Faculty
Self-Introduction:
Prof. Cao focuses on the study of skeleton development and homeostasis regulation and related bone diseases (osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, etc.), mechanisms of sugar and fat metabolism, etc. She obtained her Joint PhD degree (Tianjin Medical University and University of Pittsburgh) in immunology in 2010. Then she finished her post-doc training in the University of Pittsburgh (2010-2011). In 2014, Prof. Cao joined SUSTech, now she is a tenure-track associate professor. She is a member of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, life-time member of ICMRS, etc. Prof. Cao serves as a reviewer for《Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy 》、《Bone Research》、 《Aging Cell》、《Acta Pharmacol Sin》, etc. She is a reviewer for National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). She is in charge of the NSFC-Excellent Young Scientists Fund, NSFC-General Program, NSFC-Young Scientists Fund, etc. Her work has been reported in many high-profile journals such as 《Journal of Clinical Investigation》、《Nature Communications》、 《Nature Aging》 、《Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy》、《Diabetes》、《Bone Research》 、《Journal of Biological Chemistry》、《 JCI Insight》, etc.
Research Interests：
(1) Study the mechanism of the formation of osteoblasts, osteoclasts and chondrocytes during skeletal development and steady state maintenance under physiological and pathological conditions;
(2) Study the role of adhesion proteins (such as Kindlin-2, Migfilin, Pinch1/2) in skeletal development and homeostasis；
(3) Study on the regulatory mechanisms of glucose and fat metabolism;
(4) Study on the mutual regulation of bone and extra-bone tissues and organs.
Professional Experience：
2010.07- 2011.08 University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Post-Doc
2014.11- 2016.12 Dept of Biology, SUSTech Lecturer
2017.01- 2020.02 Dept of Biology, SUSTech Research associate professor
2020.03-2021-03 School of Medicine, SUSTech Research associate professor
2021.04- School of Medicine, SUSTech Research Fellow
Educational Background：
1999.09-2004.07 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Tianjin Medical University MD
2004.09-2010.07 Joint Training Program of Chinese and American Doctor PhD
Honors & Awards：
2016 ASBMR Young Investigator Travel Grant, 2016 Plenary Poster，ASBMR 2016 Annual Meeting, September 16-19, 2016, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
2012 Chinese National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation nomination.（Only 278 dissertations were nominated in 2012） “Activating transcription factor 4 regulates osteoclast differentiation in mice”, Chinese Ministry of Education, 2012
2012 Excellent Doctoral Dissertation Award. Tianjin city, China, 2012
2011 ASBMR Young Investigator Award, 2011. ASBMR (American Society for Bone and Mineral Research) annual meeting, 2011, San Diego, California, USA
2011 Young Investigator Award. 9th International Conference on Bone and Mineral Research (ICBMR) & 11th International Osteoporosis Symposium, 2011, Nanjing, China
2010 Excellent PhD Graduate Award. Tianjin medical university, China, 2010
Publications:
1. Yu S., Franceschi R.T., Luo M., Fan J., Jiang D., Cao H., Kwon T.G., Lai Y., Zhang J., Patrene K., Hankenson K., Roodman G.D., and Xiao G., Critical role of activating transcription factor 4 in the anabolic actions of parathyroid hormone in bone. PLoS One, 2009. 4(10): p. e7583. PMCID: PMC2762317
2. Cao H.#, Yu S.#, Yao Z., Galson D.L., Jiang Y., Zhang X., Fan J., Lu B., Guan Y., Luo M., Lai Y., Zhu Y., Kurihara N., Patrene K., Roodman G.D., and Xiao G., Activating transcription factor 4 regulates osteoclast differentiation in mice. J Clin Invest, 2010. 120(8): p. 2755-66. PMCID: PMC2912190
3. Yang S., Xu H., Yu S., Cao H., Fan J., Ge C., Fransceschi R.T., Dong H.H., and Xiao G., Foxo1 mediates insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1)/insulin regulation of osteocalcin expression by antagonizing Runx2 in osteoblasts. J Biol Chem, 2011. 286(21): p. 19149-58. PMID: 21471200.
