Research team of Professor Cheng Li

Team members:

Professor: Cheng Li

Postgraduate students: Guoliang Wang, Mengyi Jin, Honghua Kang, Lan Zheng, Kai Fan, Jingwei Lin, Xiuqing Yang, Yingyue Ye, Mengyuan Wang, Zeyu Liu, Cuiting Chen

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.

Selected Publications:

1.Han Y#, Zheng L#, Wang Y, Fan K, Guo S, Kang H, Lin J, Xue Y*, Liu Z*, Li C*. Corneal stromal filler injection of gelatin-based photocurable hydrogels for maintaining the corneal thickness and reconstruction of corneal stroma. Composites Part B, 2023, Nov 266; 111004

2.Wang G#, Xu L#, Shi R, Ye Y, Zeng B, Yang X, Liu Z, Liu Z, Wang S*, Xue Y*, Li C*. Organotypic culture model of mouse meibomian gland as a screening platform for risk factors related to meibomian gland dysfunction. Ocul Surf. 2023 Aug 22; 30:73-84.

3.Xu L#, Wang G#, Shi R, Zeng B, Zhang Y, Liu Z, Wang S*, Li C*. A Cocktail of Small Molecules Maintains the Stemness and Differentiation Potential of Conjunctival Epithelial Cells. Ocul Surf, 2023 Aug 25;30:107-118.

4.Han Y#, Guo S#, Li Y#, Li J, Zhu L, Liu Y, Lv Y, Yu D, Zheng L, Huang C, Li C*, Hu J*, Liu Z*. Berberine ameliorate inflammation and apoptosis via modulating PI3K/AKT/NFκB and MAPK pathway on dry eye. Phytomedicine. 2023 Sep, 155081.

5.Yang D, Han Y, Wang Y, Pan Y, Zheng L, Liu Z*, Li C*, Wu Y*, Li H*. Highly effective corneal permeability of reactive oxygen species-responsive nano-formulation encapsulated cyclosporine a for dry eye management. Chem Eng J. 2023; 469: 143968

6.Kang H, Han Y, Jin M, Zheng L, Liu Z, Xue Y*, Liu Z*, Li C*. Decellularized squid mantle scaffolds as tissue-engineered corneal stroma for promoting corneal regeneration. Bioeng Transl Med. 2023; e10531

7.Xu L, Hou S, Huang X, Wang M, Li C*, Dong N*, Lin Z*. Highly sensitive homogeneous electrochemiluminescence biosensor for microRNA-155 based on enzyme-free cascade signal amplification and magnetic assisted enrichment. J Elec Chem. 2023, 933: 117274

8.Tang Y#, Han Y#, Zhao J, Lv Y, Fan C, Zheng L, Zhang Z, Liu Z*, Li C*, Lin Y*. A Rational Design of a Metal-Organic Framework Nanozyme with High-Performance Copper Active Centers for Alleviating Chemical Corneal Burns. Nanomicro Lett. 2023 Apr 30;15(1):112.

9.Bao X, Zhong Y, Yang C, Chen Y, Han Y, Lin X, Huang C, Wang K*, Liu Z*, Li C*. T-Cell Repertoire Analysis in the Conjunctiva of Murine Dry Eye Model. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2023 Mar 1;64(3):14.

10.Wang Y#, Kang H#, Jin M, Wang G, Ma W, Liu Z, Xue Y*, Li C*. Phenotypic and Transcriptomics Analyses Reveal Underlying Mechanisms in a Mouse Model of Corneal Bee Sting. Toxins (Basel). 2022 Jul 8;14(7):468.

11.Zhong Y#, Fang X#, Wang X, Lin Y, Wu H*, Li C*. Effects of Sodium Hyaluronate Eye Drops With or Without Preservatives on Ocular Surface Bacterial Microbiota. Front Med. 2022 Feb 14; 9: 793565.

