Personal Profile
Born in June 1973, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor. Graduated from West China University of Medical Sciences in 1999 with a Doctor of Science degree. From 1999 to 2004, he successively conducted postdoctoral research at Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences and the University of Chicago in the United States. Currently, he serves as the Director of the National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, the Director of the Key Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering of the Ministry of Education, a member of the National Stem Cell Clinical Research Expert Committee, the Chairman of the Guangdong Medical Association Cell Therapy Branch, and the Deputy Secretary-General of the Stem Cell Biology Branch of the Chinese Society for Cell Biology. In 2008, he was selected for the "New Century Excellent Talents Support Program" of the Ministry of Education. In 2012, he received the 14th "Guangdong Youth May Fourth Medal". In the same year, he was selected as a national training object of the "Thousand, Hundred and Ten Project" of Guangdong Higher Education Institutions. In 2013, he was appointed as the Distinguished Professor of the "Pearl River Scholars" Program of Guangdong Higher Education Institutions. In 2014, he was funded by the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars. In 2015, he was included in the Guangdong Provincial High-level Talent Special Support Plan. In 2016, he was selected as a leading innovative talent of science and technology for middle-aged and young people by the Ministry of Science and Technology. In 2017, he was selected as a leading innovative talent in science and technology of the "National Major Talent Special Support Program". In 2019, he won the 15th Guangdong Dingying Science and Technology Award.

Academic Achievements
Important Academic Research Results and Contributions

He has long been engaged in the research of "Stem Cell Transplantation and Organ Regeneration and Repair" and has made outstanding achievements in the fields of allogeneic organ reconstruction and the treatment mechanisms and clinical transformation of mesenchymal stem cells. As the project leader, he has undertaken 1 project of the National Key R & D Program "Special Project for Stem Cells and Translational Research" (2018YFA0107200), 1 project of "Stem Cell Research and Organ Repair" (2022YFA1104100), the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, key and general projects (9 projects in total), and more than 10 provincial and ministerial-level major projects. As the corresponding author, he has published more than 70 SCI-indexed papers in journals such as Nature, Nat Commun, Hepatology, Cell Res, and J Hepatol. He has obtained 5 authorized domestic invention patents and 2 international patents. In 2018, he won the Youth Science and Technology Award of the Chinese Medical Science and Technology Award.

Main Academic Contributions:

• He systematically expounded that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) participate in tissue damage repair through differentiation (Biomaterials, 2011), paracrine (PNAS, 2017), and immunomodulation (Mol Ther., 2016, 2017) pathways. He confirmed the safety and effectiveness of MSC treatment for liver failure (Hepatology, 2017). For the first time, he discovered that CD5+ regulatory B cells may be a potential target for MSC treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease (Leukemia, 2015), laying the foundation for elucidating the treatment mechanisms of MSCs.
• He found that Nestin is an important marker of adult MSCs and plays an important role in maintaining tissue homeostasis (Nat Commun., 2018, 2019; J Hepatol., 2021). He further revealed the key role of Nestin+ MSCs in tissue damage repair (Cell Res., 2014; Biomaterials, 2015; Mol Ther., 2020), providing a new strategy for obtaining MSC functional subsets suitable for damage repair.
• He established multiple primate animal models of human diseases using gene editing technology, laying the foundation for studying the pathogenesis of related diseases and carrying out stem cell repair treatments (Nature, 2019; Cell Res., 2016; Nat Commun., 2020; Mol Psychiatry, 2018).

Academic Works and Textbooks

1. Zhang X, Wei X, Deng Y, Yuan X, Shi J, Huang W, Huang J, Chen X, Zheng S, Chen J, Chen K, Xu R, Wang H, Li W, Li S, Yi H*, Xiang AP*. Mesenchymal stromal cells alleviate acute respiratory distress syndrome through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2022 Sep 5;7(1):307. (IF:39.3)

2. Xia K#, Wang F#, Lai X#, Dong L#, Luo P, Zhang S, Yang C, Chen H, Ma Y, Huang W, Ou W, Li Y, Feng X, Yang B, Liu C, Lei Z, Tu X, Ke Q, Mao FF, Deng C, Xiang AP*. AAV-mediated gene therapy produces fertile offspring in the Lhcgr-deficient mouse model of Leydig cell failure. Cell Rep Med. 2022 Nov 15;3(11):100792. (IF:14.3)

3. Wang J#, Lai X#, Yao S#, Chen H, Cai J, Luo Y, Wang Y, Qiu Y, Huang Y, Wei X, Wang B, Lu Q, Guan Y, Wang T, Li S*, Xiang AP*. Nestin promotes pulmonary fibrosis via facilitating recycling of TGF-β receptor I. Eur Respir J. 2022 May 5;59(5):2003721. (IF:24.3)

