Team members:

Associate Professor: Cheng Li, Nuo Dong

Postgraduate students: Guoliang Wang, Xuezhi Liu, Mengyi Jin, Honghua Kang，Weina Li, Xiaoya An, Yixin Wang, Xuemei Wang, Yanlin Zhong

Tel:+86-592-2183761

E-mail:cheng-li@xmu.edu.cn

Research Focus:

The integrity and functionality of the outermost epithelium is essential for corneal transparency and therefore vision. The corneal epithelium is maintained by a population of limbal epithelial stem cells (LESC’s) which reside at the junction (known as the limbus) between the corneal and neighbouring conjunctival epithelium. Limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) is a disease caused by the loss or dysfunction of limbal stem cells (LSC). In LSCD, the corneal epithelium integrity and function cannot be maintained and consequently epithelial defects occur causing persistent pain and severe visual impairment with marked patient morbidity, often affecting young adults and requiring frequent clinic visits. Evidence from a variety of experimental systems has shown that p38MAPK, Wnt/beta-catenin and Notch signaling signaling pathways play important roles in LSCD progress. The temporal and spatial activation of these signaling pathways and the crosstalk of these three signaling pathways in the occurrence and progress of LSCD will be further studied to elucidate the significance of signaling pathway abnormality on the pathophysiology of LSCD, so as to illustrate the molecular mechanism of LSCD.

Recent Publications:

1.Wang Y, Zhang Y, Lin Z, Wu H*, Li C*. Case Studies of Mycobacterium abscess Infection after Laser in Situ Keratomileusis. Case Reports in Clinical Medicine, 2019.12.15, 8(12): 307-314.

2.Han Y#, Li C#*, Cai Q, Bao X, Tang L, Ao H, Liu J, Jin M, Zhou Y, Wan Y, Liu Z*. Studies on bacterial cellulose/poly vinyl alcohol (BC/PVA) hydrogel composites as tissue-engineered corneal stroma. Biomed Mater. 2019 Nov 12. doi: 10.1088/1748-605X/ab56ca.

3.Wang G, Xue Y, Wang Y, Dong F, Shen M, Zong R, Liu Z*, Li C*. The role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of exposure keratitis. J Cell Mol Med. 2019， 23(6):4217-4228.

4.Wang G, Dong N, Wang Y, Li J, Dong F, Jeyalatha V, Wu J, Shen M, Yang Q, Chen P, Xue Y, Liu Z, Li C*. Epithelial dysplasia in pterygium postoperative granuloma. Exp Eye Res. 2018, 175(8):199-206.

5.Yang Q, Tang L, Shen M, Wang Y, Wei Y, Jeyalatha V, Chen P, Dong F, Wang G, Wu S, Liu Z*, Li C*. Effects of diesel exhaust particles on the condition of mouse ocular surface. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2018, 163(11):585-593.

6.Li J#, Li C#, Wang G, Liu Z, Chen P, Yang Q, Dong N, Wu H, Liu Z*, Li W*. APR-246/PRIMA-1Met Inhibits and Reverses Squamous Metaplasia in Human Conjunctival Epithelium. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2016, 57(2):444-52.

7.Li C, Dong N, Wu H, Dong F, Xu Y, Du H, He H, Liu Z*, Li W*. A novel method for preservation of human corneal limbal tissue. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2013, 54(6), 4041-4047.

8.Li C, Dong F, Jia Y, Du H, Dong N, Xu Y, Wang S, Wu H, Liu Z*, Li W*. Notch signal regulates corneal endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Am J Pathol. 2013, 183(3), 786-795.

9.Li C, Yin T, Dong N, Dong F, Fang X, Qu YL, Tan Y, Wu H, Liu Z*, Li W*. Oxygen tension affects terminal differentiation of corneal limbal epithelial cells. J Cell Physiol. 2011, 226(9), 2429-2437.

10.Dong N, Qin W, Xue Y, Li C*, Liu Z*. Hypoxia affects in vitro proliferation and differentiation of mouse corneal epithelial progenitor cell. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim. 2013, 49(7), 508-514.

11.Dong N#, Li C#, Chen W, Qin W, Xue Y, Wu H, Fibrin glue-assisted for the treatment of corneal perforations using glycerin-cryopreserved corneal tissue, Int J Ophthalmol, 2014, 7(1), 62-65.

12.Shao Y, Yu Y, Zhou Q, Li C, Yang L, Pei CG. Inhibition of miR-134 Protects Against Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Apoptosis in Retinal Ganglion Cells. J Mol Neurosci. 2015, 56(2):461-71.

13.Lin H, Qu Y, Geng Z, Li C, Wu H, Dong N, Liu Z*, Li W*. Air exposure induced characteristics of dry eye in conjunctival tissue culture. PLoS One. 2014, 9(1), e87368.

14.Tan Y, Qiu F, Qu YL, Li C, Shao Y, Xiao Q, Liu Z*, Li W*. Amniotic membrane inhibits squamous metaplasia of human conjunctival epithelium. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2011, 301(1), C115-125.

15.Dong N, Li W, Lin H, Wu H, Li C, Chen W, Qin W, Quyang L, Wang H, Liu Z. Abnormal epithelial differentiation and tear film alteration in pinguecula. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009, 50(6):2710-5.