Personal Profile

Yang Xia, female, is a professor and doctoral supervisor of the Yat-sen Distinguished Scholars Program at Sun Yat-sen University. She currently serves as the director of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University. She is a member of the Chinese Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, an executive member of the First Committee of the Tumor Microenvironment Professional Committee of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, and the vice chairman and secretary-general of the Guangdong Society of Biochemistry. She has been selected as a provincial-level training object of the "Thousand, Hundred, and Ten Talents Program" for universities in Guangdong Province and an outstanding teaching master at the university level of Sun Yat-sen University.

Teaching

In terms of teaching, she has taught courses covering multiple levels, including doctoral students, master's students, undergraduate students, and junior college students. She has guided 12 doctoral students and 15 master's students, and participated in guiding 30 doctoral and master's students (including those currently enrolled). She has served as the chief editor and deputy chief editor of several national-level planned textbooks. The teaching reform projects she has led have been funded by Guangdong Province, Sun Yat-sen University, etc., and have won national-level teaching achievements in higher education (postgraduate), awards from the Chinese Society of Academic Degrees and Graduate Education, as well as provincial and university-level teaching achievements awards. In September 2009, she went to Indiana University in the United States for teaching exchanges and visits. The undergraduate students she guided won the first prize in the National Undergraduate Basic Medical Innovation Forum and Experimental Design Competition for four consecutive sessions, the first prize in the "Challenge Cup" Guangdong College Students' Extracurricular Academic and Technological Works Competition, and obtained one National College Students' Innovation Training Program project and two Guangdong College Students' Innovation Training Program projects. The doctoral students she guided won the first prize in the "Doctoral Student Forum" at the National Academic Conference of the Chinese Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She serves as an editorial board member in several academic journals, including the Journal of Sun Yat-sen University (Medical Edition), Cancer Journal, and Chinese Journal of Tumor Prevention and Treatment.

Research Directions

Her research direction focuses on the inhibition of pathological angiogenesis and metabolic regulation. She is dedicated to studying the therapeutic effects, structural basis, and molecular mechanisms of endogenous regulatory factors such as K5, PEDF, and KBP in the treatment of malignant tumors.

Representative Research Projects

• 2024.1 - 2026.12: Study on the role and mechanism of targeting MATE1 to increase the intracellular concentration of metformin in treating KRAS and TP53 double-mutant pancreatic cancer. Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Foundation General Project (2024A1515010149), 150,000 yuan, person in charge.
• 2023.1 - 2026.12: Study on the role and mechanism of tyrosine hydroxylase upregulating MYCN expression to promote the malignant progression of neuroblastoma. National Natural Science Foundation General Project (82273116), 510,000 yuan, person in charge.
• 2021.1.1 - 2023.12.31: Study on the role and mechanism of highly expressed FUBP1 in promoting the stemness transformation of colorectal cancer cells. Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Foundation General Project (2021A1515010434), 100,000 yuan, person in charge.
• 2018.4.1 - 2021.3.31: PEDF as an early intervention target and its mechanism for diabetic endothelial injury. Guangzhou Science and Technology Plan Project - Livelihood Science and Technology Tackling Key Problems Plan (201803010017), 1,000,000 yuan, person in charge.
• 2018.1 - 2021.12: The key role and mechanism of PEDF in diabetic vascular endothelial injury. National Natural Science Foundation General Project (81770808), 520,000 yuan, first applicant.
• 2017.1 - 2019.12: Study on the key molecules for precise diagnosis and intervention of diabetic vascular complications. Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Plan Project (2017A020215075), 100,000 yuan, first applicant.
• 2016.1 - 2019.12: Study on the role and mechanism of highly expressed PEDF in liver cancer cells promoting liver cancer growth by regulating fatty acid metabolism. National Natural Science Foundation General Project (81572342), 450,000 yuan, first applicant (81572342).
• 2016.6.1 - 2019.6.1: Study on the regulatory effect and mechanism of adipokine PEDF on fatty acid metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma. Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Foundation Key Project (2016A030311035), 300,000 yuan, first applicant.
• 2013 - 2016: The key role and mechanism of VDAC in the apoptosis of cervical cancer cells and endothelial cells induced by human plasminogen K5. National Natural Science Foundation General Project (81272515), 700,000 yuan, project leader.
• 2013 - 2015: Preclinical study of novel genetically engineered candidate drugs targeting angiogenesis for the treatment of liver cancer (National Science and Technology Major Project for New Drug Innovation during the Twelfth Five-Year Plan Period, No.: 2013ZX09102 - 053), 3,910,000 yuan, sub-topic leader (pharmacodynamics part, 1,563,920 yuan).

