Yanqiao Zhang, M.D.

Assistant Professor
Department of Integrative Medical Sciences
College of Medicine

Education

M.D., Wuhan University School of Medicine - 1992 

M.S., Wuhan University School of Medicine - 1995 

Professional Experience

Assistant Professor, Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio - 2008-present 

Faculty, School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent Ohio - 2008-present 

Assistant Researcher, (equivalent to Research Assistatn Professor), Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Calif. - 2005-2008 

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Calif. - 2001-2005 

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Biochemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, W.Va. - 1998-2001 

Research Associate, Department of Genetic Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Biological Products, Ministry of Public Health, China - 1995-1998

Research Interests

My laboratory is interested in understanding the role of both transcription factors and non-transcription factors in controlling lipid and carbohydrate homeostasis and obesity. We are particularly interested in the nuclear receptors FXR (farnesoid X receptor) and HNF4α (hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α). These two nuclear receptors play important roles in regulating bile acid, lipid and glucose metabolism. One of our recent research interests has been to study the role of hepatic non-transcriptional factors (such as carboxylesterase 1) in regulating lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and obesity. We have been utilizing transgenic and knockout mouse models, together with biochemical, molecular and cellular, and pharmacological approaches, to complete our studies.  

Recent Publications

Zhang, Y., Ge, X., Heemstra, L.A., Chen, W.D., Xu, J., Smith, J.L., Ma, H., Kasim, N., Edwards, P.A., Novak, C.M. 2012. Loss of FXR protects against diet-induced obesity and accelerates liver carcinogenesis in ob/ob mice. Mol Endocrinol, 26(2):272-80.

Chen, W.D., Zhang, Y. 2012. Regulation of aldo-keto reductases in human diseases. Front Pharmacol, 3:35.

Ge, X., Yin, L., Ma, H., Li, T., Chiang, J.Y.L., and Zhang, Y. 2011. Aldo-keto reductase 1B7 is a target gene of FXR and regulates lipid and glucose metabolism. Journal of Lipid Res, 2011 52(8):1561-8.  PMCID: PMC3137022.

Yin, L., Ma, H., Ge, X., Edwards, P.A., and Zhang, Y. 2011.  Hepatic HNF4α is essential for maintaining triglyceride and cholesterol homeostasis.  Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 31(2):328-36.  PMCID: PMC33079249

Zhang, Y.*, 2010.  FXR: acting through bile acids to treat metabolic disorders.  Drugs of the Future, 35(8):635-641.

Lee, F.Y., Vallim, T.Q.A., Chong, H.K., Zhang, Y., Liu, Y., Jones, S.A., Osborne, T.F., and Edwards, P.A. 2010. Activation of the farnesoid X receptor provides protection against acetaminophen-induced hepatic toxicity. Mol Endocrinol,  24(8):1626-36. PMID: 20573685.

Chong, H.K., Infante, A.M., Seo, Y.K., Jeon, T.I., Zhang, Y., Edwards, P.A., Xie, X., and Osborne, T.F.  2010. Genome-wide interrogation of hepatic FXR reveals an asymmetric IR-1 motif and synergy with LRH-1. Nucleic Acids Res, 38(18):6007-17. PMID: 20483916.

Zhang, Y., Yin, L., Anderson, J., Ma, H., Gonzalez, F.J., Willson, T.M., and Edwards, P.A. 2010.     Identification of novel pathways that control farnesoid X receptor-mediated hypocholesterolemia. J Biol  Chem 285:3035-3043. PMID: 19996107.

Li, T., Chanda, D., Zhang, Y., Choi, H.S., and Chiang, J.Y. 2009. Glucose stimulates cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase gene (CYP7A1) transcription in human hepatocytes. J Lipid Res, 51(4):832-42. PMID: 19965590.

Zhang, Y., Edwards, P.A. 2008. FXR signaling in metabolic disease.  FEBS Lett, 582(1):10-8.       PMID: 18023284.

Hubbert, M.L., Zhang, Y., Lee, F.Y., and Edwards, P.A. 2007. Regulation of hepatic Insig-2 by the farnesoid X receptor. Mol Endocrinol 21:1359-1369.  PMID: 17440045.