4. Xiao G.#*, Cheng H.#, Cao H.#, Chen K., Tu Y., Yu S., Jiao H., Yang S., Im H.J., Chen D., Chen J.*, and Wu C.*, Critical role of filamin-binding LIM protein 1 (FBLP-1)/migfilin in regulation of bone remodeling. J Biol Chem, 2012. 287(25): p. 21450-60. PMID: 2255642.
5. Teramachi J., Hiruma Y., Ishizuka S., Ishizuka H., Brown J.P., Michou L., Cao H., Galson D.L., Subler M.A., Zhou H., Dempster D.W., Windle J.J., Roodman G.D., and Kurihara N., Role of ATF7-TAF12 interactions in the vitamin D response hypersensitivity of osteoclast precursors in Paget’s disease. J Bone Miner Res, 2013. 28(6): p. 1489-50. PMID:23426901
6. Zhu K., Jiao H., Li S., Cao H., Galson D.L., Zhao Z., Zhao X., Lai Y., Fan J., Im H.J., Chen D., and Xiao G., ATF4 promotes bone angiogenesis by increasing VEGF expression and release in the bone environment. J Bone Miner Res, 2013. 28(9): p. 1870-1884. PMID:23649506
7. Cao H., Zhu K., Qiu L., Li S., Niu H., Hao M., Yang S., Zhao Z., Lai Y., Anderson J.L., Fan J., Im H.J., Chen D., Roodman G.D., and Xiao G., Critical role of AKT protein in myeloma-induced osteoclast formation and osteolysis. J Biol Chem, 2013. 288(42): p. 30399-410. PMID:24005670
8. Qin T.T., Xu G.C., Qi J.W., Yang G.L., Zhang K., Liu H.L., Xu L.X., Xiang R., Xiao G., Cao H., Wei Y., Zhang Q.Z., and Li L.Y., Tumour necrosis factor superfamily member 15 (Tnfsf15) facilitates lymphangiogenesis via up-regulation of Vegfr3 gene expression in lymphatic endothelial cells. J Pathol, 237(3): p. 307-18. PMID: 26096340
9. Wu C. #*, Jiao H.#, Lai Y.#, Zheng W., Chen K., Qu H., Deng W., Song P., Zhu K., Cao H., Galson D.L., Fan J., Im H.J., Liu Y., Chen J., Chen D., and Xiao G.*, Kindlin-2 controls TGF-beta signalling and Sox9 expression to regulate chondrogenesis. Nat Commun, 2015. 6: p. 7531. PMID: 26151572
10. Yang X., Xia R., Yue C., Zhai W., Du W., Yang Q., Cao H., Chen X., Obando D., Zhu Y., Chen X., Chen J.J., Piganelli J., Wipf P., Jiang Y., Xiao G., Wu C., Jiang J., and Lu B., ATF4 Regulates CD4(+) T Cell Immune Responses through Metabolic Reprogramming. Cell Rep, 23(6): p. 1754-1766. PMID:29742431
11. Xu H, Cao H, Xiao G. Signaling via PINCH: functions, binding partners and implications in human diseases. Gene. 2016 Aug 30. PMID: 27590440
12. 曹惠玲, 楊瑋，肖國(guó)芝 (2018): 軟骨細(xì)胞.《骨發(fā)育與骨疾病的現(xiàn)代研究》(書(shū)號(hào)：ISBN 978-7-313-20582-7, Book chapter)
13. Gao H.#, Guo Y.#, Yan Q.#, Yang W., Li R., Lin S., Bai X., Liu C., Chen D., Cao H.*, and Xiao G.*, Lipoatrophy and metabolic disturbance in mice with adipose-specific deletion of kindlin-2. JCI Insight, 2019. 4(13). PMID:31292295
