Faculty

 

 

 

Lei Wang
PhD, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,
University of California, Los Angeles, 2000

Research Assistant Professor

Phone (785) 532-4540

E-mail: leiwang@vet.k-state.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research Interests:

The long-term goal of our research is to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in brain tumor development. Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumor in adults and are very aggressive, invasive and destructive malignancies. They often escape current therapeutic modalities including combinations of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Recent studies suggest that gliomas contain a small population of cells with potent tumorigenesis and stem cell characteristics. These glioma stem cells (GSCs) may be responsible for the initiation and recurrence of gliomas. Targeting GSCs may offer better therapeutic strategies that could translate into much better patient survival.

My current research focuses on the regulatory effects of inflammatory cytokines on GSC development. Inflammatory cytokines are highly active in high-grade gliomas and elevated cytokines correlate with poor glioma patient survival. In collaboration with Dr. Deryl Troyer, we are studying the activities of inflammatory cytokines in GSCs and their regulatory control on GSC development. Our research may identify novel therapeutic targets on GSCs for effective treatment of gliomas.

 

Selected Publications:

Lei Wang*, Jishu Shi, Frederik W. van Ginkel, Liqiong Lan, Glenn Niemeyer, Douglas R. Martin, Evan Y. Snyder, and Nancy R. Cox*. (2009) Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells Modulate Immune Responses by Suppressing T Lymphocytes with Nitric Oxide and Prostaglandin E2. Experimental Neurology 216:177-183. * Corresponding authors.

Lei Wang, Douglas R. Martin, Henry J. Baker, Kurt R. Zinn, John C. Kappes, Haitao Ding, Atoska S. Gentry, Scarlett Harper, Evan Y. Snyder, and Nancy R. Cox (2007) Neural progenitor cell transplantation and imaging in a large animal model. Neuroscience Research 59:327-340.

Jishu Shi, Shelly Aono, Wuyuan Lu, Andre J. Ouellette, Xueyou Hu, Yingbiao Ji, Lei Wang, Stephen Lenz, Frederik W. van Ginkel, Mark Liles, Christine Dykstra, Edward E. Morrison, and Charles O. Elson. (2007) A novel role for defensins in intestinal homeostasis: regulation of IL-1beta secretion. The Journal of Immunology 179:1245-1253.

Lei Wang, Stephanie S. Watowich, and Bernard G. Forget (2005) Cytokine signals through Stat3 promote expression of secondary granule proteins in 32D Cells. Experimental Hematology 33:308-317.

Lei Wang and Jay D. Gralla. (2001) Roles for the C-terminal region of Sigma 54 in transcriptional silencing and DNA-binding. Journal of Biological Chemistry 276:8979-8986.

Lei Wang, Yuli Guo, and Jay D. Gralla. (1999). Regulation of Sigma 54-dependent transcription by core promoter sequences: role of -12-region nucleotides. Journal of Bacteriology 181: 7558-7565.

Yuli Guo, Lei Wang, and Jay D. Gralla. (1999). A fork junction DNA-protein switch that controls promoter melting by the bacterial enhancer-dependent sigma factor. EMBO Journal 18:3736-3745.

Chareonpornwattana, S., K.V. Thara, L. Wang, S.K. Datta, W. Panbangred, and S. Muththukrishnan. (1999). Inheritance, expression, and silencing of a chitinase transgene in rice. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 98:371-378.

Lei Wang and Jay D. Gralla. (1998). Multiple in vivo roles of the -12-region elements of Sigma 54 promoters. Journal of Bacteriology 180:5626-5631.

Roberts, C. A., S. M. Marek, L. Wang, and A. L. Karr. (1994). Determination of chitinase activity in tall fescue by near infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Crop Science 34:1070-1073.