Positions
- Associate Professor
-
Pediatrics-Nutrition, Medicine, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX US
- Member
-
Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas United States
- Associate Professor
-
Children's Nutrition Research Center
Houston, Texas United States
- Associate Professor
-
Medicine
Diabetes and Endocrinology
BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
Houston, Texas United States
- Associate Professor
-
Molecular Physiology & Biophysics
BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
Houston, Texas United States
Education
- PhD from Ohio State University
- 06/1997 - Columbus, OH United States
- BS from University Of Science and Technology of China
- 06/1987 - Hefei, Anhui China
- MS from Shanghai Institute Of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Science
- 06/1990 - Shanghai, Shanghai China
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Harvard School of Public Health
- 10/2002 - Boston, Massachusetts United States
Professional Interests
- Molecular mechanism of life span extension by caloric restriction
- Adipose formation and function during obesity and diabetes
- Muscle, heart and liver metabolism
Professional Statement
The main focus of our research is to study the molecular mechanism of caloric restriction, which extends animal life span and reduces the onset of obesity, diabetes, cancer, neurodegeneration and cardiovascular diseases. The study of the molecular mechanism of caloric restriction may lead to pharmaceutical treatments that may mimic caloric restriction’s beneficial effects. Sir2 gene, which encodes a NAD+-dependent protein deacetylase, was reported to mediate the effect of caloric restriction in yeast. We have demonstrated that the expressions of two of the seven mammalian Sir2 homologues, SIRT2 and SIRT3, are up-regulated in response to dietary restriction, cold exposure and oxidative stress. We have illustrated the molecular mechanism of SIRT2’s action in oxidative stress resistance and the inhibition of adipocyte formation. We have also shown how SIRT3 activates adaptive thermogenesis program in brown adipose tissue and how SIRT3 regulates glucose disposal and fat oxidation in skeletal muscle. To understand the underlying molecular mechanisms, we have identified several substrate proteins for SIRT2 and SIRT3. Research is under way to investigate the actions of sirtuins in gain or loss-of-function animal models.Another research direction we take is to study the development of adipose tissue and its changes during obesity. By investigating how mature adipocytes are derived from multi-potent precursor cells, we can gain insight into obesity prevention. In addition, by studying how factors produced by adipocytes and adipose tissue influence whole body metabolism, we may learn how obesity causes insulin resistance and subsequent type-2 diabetes. We have revealed that the expression of the PU.1 transcription factor is increased by obesity in visceral but not subcutaneous adipose tissues. We further found that in adipocytes, PU.1 up-regulates the generation of free radicals and pro-inflammatory cytokines to suppress insulin signaling. We are currently exploring the possibility to ameliorate obesity-associated metabolic dysfunction by targeting the PU.1 pathway.
Websites
Selected Publications
- Mukherjee S, Mo J, Paolella LM, Perry CE, Toth J, Hugo MM, Chu Q, Tong Q, Chellappa K, Baur JA "SIRT3 is required for liver regeneration but not for the beneficial effect of nicotinamide riboside." JCI Insight. 2021 April 8; 6 (7): e147193. Pubmed PMID: 33690226
- Liu Z, Liu H, He J, Lin P, Tong Q, Yang J "Myeloma cells shift osteoblastogenesis to adipogenesis by inhibiting the ubiquitin ligase MURF1 in mesenchymal stem cells." Sci Signal. 2020 May 26; 13 (633): eaay8203. Pubmed PMID: 32457115
- Li X, Yang L, Mao Z, Pan X, Zhao Y, Gu X, Eckel-Mahan K, Zuo Z, Tong Q, Hartig SM, Cheng X, Du G, Moore DD, Bellen HJ, Sesaki H, Sun K "Novel role of dynamin-related-protein 1 in dynamics of ER-lipid droplets in adipose tissue." FASEB J.. 2020 June ; 34 (6): 8265-8282. Pubmed PMID: 32294302
