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Jianguo Liu, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy and Immunology
Department of Internal Medicine

Professor
Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology

Courses Taught

Microbes and Host Responses (MHR); Immunobiology MBG-665

Education

M.D., Ph.D.

Research Interests

Jianguo Liu's lab has been studying transcriptional and posttranscriptional gene regulation in macrophages and T cells with a focus on how RNA-binding protein Tristetraprolin (TTP) and Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-Induced Protein 1 (MCPIP1) regulate the expression of IL-12 family cytokines in autoimmune diseases, breast cancer and tuberculosis. IL-23 plays an essential role in maintenance of IL-17–producing Th17 cells that are involved in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases. The lab found that IFN-g–mediated Th17 cell suppression functions through inhibition of IL-23 by TTP via promoting p19 mRNA degradation. The lab also found that TTP inhibits macrophage IL-27-induced activation of antitumor cytotoxic T cell responses, regulates Th17 function and ameliorates Colitis. For MCPIP1, Liu's lab found that MCPIP1 selectively destabilizes transcripts associated with an antiapoptotic gene expression program in breast cancer cells that can elicit complete tumor regression. MCPIP1 is a potent regulator for Th2 development and function, especially the IL-5/IL-13-producing Th2 cells.

Recently, the lab investigated how TTP and MCPIP1 regulate immune evasion of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and found that both RBP promote Mtbgrowth and dissemination. Currently, it is exploring the molecular mechanisms of polymorphism-associated TB susceptibility and investigating how RBPs regulate cytokine expression, cell death, and the effects on pathogen-specific T cell development, as well as identifying new targets for host-directed therapy against tuberculosis, especially the drug-resistant Mtb

Labs and Facilities

  • Edward A Doisy Research Center: 863, 861B and 858B

Publications and Media Placements

  • Jidong Zhang, Xuesong Qian, Huan Ning, Christopher S. Eickhoff, Daniel F. Hoft, and Jianguo Liu. Transcriptional suppression of interleukin-27 production by Mycobacterium tuberculosis-activated p38 MAPK via inhibition of AP-1 binding. J Immunol 2011; 186(10): 5885-95. 
  • Wenbao Lu, Huan Ning, Ling Gu, Hui Peng, Qinghong Wang, Rong Hou, Mingui Fu, Daniel F. Hoft and Jianguo Liu. MCPIP1 selectively destabilizes transcripts associated with an anti-apoptotic gene expression program in breast cancer cells that can elicit complete tumor regression. Cancer Research 2016; 15;76(6): 1429-40.
  • Qinghong Wang, Huan Ning, Hui Peng, Lin Wei, Rong Hou, Daniel F. Hoft and Jianguo Liu. Tristetraprolin inhibits macrophage IL-27-induced activation of antitumour cytotoxic T cell responses. Nature Communications 2017; 11; 8(1):867.
  • Hui Peng, Huan Ning, Qinghong Wang, Wenbao Lu, Yingzi Chang, Pappachan E. Kolattukudy, Tianyi Wang, Rong Hou, Daniel F. Hoft, Mark S. Dykewicz and Jianguo Liu. MCPIP1 controls allergic airway inflammation by suppressing IL-5-producing Th2 cells through Notch/Gata3 pathway. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2018; 142(2):582-594.
  • Hui Peng, Huan Ning, Qinghong Wang, Jinping Lai, Lin Wei, Deborah J. Stumpo, Perry J. Blackshear, Mingui Fu, Rong Hou, Daniel F. Hoft and Jianguo Liu. Tristetraprolin Regulates TH17 Cell Function and Ameliorates DSS-Induced Colitis in Mice. Front Immunol. 2020; 11: 1952. Published 2020 Aug 14. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2020.01952
  • Jiawei Wei, Huan Ning, Octavio Ramos-Espinosa, Christopher S. Eickhoff, Rong Hou, Qinghong Wang, Mingui Fu, Ethan Y. Liu, Daping Fan, Daniel F. Hoft and Jianguo Liu. Tristetraprolin mediates immune evasion of mycobacterial infection in macrophages. FASEB Bioadv 2024; 29; 6(8): 249-262.

Honors and Awards

  • The NCI Transition Career Development Award
  • Cynthia Chambers Memorial-eBiosciences Junior Faculty Award
  • President Research Awards
  • ICTS award
  • PI on many NIH grants, including R03, R21 and R01.

Professional Organizations and Associations

  • International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research
  • American Association of Immunologists
  • America Association of Cancer Research