina by regulating GSK3beta phosphorylation. J Exp Med. 2010 Apr 12;207(4):867-80.

17 Guangzhou International Vascular Biology Conference 2017

Geng Tian, Ph.D. Binzhou Medical University

Dr. Geng Tian received her MS degree (2007) and PhD degree (2013) from Uppsala University, Sweden. Currently she is holding a professorship from Binzhou Medical University, and serves as the director of Yantai Diabetes Research Center. Her major scientific research interests is the machinery of insulin secretion; Prof Tian has been granted several awards including “Youth Taishan Scholar Award”(2016), “ Excellent Youth scientist Award of Shandong Province”(2016) and “Double hundred talents program” in Yantai City(2015).

Representative Publications

1. Liu F, Zhang Y, Men T, Jiang X, Yang C, Li H, Wei X, Yan D, Feng G, Yang J, Bergquist J, Wang B, Jiang W, Mi J, Tian G. Quantitative proteomic analysis of gastric cancer tissue reveals novel proteins in platelet-derived growth factor b signaling pathway. Oncotarget, 2017 8(13):22059-22075.

2. Cui X, Huang Q, Li X, Liu F, Wang D, Yan D, Wang B, Yang C, Mi J, Tian G. Relationship Between Interleukin-10 Gene C-819T Polymorphism and Gastric Cancer Risk: Insights From a Meta-Analysis. Med Sci Monit. 2016 22:2839-45.

3. Gong H, Li H, Zou J, Mi J, Liu F, Wang D, Yan D, Wang B, Zhang S, Tian G.The relationship between five non-synonymous polymorphisms within three XRCC genes and gastric cancer risk in a Han Chinese population. Tumour Biol.2016 37(5):5905-10.

4. Tian G, Sol ER, Xu Y, Shuai H, Tengholm A.Impaired cAMP generation contributes to defective glucose-stimulated insulin secretion after long-term exposure to palmitate. Diabetes. 2015 Mar;64(3):904-15.

5. Tian G, Tepikin AV, Tengholm A, Gylfe E. cAMP induces stromal interaction molecule 1(STIM1) puncta but neither Orai 1 protein clustering nor store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) in islet cells. J Biol Chem. 2012 Mar 23;287(13):9862-72.

18 Introduction of Lecturers

Jia Mi, Ph.D. Binzhou Medical University

Dr. Jia Mi obtained his B.E. from Tianjin University in 2001, China and received his PhD degree from Uppsala University, Sweden(2007). After several years’ service in AstraZeneca plc and Science for Life Laboratory in Sweden, he joined Binzhou Medical University as Director of Precision Medicine Research Center. Dr Mi’s major research interests include proteomics, bioinformatics, and precision medicine of cardiovascular disease and cancer. With the help of state-of-art mass spectrometry, Dr. Mi and his colleagues recently have identified several novel PDGF regulating network during cancer progression, such as gastric cancer and prostate cancer, which will potentially benefit for the novel cancer therapy.

Representative Publications

1. Liu F, Zhang Y, Men T, Jiang X, Yang C, Li H, Wei X, Yan D, Feng G, Yang J, Bergquist J, Wang B, Jiang W, Mi J, Tian G Quantitative proteomic analysis of gastric cancer tissue reveals novel proteins in platelet-derived growth factor b signaling pathway. Oncotarget. 2017 Mar 28;8(13):22059-22075

2. Wang D, Qi X, Liu F, Yang C, Jiang W, Wei X, Li X, Mi J, Tian G. A multicenter matched case-control analysis on seven polymorphisms from HMGB1 and RAGE genes in predicting hepatocellular carcinoma risk. Oncotarget. 2017 Feb 8.

3. Huang Q, Mi J, Wang X, Liu F, Wang D, Yan D, Wang B, Zhang S, Tian G. Genetically lowered concentrations of circulating sRAGE might cause an increased risk of cancer: Meta-analysis using Mendelian randomization. J Int Med Res. 2016 Apr;44(2):179-91.

4. Mi J*, Tian G*, Liu S, Li X, Ni T, Zhang L, Wang B. The relationship between altered mitochondrial DNA copy number and cancer risk: a meta-analysis. Sci Rep. 2015 May 8;5:10039.

5. Tian G*, Mi J*, Wei X, Zhao D, Qiao L, Yang C, Li X, Zhang S, Li X, Wang B. Circulating interleukin-6 and cancer: A meta-analysis using Mendelian randomization. Sci Rep. 2015 Jun 22;5:11394

19 Guangzhou International Vascular Biology Conference 2017

Weisi Lu, Ph.D. Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University

Dr. Weisi Lu received her Bachelor and Ph.D degree from Sun Yat-sen University, China in 2010 and 2015, respectively. She completed her training through a National joint-Ph.D program in Baylor College of Medicine, US from 2011 to 2014. She joined ZOC as an assistant researcher from 2015.

She has published papers in journals including Cancer Cell, Stem Cells, Cancer Science, Experimental Cell Research, Cell Stem Cell, and Journal of Biological Chemistry, etc. Her current research interests mainly focus on pluripotent stem cells regulation, particularly interested in the maintenance of pluripotency and differentiation process for vascular or retinal cells.

Representative Publications

1. Huang D*, Lu W*, Zou S, Wang H, Jiang Y, Zhang X, Li P, Songyang Z, Wang L, Wang J, Huang J, Fang L. RhoGDIa is a potential prognostic biomarker and controls telomere regulation in colorectal cancer. Cancer Sci.2017 Apr 17.

2. Fang L*, Lu W*, Choi HH, Yeung SC, Tung JY, Hsiao CD, Fuentes-Mattei E, Menter D, Chen C, Wang L, Wang J, Lee MH.ERK2-dependent phosphorylation of CSN6 is critical in colorectal cancer development. Cancer Cell. 2015 28(2):183-97.

3. Lu W, Fang L, Ouyang B, Zhang X, Zhan S, Feng X, Bai Y, Han X, Kim H, He Q, Wan M, Shi FT, Feng XH, Liu D, Huang J, Songyang Z.Actl6a protects embryonic stem cells from differentiating into primitive endoderm. Stem Cells. 2015 33(6):1782-93.

4. Lu W, Zhang Y, Liu D, Songyang Z, Wan M. Telomere-structure, function, and regulation. Exp Cell Res. 2013 319(2):133-41.

5. He Q, Kim H, Huang R, Lu W, Tang M, Shi F, Yang D, Zhang X, Huang J, Liu D, Songyang Z.The Daxx/Atrx complex protects tandem repetitive elements during DNA hypomethylation by promoting H3K9 trimethylation. Cell Stem Cell. 2015 17(3):273-86.

20 Guangzhou International Vascular Biology Conference June 25, 2017 Academic hall, 2F, Science Building, Zhongshan Opthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, No.7 Jinsui Road, Zhujiang New town, Tianhe District , Guangzhou, China