Dr LU Liwei | liweilu@hkucc.hku.hk
Associate Professor (Immunology)
MMed Norman Bethune; PhD McGill
Lymphocyte development and its dysregulation in immune disease
Research Description
My research has been focusing on lymphocyte development and its dysregulation in autoimmune diseases. Studies in normal and mutant mice have aimed to examine lymphocyte apoptosis and its role in maintaining quality control and homeostasis in the immune system. We are also interested in studying the dysregulated cytokine production and lymphocyte function during the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders. Using an animal model for human rheumatoid arthritis, we are developing novel strategies for targeting TNF family cytokines in treating autoimmune arthritis. Further knowledge of the regulatory mechanisms underlying lymphocyte development and function should shed light on the prophylaxis and therapy of immune diseases.
Research Interest
- Identification of genes involved in regulating lymphocyte development and function.
- Regulation of lymphocyte apoptosis in the quality control and homeostatic regulation.
- Gene silencing of novel TNF family cytokines for treating autoimmune disease.
Major Research Grants
RGC - General Research Fund (GRF) (Formerly Known as Competitive Earmarked Research Grant (CERG))
- Role of leptin in regulating B cell maturation and function (2009)
- Plasma cell development and its regulation in autoimmunity (2006)
- Natural killer cells and the pathogenesis of autoimmunity (2004)
- B cell apoptosis and its regulation in autoimmunity (2003)
Innovation and Technology Support Programme
- Innovative development of a gene-targeted therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (2006)
National Science Foundation of China and Research Grants Council of Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme
- Regulation of de ndritic cell function and its therapeutic application inautoimmune diabetes (2007)
- Functional interaction between dendritic cells and B cells in autoimmunity (2005)
National Key Basic Research Program of China
- Role of antigen-presenting cells in immune response and tolerance (2005)
Awards and Honors
- Chairman, Hong Kong Society for Immunology (2007- )
- Faculty Teaching Medal, Faculty of Medicine, HKU (2008)
- Young Investigator Award, Hong Kong Society for Immunology (2003)
- David Rae Memorial Award, Leukemia Research Fund of Canada (2000)
Selected Publications
Click here for detail publication list on PubMed
Lam Q, S Wang, O Ko, PW Kincade, L Lu. Leptin signaling maintains B cell homeostasis via induction of Bcl-2 and Cyclin D1. PNAS USA 2010; 107:13812-7.
Liang J, F Gu, H Wang, B Hua, Y Hou, S Shi, L Lu, L Sun. Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Transplantation Treats Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage in a SLE Patient. Nature Reviews Rheumatology, 2010; 6:486-9
Yang M, L Sun, S Wang, K Ko, H Xu, B-J Zheng, X Cao, and L Lu. Novel function of BAFF in the induction of IL-10-producing regulatory B cells. Cutting Edge, Journal of Immunology 2010; 184:3321-3325.
Lam Q, O Ko, B-J Zheng and L Lu. Local BAFF gene silencing suppresses Th17 cell generation and ameliorates autoimmune arthritis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 2008; 105:14993-14998
Lo C, Q Lam, L Sun, S Wang, K-H Ko, H Xu, C Wu, B-J Zheng and L Lu. NK cell degeneration exacerbates experimental arthritis via enhanced IL-17 production. Arthritis and Rheumatism 2008; 58:2700-2711
Iikuni N, Q Lam, L Lu, G Matarese, A La Cava , Leptin and Inflammation. Current Immunology Review, 2008; 4:70-79
Lam Q, B-J Zheng, D-Y Jin, X Cao and Lu L. Leptin induces CD40 expression through the activation of AKT in murine dendritic cells. J Biol Chem 2007, 282:27587-27597.
Martin DA, Lu L, Cascalho M and Wu GE. 2007. Maintenance of surrogate light chain expression induces developmental delay in early B cell compartment. J Immunol 2007 , 179: 4996-5005.
Lam QL, Liu S, Cao X, Lu L. Involvement of leptin signaling in the survival and maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells. Eur J Immunol 2006, 36(12):3118-3130.
Lam QL, Lo CK, Zheng BJ, Ko KH, Osmond DG, Wu GE, Rottapel R, Lu L. Impaired V(D)J recombination and increased apoptosis among B cell precursors in the bone marrow of c-Abl-deficient mice. Int Immunol 2007, 10(3):267-276.
Ko KH, Lam Q., Zhang M., Cheung CT, Wong C, Ko KH, Tsang SL, Chan LC, Sham MH, Lu L. Hoxb3 deficiency impairs B lymphopoiesis in mouse bone marrow. Exp Hematol 2007, 35:465-475.
Zhang M, Ko KH, QL Lam, Lo CK, Srivastava G, Zheng B, Lau YL, Lu L. Expression and function of TNF family member B cell-activating factor in the development of autoimmune arthritis. Int Immunol 2005, 17:1081-1092.
Woo M, Hakem R, Furlonger C, Hakem A, Duncan GS, Sasaki T, Bouchard D, Lu L, Wu GE, Paige CJ, Mak TW. Caspase3 regulates cell cycle in B cells: a consequence of substrate specificity. Nat Immunol 2003, 4:1016-1022.
Shen L, Liang ACT, Lu L, Au WY, Wong KY, Tin PC, Chan KW, Ko KH, Chen YW, Beh SL, Shimizu N, Tsuchiyama J, Tang JCO, Kwong YL, Liang RHS, Srivastava G. 2003. Aberrant BCL10 nuclear expression in nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma. Blood 2003, 102:1553-1554.
Zhang Y, Lu L, Furlonger C, Wu GE, Paige CJ. Hemokinin is a hematopoietic-specific tachykinin that regulates B lymphopoiesis. Nat Immunol 2000, 1:392-397.
Lu L, Osmond DG. Apoptosis and its modulation during B lymphopoiesis in mouse bone marrow. Immunol Rev 2000, 175:158-174.