14. Cao H#*, Xiao G* (2018): Kindlin Signaling and Bone. 《Encyclopedia of Bone Biology 》(Book chapter) by Dr. Mone Zaidi et al. Available online 29 July 2019. ISBN 978-0-12-814081-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.11176-6
15. Wang Y., Yan Q., Zhao Y., Liu X., Lin S., Zhang P., Ma L., Lai Y., Bai X., Liu C., Wu C., Feng J.Q., Chen D., Cao H.*, and Xiao G.*, Focal adhesion proteins Pinch1 and Pinch2 regulate bone homeostasis in mice. JCI Insight, 2019. 4(22). PMID: 31723057
16. Cao H.#*, Yan Q.#, Wang D.#, Lai Y., Zhou B., Zhang Q., Jin W., Lin S., Lei Y., Ma L., Guo Y., Wang Y., Wang Y., Bai X., Liu C., Feng J.Q., Wu C., Chen D., Cao X., and Xiao G.*, Focal adhesion protein Kindlin-2 regulates bone homeostasis in mice. Bone Research, 2020. 8(1): p. 2. PMID: 31934494.
17. Qin Lei, Liu Wen. Cao Huiling*, Xiao Guozhi*. Molecular mechanosensors in osteocytes. Bone Res. 8, 23 (2020, Jun). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41413-020-0099-y.
18. Zhu K., Lai Y., Cao H., Bai X., Liu C., Yan Q., Ma L., Chen D., Kanaporis G., Wang J., Li L., Cheng T., Wang Y., Wu C.*, and Xiao G.*, Kindlin-2 modulates MafA and β-catenin expression to regulate β-cell function and mass in mice. Nat Commun, 2020. 11(1): p. 484. PMID: 31980627
19. Chen S., Qin L., Wu X., Fu X., Lin S., Chen D., Xiao G., Shao Z.*, and Cao H.*, Moderate Fluid Shear Stress Regulates Heme Oxygenase-1 Expression to Promote Autophagy and ECM Homeostasis in the Nucleus Pulposus Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol, 2020. 8: p. 127. PMID: 32195253
20. Yiming Lei#, Xuekun Fu#, Pengyu Li#, Sixiong Lin, Qinnan Yan, Yumei Lai, Xin Liu, Yishu Wang, Xiaochun Bai, Chuanju Liu, Di Chen, Huiling Cao*, Guozhi Xiao*. LIM domain proteins Pinch1/2 regulate chondrogenesis and bone mass in mice. Bone Research, Oct 13, 2020, 8(37). DOI:1038/s41413-020-00108-y.
21. Fu X.#, Zhou B.#, Yan Q.#, Tao C., Qin L., Wu X., Lin S., Chen S., Lai Y., Zou X., Shao Z., Wang M., Chen D., Jin W., Song Y., Cao H.*, Zhang G.*, Xiao G.*-, Kindlin-2 regulates skeletal homeostasis by modulating PTH1R in mice. Signal Transduct Target Ther. Dec 26, 2020, 5(1). DOI: 1038/s41392-020-00328-y.
22. Qin L, He T, Chen S, Cao H*, Xiao G*. Role of mechanosensitive channel Piezo1/2 proteins in skeleton and other tissues. Bone Res. 9:44 (2021, Oct) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41413-021-00168-8
23. Lei Qin, Xuekun Fu, Jing Ma, Manxia Lin, Peijun Zhang, Yishu Wang, Qingnan Yan, Chu Tao, Wen Liu, Bing Tang, Di Chen, Xiaochun Bai*, Huiling Cao*, Guozhi Xiao*. Kindlin-2 mediates mechanotransduction in bone by regulating expression of Sclerostin in osteocytes. Communications Biology, Mar 25, 2021,4(1). DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01950-4.