12.Zong R, Zhu F, Han W, Wang Y, Wang G, Wang Y, Mao Y, Guan T, Liu Z, Xue Y*, Li C*. Tear dynamics testing and quantitative proteomics analysis in patients with chronic renal failure. J Proteomics. 2021 Aug 16:104351.

13.Wang G，An X，Jin M, Wang X, Zong R, Liu Z, Liu Z, Xue Y*, Li C*. Real-time confocal microscopy imaging of corneal cytoarchitectural changes induced by different stresses. Exp Eye Res. 2021 Sep; 210: 108706.

14.Li Z, Liu M, Ke J, Wang J, Wu C, Li C*, Li Z*, Wu Y*. Flexible polymeric nanosized micelles for ophthalmic drug delivery: research progress in the last three years. Nanoscale Adv. 2021, 3 (18), 5240-5254

15.Han Y#, Jiang L#, Shi H#, Xu C, Liu M, Li Q, Zheng L, Chi H, Wang Y, Liu Z, You M, Loh X, Wu Y*, Li Z*, Li C*. Effectiveness of an ocular adhesive polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane hybrid thermo-responsive FK506 hydrogel in a murine model of dry eye. Bioact Mater. 2021 Jul 28; 9:77-91.

16.Jin M, Wang Y, An X, Kang H, Wang Y, Wang G, Gao Y, Wu S, Reinach P, Liu Z, Xue Y, Li C*. Phenotypic and transcriptomic changes in the corneal epithelium following exposure to cigarette smoke. Environ Pollut. 2021 Oct 15; 287: 117540.

17.An X, Wang G, Jin M, ZhouX, Gao S, Chen J, Reinach P, Liu Z, Xue Y*, Li C*. Novel Cell Culture Paradigm Prolongs Mouse Corneal Epithelial Cell Proliferative Activity in vitro and in vivo. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 Jun 30; 9:675998.

18.Han Y#, Xu C#, Shi H#, Yu F, Zhong Y, Liu Z, Loh X, Wu Y*, Li Z*, Li C*. Engineered bio-adhesive polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane hybrid nanoformulation of amphotericin B for prolonged therapy of fungal keratitis. Chem Eng J. 2021, 421, 129734.

19.Dong N#*, Cai Q#, Li Z, Xu L, Wu H, Lin Z, Qiu B, Li C*, Lin Z*. Convenient hyaluronidase biosensors based on the target-trigger enhancing of the permeability of a membrane using an electronic balance as a readout. Analyst. 2021 May 17;146(10):3299-3304.

20.Tao Y, Luo F, Lin Y, Dong N*, Li C*, Lin Z*. Quantitative gold nanorods based photothermal biosensor for glucose using a thermometer as readout. Talanta. 2021 Aug 1; 230: 122364.

21.Ma W, Wang G, Li X, Wu H, Liu Z, Dong N*, Li C*. Study of Factors Influencing Dry Eye in Rheumatoid Arthritis. J Ophthalmol. 2020 Aug 8; 2020: 5768679.

22.Wang G, Chen P, Wang Y, Wang Y, Reinach PS, Xue Y, Liu Z*, Li C*. Onion Epithelial Membrane Scaffolds Transfer Corneal Epithelial Layers in Reconstruction Surgery. Adv Healthc Mater. 2020 Jul;9(14): e2000469.

23.Jin M, Wang Y, Wang Y, Li Y, Wang G, Liu X, Xue Y*, Liu Z, Li C*. Protective effects on corneal endothelium during intracameral irrigation using N-(2)-L-alanyl-L-glutamine. Front Pharmacol. 2020 Mar 27; 11: 369.

24.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. 2020 Apr 30;15(3):035022.

25.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 Jun;23(6):4217-4228.

26.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 Nov 15; 163: 585-593.

27.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 Oct; 175: 199-206.

28.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 Feb;57(2):444-52.

29.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 Jun 10;54(6):4041-7.

30.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 Sep;183(3):786-95.

31.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 Sep;226(9):2429-37.