4. Chen H#, Cai J#, Wang J#, Qiu Y, Jiang C, Wang Y, Wang Y, Yi C, Guo Lv, Pan L, Guan Y, Zheng J, Qiu D, Du C, Liu Q, Chen G, Yang Y*, Xu Y*, Xiang AP*, Zhang Q*. Targeting Nestin + hepatic stellate cells ameliorates liver fibrosis by facilitating TβRI degradation. J Hepatol. 2021 May;74(5):1176-1187. (IF:25.7)

5. Huang Y#, Wang J#, Lai X, Qiu Y, Cai J, Ma Y, Liu Y, Qiu W, Lu Z, Xiang AP*. Mesenchymal stromal cells attenuate post-stroke infection by preventing caspase-1-dependent splenic marginal zone B cell death. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2021 Feb 12;6(1):60. (IF:39.3)

6. Cai W#, Chen X#, Men X, Ruan H, Hu M, Liu S, Lu T, Liao J, Zhang B, Lu D, Huang Y, Fan P, Rao J, Lei C, Wang J, Ma X, Zhu Q, Li L, Zhu X, Hou Y, Li S, Dong Q, Tian Q, Ai L, Luo W, Zuo M, Shen L, Xie C, Song H, Xu G, Zheng K, Zhang Z, Lu Y, Qiu W, Chen T, Xiang AP*, Lu Z*. Gut microbiota from patients with arteriosclerotic CSVD induces higher IL-17A production in neutrophils via activating RORγt. Sci Adv. 2021 Jan 22;7(4):eabe4827. (IF:13.6)

7. Sun J#, Huang Y#, Gong J# , Wang J, Fan Y, Cai J , Wang Y , Qiu Y, WeiY, Xiong C, ChenJ, Wang B, Ma Y, Huang L, Chen X, Zheng S, Huang W, Ke Q, Wang T, Li X, Zhang W, Xiang AP*, Li W*. Transplantation of hPSC-derived pericyte-like cells promotes functional recovery in ischemic stroke mice. Nat Commun. 2020 Oct 15;11(1):5196. (IF:16.6)

8. Xia K#, Chen H#, Wang J#, Feng X#, Gao Y, Wang Y, Deng R, Wu C, Luo P, Zhang M, Wang C, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Liu G, Tu X, Sun X, Li W, Ke Q*, Deng C*, Xiang AP*. Restorative functions of Autologous Stem Leydig Cell transplantation in a Testosterone-deficient non-human primate model. Theranostics. 2020 Jul 9;10(19):8705-8720. (IF:12.4)

9. Liao Y#, Li G#, Zhang X#, Huang W, Xie D, Dai G, Zhu S, Lu D, Zhang Z, Lin J, Wu B, Lin W, Chen Y, Chen Z, Peng C, Wang M, Chen X*, Jiang MH*, Xiang AP*. Cardiac Cardiac Nestin + Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Enhance Healing of Ischemic Heart Through Periostin-Mediated M2 Macrophage Polarization. Mol Ther. 2020 Mar 4;28(3):855-873. (IF:12.4)

10. Wang J#, Lu Q#, Cai J#, Wang Y, Lai X, Qiu Y, Huang Y, Ke Q, Zhang Y, Guan Y, Wu H, Wang Y, Liu X, Shi Y, Zhang K, Wang M*, Peng Xiang A*. Nestin regulates cellular redox homeostasis in lung cancer through the Keap1-Nrf2 feedback loop. Nat Commun. 2019 Nov 6;10(1):5043. (IF:16.6)

11. Chen XY#, Cai C#, Xu DJ#, Liu QL, Zheng SW, Liu LS, Li G, Zhang XR, Li XP, Ma YC, Huang L, Chen JY, Shi JH, Du X, Xia WJ*, Xiang AP*, Peng YW*. Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Treated Regulatory CD23+CD43+ B Cells Alleviate Intestinal Inflammation. Theranostics. 2019;9(16):4633-4647. (IF:12.4)

12. Zhou Y#, Sharma J#, Ke Q#, Landman R#, Yuan J, Chen H, Hayden DS, Fisher JW 3rd, Jiang M, Menegas W, Aida T, Yan T, Zou Y, Xu D, Parmar S, Hyman JB, Fanucci-Kiss A, Meisner O, Wang D, Huang Y, Li Y, Bai Y, Ji W, Lai X, Li W, Huang L, Lu Z, Wang L, Anteraper SA, Sur M, Zhou H, Xiang AP*, Desimone R*, Feng G*, Yang S*. Atypical behaviour and connectivity in SHANK3-mutant macaques. Nature. 2019 Jun;570(7761):326-331. (IF:64.8)

13. Wang H#, Li D#, Zhai Z#, Zhang X, Huang W, Chen X, Huang L, Liu H, Sun J, Zou Z, Fan Y, Ke Q, Lai X, Wang T, Li X, Shen H, Xiang AP*, Li W*. Characterization and Therapeutic Application of Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Neuromesodermal Origin from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Theranostics. 2019 Feb 28;9(6):1683-1697. (IF:12.4)