Lee, F.Y., Lee, H., Hubbert, M.L., Edwards, P.A., and Zhang, Y. 2006. FXR, a multipurpose nuclear receptor. Trends Biochem Sci 31:572-580. PMID: 16908160.

Zhang, Y., Wang, X., Vales, C., Lee, F.Y., Lee, H., Lusis, A.J., and Edwards, P.A. 2006. FXR deficiency  causes reduced atherosclerosis in Ldlr-/- mice. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 26:2316-2321.  PMID: 16825595.

Lee, H., Zhang, Y., Lee, F.Y., Nelson, S.F., Gonzalez, F.J., and Edwards, P.A. 2006. FXR regulates organic solute transporters alpha and beta in the adrenal gland, kidney, and intestine. J Lipid Res 47:201-214.  PMID: 16251721.

Zhang, Y., Lee, F.Y., Barrera, G., Lee, H., Vales, C., Gonzalez, F.J., Willson, T.M., and Edwards, P.A.  2006. Activation of the nuclear receptor FXR improves hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in diabetic mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 103:1006-1011. PMID: 16410358.

Anisfeld, A.M., Kast-Woelbern, H.R., Lee, H., Zhang, Y., Lee, F.Y., and Edwards, P.A. 2005. Activation of the nuclear receptor FXR induces fibrinogen expression: a new role for bile acid signaling. J Lipid Res 46:458-468.  PMID: 15604525.

Zhang, Y., Castellani, L.W., Sinal, C.J., Gonzalez, F.J., and Edwards, P.A. 2004. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1alpha (PGC-1alpha) regulates triglyceride metabolism by activation of the nuclear receptor FXR. Genes Dev 18:157-169.  PMID: 14729567.

 Zhang, Y. & Hillgartner, F.B. 2004. Starvation and feeding a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet regulates the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 in chickens. J Nutr 134, 2205-10.  PMID: 15333705.

Anisfeld, A.M., Kast-Woelbern, H.R., Meyer, M.E., Jones, S.A., Zhang, Y., Williams, K.J., Willson, T. and Edwards, P.A. 2003. Syndecan-1 expression is regulated in an isoform-specific manner by the farnesoid-X receptor. J Biol Chem 278: 20420-8.  PMID: 12660231.

Zhang, Y., Kast-Woelbern, H.R. & Edwards, P.A. 2003. Natural structural variants of the nuclear receptor farnesoid X receptor affect transcriptional activation. J Biol Chem 278, 104-10.  PMID: 12393883.

Zhang, Y., Yin, L. & Hillgartner, F.B. 2003. SREBP-1 integrates the actions of thyroid hormone, insulin, cAMP, and medium-chain fatty acids on ACCalpha transcription in hepatocytes. J Lipid Res 44, 356-68. PMID: 12576518.

Yin, L., Zhang, Y. & Hillgartner, F.B. 2002. Sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 interacts with the nuclear thyroid hormone receptor to enhance acetyl-CoA carboxylase-alpha transcription in hepatocytes. J Biol Chem 277, 19554-65.  PMID: 11907029.

Wang, Y., Zhang, Y. & Hillgartner, F.B. 2002. Chicken ovalbumin upstream-promoter transcription factor and E-box-binding proteins enhance thyroid-hormone responsiveness of the malic enzyme gene in avian hepatocytes. Biochem J  361, 391-400.  PMID: 11772412.

Zhang, Y., Yin, L. & Hillgartner, F.B. 2001. Thyroid hormone stimulates acetyl-coA carboxylase-alpha transcription in hepatocytes by modulating the composition of nuclear receptor complexes bound to a thyroid hormone response element. J Biol Chem 276, 974-83.  PMID: 11027684.

Yin, L., Zhang, Y., Charron, T. & Hillgartner, F.B. 2000. Thyroid hormone, glucagon, and medium-chain fatty acids regulate transcription initiated from promoter 1 and promoter 2 of the acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha gene in chick embryo hepatocytes. Biochim Biophys Acta 1517, 91-9.  PMID: 11118620.

Zhang, Y = Corresponding author

Books

Edwards P.A., and Zhang, Y. 2008. FXR and bile acids: critical modulators of metabolism. In Nuclear Receptors as Molecular Targets for Cardiometabolic and Central Nervous System Diseases. J.L. Junien and B. Staels, editors. IOS press, Amsterdam, Netherland. 43-49.