- Zhang T, Liu J, Shen S, Tong Q, Ma X, Lin L "SIRT3 promotes lipophagy and chaperon-mediated autophagy to protect hepatocytes against lipotoxicity." Cell Death Differ. 2020 January ; 27 (1): 329-344. Pubmed PMID: 31160717
- Zhang T, Liu J, Tong Q, Lin L "SIRT3 Acts as a Positive Autophagy Regulator to Promote Lipid Mobilization in Adipocytes via Activating AMPK." Int J Mol Sci. 2020 January 7; 21 (2): 372. Pubmed PMID: 31936019
- Liu H, He J, Koh SP, Zhong Y, Liu Z, Wang Z, Zang Y, Li Z, Tam BT, Lin P, Xiao M, Young kH, Amini B, Starbuck MW, Lee HC, Navone NM, Davis RE, Tong Q, Bergsagel PL, Hou J, Yi Q, Orlowski RZ, Gagel RF, Yang J. "Reprogrammed marrow adipocytes contribute to myeloma-induced bone disease." Sci Transl Med. 2019 May 29; 11 (494): eaaau9087. Pubmed PMID: 31142679
- Sebaa R, Johnson J, Pileggi C, Norgren M, Xuan J, Sai Y, Tong Q, Krystkowiak I, Bondy-Chorney E, Davey NE, Krogan N, Downey M, Harper ME "SIRT3 controls brown fat thermogenesis by deacetylation regulation of pathways upstream of UCP1." Mol Metab. 2019 July ; 25 : 35-49. Pubmed PMID: 31060926
- Cao J, Yu Y, Zhang Z, Chen X, Hu Z, Tong Q, Chang J, Feng XH, Lin X "SCP4 Promotes Gluconeogenesis Through FoxO1/3a Dephosphorylation." Diabetes. 2018 January ; 67 (1): 46-57. Pubmed PMID: 28851713
- Liu JX, Shen SN, Tong Q, Wang YT, Lin LG "Honokiol protects hepatocytes from oxidative injury through mitochondrial deacetylase SIRT3." Eur J Pharmacol. 2018 September 5; 5 (834): 176-187. Pubmed PMID: 30036533
- Li Q, Lei F, Tang Y, Pan JS, Tong Q, Sun Y, Sheikh-Hamad D "Megalin mediates plasma membrane to mitochondria cross-talk and regulates mitochondrial metabolism." Cell Mol Life Sci. 2018 November ; 75 (21): 4021-4040. Pubmed PMID: 29916093
- Liu J, Li D, Zhang T, Tong Q, Ye RD, Lin L "SIRT3 protects hepatocytes from oxidative injury by enhancing ROS scavenging and mitochondrial integrity." Cell Death Dis. 2017 October ; : Pubmed PMID: 29072685
- de Oliveira RM, Vicente Miranda H, Francelle L, Pinho R, Szegö ÉM, Martinho R, Munari F, Lázaro DF, Moniot S, Guerreiro P, Fonseca-Ornelas L, Marijanovic Z, Antas P, (…), Tong Q, Becker S, Kügler S, Lashuel HA, Steegborn C, Zweckstetter M, Outeiro TF "The mechanism of sirtuin 2-mediated exacerbation of alpha-synuclein toxicity in models of Parkinson disease." PLoS Biol. 2017 March 3; 15 (3): e2000374. Pubmed PMID: 28257421
- Rubel CA, Wu SP, Lin L, Wang T, Lanz RB, Li X, Kommagani R, Franco HL, Camper SA, Tong Q, Jeong JW, Lydon JP, DeMayo FJ "A Gata2-Dependent Transcription Network Regulates Uterine Progesterone Responsiveness and Endometrial Function." Cell Rep. 2016 October 25; 17 (5): 1414-1425. Pubmed PMID: 27783953
- Liu Z, Xu J, He J, Liu H, Lin P, Wan X, Navone NM, Tong Q, Kwak LW, Orlowski RZ, Yang J "Mature adipocytes in bone marrow protect myeloma cells against chemotherapy through autophagy activation." Oncotarget. 2015 October 27; 6 (33): 34329-41. Pubmed PMID: 26455377
- Nosavanh L, Yu DH, Jaehnig EJ, Tong Q, Shen L, Chen MH "Cell-autonomous activation of Hedgehog signaling inhibits brown adipose tissue development." Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2015 April 21; 112 (16): 5069-74. Pubmed PMID: 25848030
- Cheung KG, Cole LK, Xiang B, Chen K, Ma X, Myal Y, Hatch GM, Tong Q, Dolinsky VW "Sirtuin-3 (SIRT3) Protein Attenuates Doxorubicin-induced Oxidative Stress and Improves Mitochondrial Respiration in H9c2 Cardiomyocytes." J Biol Chem. 2015 April 24; 290 : 10981-10993. Pubmed PMID: 25759382
- Pan J S-C, Huang L, Belousova T, Lu L, Yang Y, Reddel R, Chang A, Ju H, DiMattia G, Tong Q, Sheikh-Hamad D. "Stanniocalcin-1 inhibits renal ischemia/reperfusion injury via an AMP-activated protein kinase-dependent pathway." J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015 February ; 26 (2): 364-78. Pubmed PMID: 25012175
- Ligen Lin, Keyun Chen, Waed Abdel Khalek, Jack Lee Ward III, Henry Yang, Béatrice Chabi, Chantal Wrutniak-Cabello, Qiang Tong "Regulation of skeletal muscle oxidative capacity and muscle mass by SIRT3." PLOS One. 2014 9 (1): e85636. Pubmed PMID: 24454908
