Prof. Guan Yang joined the City University of Hong Kong in July 2021 as an Assistant Professor in Immunology in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health.
Prof. Yang owned his Ph.D. in Animal Molecular & Cellular Biology from the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, specializing in swine immunology under the mentorship of Dr. John Driver. The major focus of his Ph.D. work was aimed at characterizing the phenotypic and functional properties of natural killer T cells in pigs and evaluating their contribution to viral immunity. He then received postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. Luc Van Kaer at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, where he studied the role of autophagy in immune cell function particularly in the context of autoimmune diseases.
Prof. Yang’s research program aims to investigate the complex interplay between the environment, immune, and metabolic systems within the framework of One Health. To achieve this goal, his group employs in vivo mouse models and in vitro cell culture to examine the intricate interaction among metabolites, microorganisms, and immune function. Prof. Yang’s ultimate objective is to identify innovative strategies that can lead to the discovery of therapeutic targets for human diseases. To accomplish this, Prof. Yang’s group leverages a range of cutting-edge techniques and interdisciplinary strategies.
Wang H, Xu Q, Heng H, Zhao WX, Ni HYH, Chen KC, Chan KW, Tang Y, Xie MM, Peng MX, Chan WC, Yang G*, Chen S*. High mortality of Acinetobacter baumannii infection is attributed to macrophage-mediated induction of cytokine storm but preventable by naproxen. eBioMedicine. 2024 Oct. doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105340
Jiang QL, Duan J, Van Kaer L, Yang G*. The role of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in multiple sclerosis and its animal model. Aging Dis. 2024 May 7;15(3):1329-1343. doi: 10.14336/AD.2023.0323-1
Wang CL, Chen QY, Chen SY, Fan LJ, Gan ZD, Zhao MY, Shi LX, Bin P, Yang G, Zhou XH, Ren WK*. Serine synthesis sustains macrophage IL-1β production via NAD+-dependent protein acetylation. Mol Cell. 2024 Feb 15;84(4):744-759.e6
Jiang QL, Ma X, Zhu GC, Si W, He LY, Yang G*. Altered T cell development in an animal model of multiple sclerosis. Exp Neurol. 2024 Jan:371:114579.
Xu Q, Xie MM, Liu XX, Heng H, Wang H, Yang C, Chan EW, Zhang R, Yang G*, Chen S*. Molecular mechanisms underlying the high mortality of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae and its effective therapy development. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2023 May 30;8(1):221. doi: 10.1038/s41392-023-01490-9.
Song WQ, Postoak JL, Yang G, Guo XY, Pua HH, Bader J, Rathmell JC, Kobayashi H, Haase VH, Leaptrot KL, Schrimpe-Rutledge AC, Sherrod SD, McLean JA, Zhang JH, Wu L, Van Kaer L*. Lipid kinase PIK3C3 maintains healthy brown and white adipose tissues to prevent metabolic diseases. PNAS. 2023 Jan 3;120(1):e2214874120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2214874120.
Fu J, Han ZY, Wu ZB, Xia YY, Yang G, Yin YL*, Ren WK*. GABA regulates IL-1β production in macrophages. Cell Rep. 2022 Dec 6;41(10):111770. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111770.
Postoak JL, Song WQ, Yang G, Guo XY, Xiao SY, Saffold C, Zhang JH, Joyce S, Manley, N, Wu L, Van Kaer L*. Thymic epithelial cells require lipid kinase Vps34 for CD4 but not CD8 T cell selection. J Exp Med. 2022 Oct 3;219(10):e20212554
Yang G*, Xu Q, Chen S*. Neutrophil function in hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae infection. Lancet Microbe. 2022 Apr;3(4):e248.
Yang G, Postoak JL, Song WQ, Martinez J, Zhang JH, Wu L, Van Kaer L. Dendritic cell-specific PIK3C3/VPS34 controls the pathogenicity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis independently of LC3-associated phagocytosis. Autophagy.2022 Jan; 18(1):161-170
Yang G, Song WQ, Xu JL, Postoak JL, Cheng FX, Martinez J, Zhang JH, Wu L, Van Kaer L. Pik3c3-deficiency in myeloid cells imparts partial resistance to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis associated with reduced IL-1β production. Cell. Mol. Immunol. 2021 Aug;18(8):2024-2039.
Yang G, Song WQ, Postoak JL, Chen J, Martinez J, Zhang JH, Wu L, Van Kaer L. Autophagy-related protein Vps34 controls T cell metabolism and function. Autophagy. 2021; 17(5): 1193–1204.
Wu L, Rajeev D, Cao C, Postoak JL, Yang G, Zhang QK, Wang ZZ, Lal H, Van Kaer L. IL-10-producing B cells are enriched in murine pericardial adipose tissues and ameliorate the outcome of acute myocardial infarction. PNAS. 2019 116 (43) 21673-21684