Yuling Chi, Ph.D.

Prostaglandins (PGs) are found in virtually all tissues and organs. They are autocrine and paracrine lipid mediators that act upon platelet, endothelium, uterine and mast cells, and diverse immune cells. The biological signals and physiological events they trigger range from pain and inflammation, to vasodilation and urinary sodium excretion, and to cell growth and angiogenesis. Our laboratory has been focusing on the investigation of the role of prostaglandin transporter (PGT) in vascular biology and wound healing under physiological and pathological conditions including cardiovascular disorders and diabetes. We have developed both chemical and genetic tools to characterize the functions of PGT as a mediator of PG transport and a regulator of PG metabolism and signaling. We have identified and developed a potent inhibitor of PGT by high throughput screening and subsequent structure-relation studies of synthetic small molecules. We have found that PGT regulates angiogenesis in wound healing. Inhibition of PGT accelerates wound healing in diabetes. We are currently investigating the role of PGT in inflammation during wound healing. We will further elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which PGT modulates inflammation and angiogenesis in wound healing.

Recently we have initiated a new project, identification, evaluation and examination of natural compounds in modulation of metabolic syndromes including obesity and diabetes, and elucidation of the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which those natural compounds improve those pathological conditions. We have identified two natural compounds that can prevent diet induced obesity and its related pathological conditions such as perturbed glucose homeostasis.  These two compounds mitigate high fat diet induced body weight gain by stimulating glycolysis and biogenesis. Currently we are investigating the protein, carbohydrate and lipid profiles that are modulated by these natural compounds by utilizing mass spectrometry and bioinformatic analysis.

.