- Serrano L, Martínez-Redondo P, Marazuela-Duque A, Vazquez BN, Dooley SJ, Voigt P, Beck DB, Kane-Goldsmith N, Tong Q, Rabanal RM, Fondevila D, Muñoz P, Krüger M, Tischfield JA, Vaquero A. "The tumor suppressor SirT2 regulates cell cycle progression and genome stability by modulating the mitotic deposition of H4K20 methylation.." Genes & Development. 2013 27 (6): 639-653. Pubmed PMID: 23468428
- Wang F, Chan CH, Chen K, Guan X, Lin HK, Tong Q "Deacetylation of FOXO3 by SIRT1 or SIRT2 leads to Skp2-mediated FOXO3 ubiquitination and degradation.." Oncogene. 2012 March 22; 31 (12): 1546-57. Pubmed PMID: 21841822
- Lin L, Pang W, Chen K, Wang F, Gengler J, Sun Y, Tong Q "Adipocyte expression of PU.1 transcription factor causes insulin resistance through upregulation of inflammatory cytokine gene expression and ROS production.." Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab.. 2012 June ; 302 (12): E1550-9. Pubmed PMID: 22454293
- Yang Y, Chen KY, Tong Q "Murine Sirt3 protein isoforms have variable half-lives.." Gene. 2011 November 15; 488 (41276): 46-51. Pubmed PMID: 21840382
- Lin L, Saha PK, Ma X, Henshaw IO, Shao L, Chang BH, Buras ED, Tong Q, Chan L, McGuinness OP, Sun Y "Ablation of ghrelin receptor reduces adiposity and improves insulin sensitivity during aging by regulating fat metabolism in white and brown adipose tissues.." Aging Cell. 2011 December ; 10 (6): 996-1010. Pubmed PMID: 21895961
- Yang Y, Hubbard BP, Sinclair DA, Tong Q "Characterization of murine SIRT3 transcript variants and corresponding protein products.." J. Cell. Biochem.. 2010 November 1; 111 (4): 1051-8. Pubmed PMID: 20677216
- Gao X, Shin YH, Li M, Wang F, Tong Q, Zhang P "The fat mass and obesity associated gene FTO functions in the brain to regulate postnatal growth in mice.." PLoS ONE. 2010 5 (11): e14005. Pubmed PMID: 21103374
- Yang Y, Cimen H, Han MJ, Shi T, Deng JH, Koc H, Palacios OM, Montier L, Bai Y, Tong Q, Koc EC "NAD+-dependent deacetylase SIRT3 regulates mitochondrial protein synthesis by deacetylation of the ribosomal protein MRPL10.." J. Biol. Chem.. 2010 March 5; 285 (10): 7417-29. Pubmed PMID: 20042612
- Palacios OM, Carmona JJ, Michan S, Chen KY, Manabe Y, Ward JL, Goodyear LJ, Tong Q "Diet and exercise signals regulate SIRT3 and activate AMPK and PGC-1alpha in skeletal muscle.." Aging (Albany NY). 2009 September ; 1 (9): 771-83. Pubmed PMID: 20157566
- Wang F, Tong Q "SIRT2 suppresses adipocyte differentiation by deacetylating FOXO1 and enhancing FOXO1's repressive interaction with PPARgamma.." Mol. Biol. Cell. 2009 February ; 20 (3): 801-8. Pubmed PMID: 19037106
- Julia Skokowa, Dan Lan, Basant Kumar Thakur, Fei Wang, Kshama Gupta, Gunnar Cario, Annette Muller Brechlin, Axel Schambach, Lars Hinrichsen, Gustav Meyer, Matthias Gaestel, Martin Stanulla, Qiang Tong and Karl Welte "NAMPT is essential for the G-CSF-induced myeloid differentiation via a NAD+-sirtuin-1-dependent pathway." Nat Med. 2009 February ; 15 (2): 151-158. Pubmed PMID: 19182797
- Wang F, Tong Q "Transcription factor PU.1 is expressed in white adipose and inhibits adipocyte differentiation.." Am. J. Physiol., Cell Physiol.. 2008 July ; 295 (1): C213-20. Pubmed PMID: 18463231
- Wang F, Nguyen M, Qin FX, Tong Q "SIRT2 deacetylates FOXO3a in response to oxidative stress and caloric restriction.." Aging Cell. 2007 August ; 6 (4): 505-14. Pubmed PMID: 17521387
- Qiang Tong, Judy Tsai, Guo Tan, Gökhan Dalgin, and Gökhan S. Hotamisligil "Interaction Between GATA and the C/EBP Family of Transcription Factors is Critical in GATA-Mediated Suppression of Adipocyte Differentiation." Mol Cell Biol. 2005 January ; 25 (2): 706-715. Pubmed PMID: 15632071
- Tong Shi, Fei Wang, Emily Stieren, and Qiang Tong "SIRT3, A Mitochondrial Sirtuin Deacetylase, Regulates Mitochondrial Function And Thermogenesis In Brown Adipocytes." J Biol Chem. 2005 April ; 280 (14): 13560-13567. Pubmed PMID: 15653680
- Tong Q, Tsai J, Hotamisligil GS "GATA transcription factors and fat cell formation.." Drug News Perspect.. 2003 November ; 16 (9): 585-8. Pubmed PMID: 14702139
- Qiang Tong, Gökhan Dalgin, Haiyan Xu, Chao-Nan Ting, Jeffrey M. Leiden and Gökhan S. Hotamisligil "Function of GATA transcription factors in preadipocyte-adipocyte transition.." Science. 2000 October ; 290 : 134-138. Pubmed PMID: 11021798
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