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Yutong Zhao
Section of Pulmonary / Critical Care
Research Associate (Assistant Professor)

e-mail: yzhao@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu

Training:
DegreeYearInstitutionArea
MD1994Dalian Medical UniversityMedicine
PhD2000Gifu University School of MedicineMolecular Biology
Academic Interests:
Dr. Zhao’s research focuses on investigating the role of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and LPA receptors in airway epithelial barrier function and airway inflammation. He has previously shown that LPA induces both pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators, such as IL-8, PGE2, and IL-13Ra2. Recent studies from Dr. Zhao’s lab showed that LPA enhances airway epithelial barrier function by regulating E-cadherin / c-Met complex intracellular trafficking. Additionally, Dr. Zhao is using LPA receptor knockout mice to study the role of LPA and LPA receptors in murine models of LPS-induced acute lung injury and OVA-induced asthma. 


Representative Publications:
  1. He D, Su Y, Usatyuk PV, Spannhake EW, Kogut P, Solway J, Natarajan V, Zhao Y. (2009) Lysophosphatidic acid enhances pulmonary epithelial barrier integrity and protects endotoxin-induced epithelial barrier disruption and lung injury. J. Biol. Chem. in press.
  2. Zhao, Y., He, D., Zhao, J., Wang L., Leff, A.R., Spannhake, Wm., Georas, S., and Natarajan, V. (2007) Lysophosphatidic acid induces IL-13 receptor alpha 2 expression and inhibits IL-13 signaling in primary human bronchial epithelial cells. J. Biol. Chem. 282, 10172-9.
  3. Zhao, Y., He, D., Saatian, B., Watkins, T., Spannhake, E.W., Pyne, N.J., Natarajan, V. (2006) Regulation of lysophosphatidic acid-induced epidermal growth factor receptor trasactivation and interleukin-8 secretion in human bronchial epithelial cells by protein kinase C delta, Lyn kinase and matrix metalloproteinases. J. Biol. Chem. 281, 19501-19511.
  4. Zhao, Y., Usatyuk, P.V., Gorshkova, I., He, D., Wang, T., Moreno-Vinasco, L., Geyh, A.S., Breysse, P.N., Samet, J.M., Spannhake, E.Wm., Garcia, J.G., and Natarajan, V. (2009) Regulation of COX-2 Expression and IL-6 Release by Particulate Mat Matter in Airway Epithelial Cells. Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 40, 19-31.
  5. He, D., Natarajan, V., Stern, R., Gorshkova, I.A., Solway, J., Spannhake, E.Wm., and Zhao, Y. (2008) Lysophosphatidic acid-induced transactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor regulates cyclooxygenase-2 expression and prostaglandin E2 release via C/EBPß in human bronchial epithelial cells. Biochem. J. 412, 153-62




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