24. Lei Qin, Dazhi Yang, Weihong Yi*, Huiling Cao*, Guozhi Xiao*. Roles of leader and follower cells in the collective cell migration. Mol Biol Cell, Jul 1, 2021, 32(14). DOI: 1091/mbc. E20-10-0681.
25. Huanqing Gao#, Yiming Zhong#, Zhen Ding#, Sixiong Lin#, Xiaoting Hou, Wanze Tang, Xiaoqian Zhou, Xuenong Zou, Jie Shao, Fan Yang, Xiaochun Bai, Chuanju Liu, Huiling Cao*, Guozhi Xiao*. Pinch loss ameliorates obesity, glucose intolerance and fatty liver by modulating adipocyte apoptosis in mice. Diabetes, 2021 Nov;70(11):2492-2505. doi: 10.2337/db21-0392
26. Sheng Chen, Mingjue Chen, Xiaohao Wu, Sixiong Lin, Chu Tao, Huiling Cao*, Zengwu Shao*, Guozhi Xiao*. Global, regional and national burden of low back pain 1990-2019: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study J Orthop Translat. 2022, Jan.
27. Sheng Chen, Xiaohao Wu, Yumei Lai, Di Chen, Xiaochun Bai, Sheng Liu, Yongchao Wu, Huiling Cao*, Zengwu Shao*, Guozhi Xiao*. Kindlin-2 inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation in nucleus pulposus to maintain homeostasis of the intervertebral disc. Bone Res., Jan 10, 2022, 10 (5). Doi: 10.1038/s41413-021-00179-5
28. Xiaohao Wu, Yumei Lai, Sheng Chen, Chunlei Zhou, Chu Tao, Xuekun Fu, Jun Li, Jian Huang, Wei Tong, Hongtao Tian, Zengwu Shao, Chuanju Liu, Di Chen, Xiaochun Bai*, Huiling Cao*, Guozhi Xiao*. Kindlin-2 preserves integrity of the articular cartilage to protect against osteoarthritis. Nature Aging, Feb 10, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-021-00165-w
29. Lei Qin1#, Nian Liu1#, Chaolemeng Bao2#, Dazhi Yang1, Guixing Ma3, Weihong Yi1*, Guozhi Xiao3*, Huiling Cao3*, Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Fibrotic Diseases – the two sides of the same coin. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica (2022) 0:1–20; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41401-022-00952-0
30. Sorour Sadeghzade, Jingyi Liu, Huiru Wang, Xin Li, Jinrui Cao, Huiling Cao, BinTang, Hongyan Yuan. Recent advances on bioactive baghdadite ceramic for bone tissue engineering applications: 20 years of research and innovation (a review). Materials Today Bio, Oct 25, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtbio.2022.100473
31. Huanqing Gao1#, Liang Zhou2#, Yiming Zhong1#, Zhen Ding1#, Sixiong Lin1,3, Xiaoting Hou1, Xiaoqian Zhou4, Jie Shao5, Fan Yang5, Xuenong Zou3, Huiling Cao1*, Guozhi Xiao1*, Kindlin-2 haploinsufficiency protects against fatty liver by targeting Foxo1 in mice, Nat Commun, Feb 23, 13:1025 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-28692-z.
32. Zhengwei Liu1#, Wanze Tang1#, Jiayi Liu2#, Yingying Han1, Qinnan Yan1, Yuechao Dong1, Xiaomei Liu1a, Dazhi Yang3, Guixing Ma1*, Huiling Cao1*, A novel sprayable thermosensitive hydrogel coupled with zinc modified metformin promotes the healing of skin wound. Bioact Mater, volume 20, February 2023, Pages 610-626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.06.008
33. Huanqing Gao#, Yiming Zhong#, Liang Zhou#, Sixiong Lin#, Xiaoting Hou#, Zhen Ding, Yan Li, Qing Yao, Huiling Cao, Xuenong Zou, Di Chen, Xiaochun Bai, Guozhi Xiao. Kindlin-2 inhibits TNF/NF-κB-Caspase 8 pathway in hepatocytes to maintain liver development and function. 2023 Jan 9;12:e81792. doi: 10.7554/eLife.81792.