Representative Academic Publications (SCI Papers, IF calculated based on the value of the year of publication)

1. Zhenzhen Fang, Gang Shen, Yina Wang, Fuyan Hong, Xiumei Tang, Yongcheng Zeng, Ting Zhang, Huanyi Liu, Yanmei Li, Jinhong Wang, Jing Zhang, Anton Gao, Weiwei Qi, Xia Yang*, Ti Zhou*, Guoquan Gao*. Elevated Kallistatin promotes the occurrence and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy. 2024, (2024) 9:66; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-024-01781-9 （IF:39.3)

2. Zhang X, Yang F, Huang Z, Liu X, Xia G, Huang J, Yang Y, Li J, Huang J, Liu Y, Zhou T, Qi W, Gao G*, Yang X*. Macrophages Promote Subtype Conversion and Endocrine Resistance in Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel). 2024 Feb 5;16(3):678. doi: 10.3390/cancers16030678. (Impact factor: 5.31)

3. Long Y, Zhao Z, Xie W, Shi J, Yang F, Zhu D, Jiang P, Tang Q, Ti Z, Jiang B, Yang X*, Gao G*, Qi W*.  Kallistatin leads to cognition impairment via downregulating glutamine synthetase. Pharmacol Res. 2024 Apr;202:107145.

4. Qi, Weiwei#(First author); Zhu, Dan#; Yin, Ping; Gu, Xiaoqiong; Zhao, Zhen; Li, Miaoxin; Dong, Chang; Tang, Qilong; Xie, Wanting; Zhou, Ti; Xia, Huimin; Qiu, Xiu*; Yang, Xia*; Gao, Guoquan*, Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), a novel adipokine contributes to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2023 Dec 21;109(1):e356-e369. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgad413 (中科院2区TOP)

5. Qi, Weiwei#(First author); Fang, Zhenzhen#; Luo, Chuanghua#; Hong, Honghai#; Long, Yanlan; Dai, Zhiyu; Liu; Junxi, Zeng; Yongcheng; Zhou, Ti; Xia, Yong*; Yang, Xia*; Gao, Guoquan*, The critical role of BTRC in hepatic steatosis as an ATGL E3 ligase, Journal of Molecular Cell Biology. 2023 Oct 23:mjad064. doi: 10.1093/jmcb/mjad064. (中科院2区)

6. PEDF protects retinal pigment epithelium from ferroptosis and ameliorates dry AMD-like pathology in a murine model. Geroscience. 2023,Dec 28.

7. Tianxiao Gao, Jieye Huang, Haofan Yin, Jiajia Huang, Jinye Xie, Ti Zhou, Wei Fan, Xia Yang*, Guoquan Gao*, Zhiming Li*. Inhibition of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma by Chiauranib through an AIF-dependent pathway and its synergy with L-asparaginase. Cell Death Dis. 2023 May 9;14(5):316. doi: 10.1038/s41419-023-05833-w.

8. Xiang W, Li L, Hong F, Zeng Y, Zhang J, Xie J, Shen G, Wang J, Fang Z, Qi W, Yang X*, Gao G*, Zhou T*. N-cadherin cleavage: A critical function that induces diabetic retinopathy fibrosis via regulation of β-catenin translocation. FASEB J. 2023 Apr;37(4):e22878. doi: 10.1096/fj.202201664RR.

9. Pu M, Zhang J, Zeng Y, Hong F, Qi W, Yang X, Gao G, Zhou T. Succinate-SUCNR1 induces renal tubular cell apoptosis. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2023 Feb 1;324(2):C467-C476.

10. Shen G, Li Y, Zeng Y, Hong F, Zhang J, Wang Y, Zhang C, Xiang W, Wang J, Fang Z, Qi W, Yang X, Gao G, Zhou T*. Kallistatin Deficiency Induces the Oxidative Stress-Related Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells: A Novel Protagonist in Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2023 Sep 1;64(12):15.

11. Liu J, Qian B, Zhou L, Shen G, Tan Y, Liu S, Zhao Z, Shi J, Qi W, Zhou T, Yang X*, Gao G*, Yang Z*. IL25 Enhanced Colitis-Associated Tumorigenesis in Mice by Upregulating Transcription Factor GLI1. Front Immunol. 2022 Mar 14;13:837262. (Impact factor 11.6)

12. Haofan Yin, Tianxiao Gao , Jinye Xie , Zhijian Huang , Xiaoyan Zhang, Fengyu Yang, Weiwei Qi, Zhonghan Yang , Ti Zhou*, Guoquan Gao* and Xia Yang*. FUBP1 promotes colorectal cancer stemness and metastasis via DVL1-mediated activation of Wnt/b-catenin signaling. Molecular Oncology. 2021 July 20,   https://doi.org/10.1002/1878-0261.13064. (Impact factor 6.0)

13. Shen G, Li Y, Hong F, Zhang J, Fang Z, Xiang W, Qi W, Yang X, Gao G, Zhou T. A role for Snail-MnSOD axis in regulating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition markers expression in RPE cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2021 Dec 31;585:146-154.