14. Huang Y#, Wang J#, Cai J#, Qiu Y, Zheng H, Lai X, Sui X, Wang Y, Lu Q, Zhang Y, Yuan M, Gong J, Cai W, Liu X, Shan Y, Deng Z, Shi Y, Shu Y, Zhang L, Qiu W, Peng L, Ren J, Lu Z*, Xiang AP*. Targeted homing of CCR2-overexpressing mesenchymal stromal cells to ischemic brain enhances post-stroke recovery partially through PRDX4-mediated blood-brain barrier preservation. Theranostics. 2018 Nov 12;8(21):5929-5944. (IF:12.4)

15. Zhang Y#, Wang J#, Huang W#, Cai J, Ba J, Wang Y, Ke Q, Huang Y, Liu X, Qiu Y, Sui X, Shi Y, Wang T, Shen H, Guan Y, Zhou Y, Chen Y, Wang M*, Xiang AP*. Nuclear Nestin deficiency drives tumor senescence via lamin A/C-dependent nuclear deformation. Nat Commun. 2018 Sep 6;9(1):3613. (IF:16.6)

16. Li W#, Huang L#, Zeng J#, Lin W, Li K, Sun J, Huang W, Chen J, Wang G, Ke Q, Duan J, Lai X, Chen R, Liu M, Liu Y, Wang T, Yang X, Chen Y, Xia H*, Xiang AP*. Characterization and transplantation of enteric neural crest cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Mol Psychiatry. 2018 Mar;23(3):499-508. (IF:11)

17. Wang J#, Liu X#, Qiu Y#, Shi Y, Cai J, Wang B, Wei X, Ke Q, Sui X, Wang Y, Huang Y, Li H, Wang T, Lin R, Liu Q, Xiang AP*. Cell adhesion-mediated mitochondria transfer contributes to mesenchymal stem cell-induced chemoresistance on T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells. J Hematol Oncol. 2018 Jan 22;11(1):11. (IF:28.5)

18. Zhang X#, Huang W#, Chen X#, Lian Y, Wang J, Cai C, Huang L, Wang T, Ren J*, Xiang AP*. CXCR5-Overexpressing Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Exhibit Enhanced Homing and Can Decrease Contact Hypersensitivity. Mol Ther. 2017 Jun 7;25(6):1434-1447. (IF:12.4)

19. Lin BL, Chen JF, Qiu WH, Wang KW, Xie DY, Chen XY, Liu QL, Peng L, Li JG, Mei YY, Weng WZ, Peng YW, Cao HJ, Xie JQ, Xie SB, Xiang AP*, Gao ZL*. Allogeneic Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Hepatitis B Virus-Related Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Hepatology. 2017 Jul;66(1):209-219. (IF:13.5)

20. Qin A#, Lai DH#, Liu Q#, Huang W#, Wu YP, Chen X, Yan S, Xia H, Hide G, Lun ZR*, Ayala FJ*, Xiang AP*. Guanylate-binding Protein 1 (GBP1) Contributes to the Immunity of Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells against Toxoplasma gondii. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017 Feb 7;114(6):1365-1370. (IF:11.1)

21. Liao Y#, Lei J#, Liu M#, Lin W, Hong D, Tuo Y, Hua Jiang M, Xia H, Wang M*, Huang W*, Xiang AP*. Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Mitigate Experimental Colitis via Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein 7-mediated Immunosuppression. Mol Ther. 2016 Oct;24(10):1860-1872. (IF:12.4)

22. Ke Q#, Li W#, Lai X#, Chen H, Huang L, Kang Z, Li K, Ren J, Lin X, Zheng H, Huang W, Ma Y, Xu D, Chen Z, Song X, Lin X, Zhuang M, Wang T, Zhuang F, Xi J, Mao FF, Xia H, Lahn BT, Zhou Q*, Yang S*, Xiang AP*. TALEN-based generation of a cynomolgus monkey disease model for human microcephaly. Cell Res. 2016 Sep;26(9):1048-1061. (IF:44.1)

Awards and Honors

1. "Series of Studies on the Functional Characteristics, Therapeutic Mechanisms and Clinical Translation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells", First Prize of Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Award, 2022.
2. "Research on the Therapeutic Mechanisms and Translational Applications of Mesenchymal Stem Cells", Young Scientist Award of the Chinese Medical Science and Technology Award, 2018.
3. "Series of Studies on the Prevention and Treatment of Complications Related to Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation", Second Prize of Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Award, 2015.
4. "Series of Studies on the Prevention and Treatment of Complications Related to Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation", Second Prize of the Science and Technology Award of the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, 2016.
5. Gold Medal in the Global Finals of the International Genetically Engineered Machine Design Competition (International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition, iGEM), Best Therapeutics Project Award and Best New Composite Part Award.

Academic Positions

1. Member of the National Stem Cell Clinical Research Expert Committee.
2. Director of the National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine.
3. Director of the Key Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering of the Ministry of Education.
4. Chairman of the Guangdong Medical Association Cell Therapy Branch.
5. Director of the Guangdong Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Engineering Technology Research and Development Center.