34. Wanze Tang1#, Zhen Ding1#, Huanqing Gao1#, Qinnan Yan1#, Jingping Liu2, Yingying Han1, Xiaoting Hou1, Zhengwei Liu1, Litong Chen1, Dazhi Yang1*, Guixing Ma1*, Huiling Cao1*, Targeting Kindlin-2 in adipocytes increases bone mass through inhibiting Fas/PPARγ/Fabp4 signaling in mice. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B. Jul 07, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsb.2023.07.001.
35. Yuechao DONG1#, Yangshan CHEN1#, Guixing MA1, Huiling CAO1*. The role of E3 ubiquitin ligases in bone homeostasis and related diseases. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B. Jul 06, 2023. doi: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.06.016.
36. Yuechao DONG1#, Xiaoting HOU1#, Yingying HAN1, Zhen DING1, Wanze TANG1, Yangshan CHEN1, Kaosheng Lv1, Guixing Ma1* and Huiling CAO1*. Kindlin-2 controls angiogenesis through modulating Notch1 signaling.Cell Mol Life Sci. October 2023. 13(10): 3963-3987. doi: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.06.016.
37. Xiaoting Hou1#, Yangshan Chen1#, Bo Zhou1, Wanze Tang1,1a, Zhen Ding1, Litong Chen1, Wei Pang1, Yun Wu2, Hongyu Yang2, Changzheng Du1, Dazhi Yang1a, Guixing Ma1*, and Huiling Cao1*. Talin-1 inhibits Smurf1-mediated Stat3 degradation to modulate β-cell proliferation and mass in mice. Cell Death & Disease, Oct 31, 2023. 14 (10) Pages 709-723, DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06235-8.
38. Tailin He1#, Bo Zhou1#, Guohuan Sun2#, Qinnan Yan1, Sixiong Lin3, Guixing Ma1, Qing Yao1, Xiaohao Wu1, Yiming Zhong1, Donghao Gan1, Shaochuan Huo4, Wenfei Jin5, Di Chen6, Xiaochun Bai7*, Tao Cheng2*, Huiling Cao1*, Guozhi Xiao1*. The bone-liver interaction modulates immune and hematopoietic function through Pinch-Cxcl12-Mbl2 pathway. Cell Death & Differentiation. 2023 Dec 07. doi: 1038/s41418-023-01243-9.
39. Yun Wu, Huan Jing, Yicun Li, Mengqing Li, yating Zheng, Yuntao Lin, Guixing Ma, Huiling Cao*, Hongyu Yang*. NOR1 promotes the osteoblastic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells via TGF-β signaling pathway. Cell Mol Life Sci.2024 Aug 9;81(1):338.
40. Yong Chen, Botao Guo, Guixing Ma*, Huiling Cao*. Sensory nerve regulation of bone homeostasis: emerging therapeutic opportunities for bone-related diseases. Ageing Res Rev. 2024 Jun 14:102372. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102372.
41. Zhen Ding#, Guixing Ma#*, Bo Zhou, Siyuan Cheng, Wanze Tang, Yingying Han, Litong Chen, Wei Pang, Yangshan Chen, Dazhi Yang, Huiling Cao*. Targeting miR-29 mitigates skeletal senescence and bolsters therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stromal cells. Cell Reports Medicine. 2024 Aug 20;5(8):101665.
42. Guixing Ma1#*, Yingying Han1#, Wanze Tang1a, Bo Zhou1, Litong Chen1, Zhen Ding1, Siyuan Cheng1, Di Chen2*, Huiling Cao1*.Endothelial-to-Osteoblast Conversion maintains bone homeostasis through Kindlin-2/Piezo1/TGFβ/Runx2 axis.Protein & cell. 2024 Dec 2:pwae066. doi: 10.1093/procel/pwae066.