14. Jinye Xie, Liangping Xia, Wei Xiang, Wenzhuo He, HaoFan Yin, Fang Wang, Tianxiao Gao, Weiwei Qi, Zhonghan Yang, Xia Yang*, Ti Zhou*, Guoquan Gao*. Metformin selectively inhibits metastatic colorectal cancer with KRAS mutation by intracellular accumulation through silencing MATE1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 May 22:201918845. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1918845117. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 32444490. (Impact factor 11.205)

15. Che D, Fang Z, Yan L, Du J, Li F, Xie J, Feng J, Yin P, Qi W, Yang Z, Ma JX, Yang X*, Gao G*, Zhou T*. Elevated Pigment epithelium-derived factor induces the diabetic erectile dysfunction via interruption of the AKT/hsp90β/eNOS complex. Diabetologia. 2020 Sep;63(9):1857-1871. (Impact factor10.122)

16. Dong C, Gu X, Chen F, Long Y, Zhu D, Yang X*, Qiu X*, Gao G*, Qi W*. The variation degree of coagulation function is not responsible for extra risk of hemorrhage in gestational diabetes mellitus. J Clin Lab Anal. 2019 Nov 27:e23129. doi: 10.1002/jcla.23129. [Epub ahead of print]

17. Mao Y, Zhu L, Huang Z, Luo C, Zhou T, Li L, Wang G, Yang Z, Qi W*, Yang X*, Gao G*. Stem-like tumor cells involved in heterogeneous vasculogenesis in breast cancer. Endocr Relat Cancer. 2019 Nov 1. pii: ERC-19-0054.R1. doi: 10.1530/ERC-19-0054. [Epub ahead of print] (Impact factor5.678)

18. Li C, Huang Z, Zhu L, Yu X, Gao T, Feng J, Hong H, Yin H, Zhou T, Qi W, Yang Z, Liu C*, Yang X*, Gao G*. The contrary intracellular and extracellular functions of PEDF in HCC development. Cell Death Dis. 2019 Oct 3;10(10):742. doi: 10.1038/s41419-019-1976-4. (Impact factor8.469)

19. Jiang P, Huang M, Qi W, Wang F, Yang T, Gao T, Luo C, Deng J, Yang Z, Zhou T, Zou Y, Gao G*, Yang X*. FUBP1 promotes neuroblastoma proliferation via enhancing glycolysis-a new possible marker of malignancy for neuroblastoma. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2019 Sep 11;38(1):400. doi: 10.1186/s13046-019-1414-6. (Impact factor: 11.161)

20. Deng J, Jiang P, Yang T, Huang M, Xie J, Luo C, Qi W, Zhou T, Yang Z, Zou Y, Gao G*, Yang X*. β2-adrenergic receptor signaling promotes neuroblastoma cell proliferation by activating autophagy. Oncol Rep. 2019 Aug 6. doi: 10.3892/or.2019.7266. [Epub ahead of print] (Impact factor 3.04)

21. Deng J, Jiang P, Yang T, Huang M, Qi W, Zhou T, Yang Z, Zou Y, Gao G*, Yang X*. Targeting β3-adrenergic receptor signaling inhibits neuroblastoma cell growth via suppressing the mTOR pathway. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2019 Jun 18;514(1):295-300. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.04.099. Epub 2019 Apr 25. (Impact factor 2.7)

22. Feng J, Dong C, Long Y, Mai L, Ren M, Li L, Zhou T, Yang Z, Ma J, Yan L, Yang X*, Gao G*, Qi W*. Elevated Kallikrein-binding protein in diabetes impairs wound healing through inducing macrophage M1 polarization. Cell Commun Signal. 2019 Jun 10;17(1):60. doi: 10.1186/s12964-019-0376-9. (Impact factor: 5.1)

23. Caiqi Ma, Chuanghua Luo, Haofan Yin, Yang Zhang, Wenjun Xiong, Ting Zhang, Tianxiao Gao, Xi Wang, Di Che, Zhenzhen Fang, Lei Li, Jinye Xie, Mao Huang, Liuqing Zhu, Ping Jiang, Weiwei Qi, Ti Zhou, Zhonghan Yang, Wei Wang, Jianxing Ma, Guoquan Gao*, Xia Yang*. Kallistatin inhibits lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis of gastric cancer by down-regulating VEGF-C expression and secretion. Gastric Cancer. 2017,Dec 5,accepeted. (Impact factor 5.45)

