Li Research
The focus of my laboratory is centered on investigating the molecular mechanism of angiogenesis in the setting of ischemic cardiovascular disease.
This could potentially be very significant for providing a new blood supply to otherwise ischemic tissues. Multiple stimulatory and inhibitory signals are involved in regulation of new vessels growth. Among these are the effects of angiogenic signaling, we are particularly focused on three principal areas in this field: the mechanisms of transcriptional signaling in endothelial cells; effect of hyperglycemia in endothelial dysfunction; and communication between endothelium and myocardium in terms of angiogenesis and cardiovascular illness.
We have identified a transcriptional factor, termed related transcriptional enhance factor (RTEF-1) in regulation angiogenesis factors in endothelial cells. RTEF-1 is expressed in both cardiac myocyte and endothelial cell, and is regulated by hypoxia. We are currently delineating the responsible regulatory DNA elements in RTEF-1’s target genes. We have also identified the novel hypoxia inducible genes in endothelial cells for delivering these gene’s biologically activity in angiogenesis. To study the mechanism of hyperglycemia-related endothelial dysfunction, we focus on the role of IAP and survivin with their transcriptional regulation and their binding proteins.