43. Guixing Ma#, Siyuan Cheng#, Yingying Han#, Wanze Tang, Wei Pang, Litong Chen, Zhen Ding, Huiling Cao1*.The p53-miR17 family-Rankl axis bridges liver-bone communication. Molecular Therapy.2024, 33 (2), 631-648.
44. Bo Zhou#, Hongwen Huang#, Zhen Ding#, Kaiwen Luo, Yangshan Chen, Yingying Han, Wei Pang, Wanze Tang, Litong Chen, Wenfei Jin*, Guixing Ma*, Huiling Cao*.Unveiling two distinct osteolineage cell populations linked to age-related osteoporosis in adult mice through integrative single-cell analyses. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 2025, 82.106.
Patents:
1. 專利號(hào)：ZL 2017 1 0180991.X，發(fā)明專利，名稱：Kindlin-2蛋白作為靶點(diǎn)在制備治療糖尿病的藥物中的應(yīng)用，發(fā)明人：肖國(guó)芝，曹惠玲，授權(quán)日期：2020-04-28，公告（公開(kāi)）日期：2017-09-01。
2. 專利號(hào)：ZL 2017 1 0169753.9，發(fā)明專利，名稱：Kindlin-2蛋白作為靶點(diǎn)在制備治療腎炎的藥物中的應(yīng)用，發(fā)明人：肖國(guó)芝，曹惠玲，授權(quán)日期：2020-07-31，公告（公開(kāi)）日期：2017-09-08。
3. 專利號(hào)：ZL 2017 1 0170718.9，發(fā)明專利，名稱：Kindlin-2蛋白作為靶點(diǎn)在制備治療骨性關(guān)節(jié)炎的藥物中的應(yīng)用，發(fā)明人：肖國(guó)芝，曹惠玲，授權(quán)日期：2020-07-31，公告（公開(kāi)）日期：2017-09-08。
4. 專利申請(qǐng)?zhí)枺?021101129689，發(fā)明專利，名稱：抑制肝細(xì)胞中Kindlin-2蛋白表達(dá)量的試劑在制備治療脂肪肝產(chǎn)品中的應(yīng)用，發(fā)明人：肖國(guó)芝，曹惠玲，高煥慶，實(shí)審階段，申請(qǐng)日期：2021/1/27。
5. 專利申請(qǐng)?zhí)枺?02210513385.6，發(fā)明專利，名稱：一種水凝膠噴霧及其制備方法與應(yīng)用，發(fā)明人：曹惠玲，馬貴興，劉正偉，實(shí)審，申請(qǐng)日期：2022/05/12。
6. 專利號(hào)：ZL 2022 1 1211629.1，Kindlin-2作為靶點(diǎn)在皮膚創(chuàng)傷修復(fù)中的應(yīng)用，發(fā)明人：曹惠玲，馬貴興，申請(qǐng)日期：2022-09-30，授權(quán)公告日：2023-12-01。
7. 專利申請(qǐng)?zhí)枺?02210877899X，Kindlin-2作為靶點(diǎn)在治療骨質(zhì)疏松及預(yù)防癌癥骨轉(zhuǎn)移中的應(yīng)用，發(fā)明人：曹惠玲，馬貴興，實(shí)審階段，申請(qǐng)日期：2022/07/25。
8. 專利申請(qǐng)?zhí)枺?02310435009.4，抑制脂肪細(xì)胞中 Kindlin-2 蛋白表達(dá)的試劑在制備治療關(guān)節(jié)炎產(chǎn)品中的應(yīng)用，發(fā)明人：曹惠玲，馬貴興，實(shí)審階段，公告（公開(kāi)）日期：2023-07-21。
Contacts：
School of Medicine
Office 205, Hui Yuan Building 5
Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech)
Zip code: 518055
Email: [email protected]