24. Fang S, Hong H, Li L, He D, Xu Z, Zuo S, Han J, Wu Q, Dai Z, Cai W, Ma J, Shao C, Gao G*, Yang X*. Plasminogen kringle 5 suppresses gastric cancer via regulating HIF-1α and GRP78. Cell Death Dis. 2017 July 14.accepted. (Impact factor 5.9)

25. Ma C, Yin H, Zhong J, Zhang Y, Luo C, Che D, Fang Z, Li L, Qin S, Liang J, Qi W, Yang Z, Zhou T, Ma J, Yang X*, Gao G*. Kallistatin exerts anti-lymphangiogenic effects by inhibiting lymphatic endothelial cell proliferation, migration and tube formation. Int J Oncol. 2017 Jun;50(6):2000-2010. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2017.3972. Epub 2017 Apr 20. (Impact factor 3.018)

26. Zhang T, Yin P, Zichen Zhang, Xu B, Che D, Dai Z, Yang X* and Gao G*. Deficiency of Pigment epithelium-derived factor in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells triggers the Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition and Metastasis. Cell Death Dis. 2017 Jun 1;8(6):e2838. doi: 10.1038/cddis.2017.114. (Impact factor 5.9)

27. Zhou T, Che D, Lan Y, Fang Z, Xie J, Gong H, Li C, Feng J, Hong H, Qi W, Ma C, Yang Z, Cai W, Zhong J, Ma J, Yang X*, Gao G*. Mesenchymal marker expression is elevated in Müller cells exposed to high glucose and in animal models of diabetic retinopathy. Oncotarget. 2017 Jan 17;8(3):4582-4594. (Impact factor 5.008)

Scientific Research Achievements
Role and Molecular Mechanism of Human Plasminogen K5 and Its Mutants in the Treatment of Angioproliferative Diseases. Second Prize for Outstanding Achievements in Natural Sciences of Higher Education Scientific Research (2009), Second Contributor (Gao Guoquan, Yang Xia, Cai Weibin, Li Chaoyang, Yang Zhonghan, Cheng Rui).
Role and Molecular Mechanism of Human Plasminogen K5 and Its Mutants in the Treatment of Angioproliferative Diseases. Second Prize for Natural Sciences of Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology (2009), Second Contributor (Gao Guoquan, Yang Xia, Cai Weibin, Li Chaoyang, Yang Zhonghan, Cheng Rui).

Teaching Achievements
Construction and Achievements of the Molecular Medicine Program for Graduate Students. Special First Prize for the First Graduate Teaching and Educational Achievements of Sun Yat-sen University (August 2023), Second Contributor (Gao Guoquan, Yang Xia, Qi Weiwei, Cai Weibin, Li Bo, Song Erwei, Li Jun, Zhou Jiaoguo, Song Zhihong, Yuan Jie). Awarding Institution: Sun Yat-sen University.
Innovation and Practice of Teaching Mode and Evaluation System of Medical Biochemistry. Second Prize for the Tenth Teaching Achievements of Sun Yat-sen University (June 2021), First Contributor (Yang Xia, Wang Haihe, Zhou Ti, Qi Weiwei, Yuan Jie, Gao Guoquan, Song Zhihong, Zhou Junyi). Awarding Institution: Sun Yat-sen University.
Construction and Practice of a Medical Graduate Training System Guided by Diseases, Integrated with Clinical Practice, and Led by Innovation. Second Prize for National Teaching Achievements in Higher Education (Graduate Level) in 2022, Tenth Contributor (Song Erwei, Gao Guoquan, Li Chunhai, Lin Tianxin, Kuang Ming, Lan Ping, Wang Shuzhen, Guo Kaihua, Song Bin, Yang Xia, Chen Suijun, Zhou Jiaoguo, Shen Jun, Qi Weiwei, Qi Fangfang). Awarding Institution: Ministry of Education.

Authorized Patents
Mutant Human Plasminogen Kringle 5 and Its Preparation Method and Application (Authorized Patent No.: ZL 2010 1 0600078.9). Second Applicant (Gao Guoquan, Yang Xia, Cai Weibin, Li Chaoyang).
An Anti-PEDF Monoclonal Antibody and Its Preparation Method and Application (Invention Patent Application No.: 201210245123.2; Authorized on June 25, 2014, Authorization No.: 2014060300285460; Patent No.: ZL 2012 1 0245123.2). Second Applicant (Gao Guoquan, Yang Xia, Qi Weiwei, Dai Zhiyu).
Application of Anti-PEDF Monoclonal Antibody in the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction in Diabetic Males (Invention Patent Application No.: CN201610359837.4; Applied on May 27, 2016; Published (Announced) No.: CN105935444A, Published (Announced) Date: September 14, 2016). Second Applicant (Gao Guoquan, Yang Xia, Zhou Ti, Qi Weiwei, Che Di).