Areas of Interest
Dr. Liang’s research program has focused on the fundamental
signaling mechanisms that regulate cardiovascular functions.
Using the concepts and tools of biochemistry and molecular
biology, integrated with a cellular and pharmacological
approach, the program has addressed and elucidated novel
functions and signaling mechanisms for the various purinergic
receptors in the heart. Two tracks of development have evolved
new directions and models relevant to advances in cardiovascular
research. The first direction is exemplified by the development
of a novel cardiac cell model for cardioprotection and ischemic
preconditioning. The development of efficient cardiac myocyte
transfection enables the use of an approach to delineate
mechanism and to develop new receptor ligands important in
protecting the myocyte against ischemia. This model is now
widely recognized and is currently used by different
laboratories. Certain basic observations, for example, those
related to his studies on the cardiac adenosine A3 receptor,
have been repeated and investigated further by others. His
research has yielded new insights on the fundamental mechanisms
of cardiac myocyte protection. In a second example, a new
transgenic mouse line overexpressing a novel P2X purinergic
ligand-gated receptor channel shows enhanced basal cardiac
contractility and relaxation. This transgenic line provides the
proof of principle that this ligand-gated channel is a potential
novel therapeutic target for the treatment of heart failure.
It is anticipated that the program will continue to develop
new translational/clinical research projects. Some examples of
such research include the ongoing studies on novel purine
receptors and their ligands in protecting the ischemic
myocardium and in treating heart failure. Study on identifying
novel mutations of the adenosine transporter represents another
example. Overall, He has had continuous NIH support for the last
16 years. His work advances novel concepts on signaling
mechanisms and receptor function. He is an internationally
recognized expert on adenosine receptor biology and myocyte
function.
Recent Selected Publications
Jian, B., Xu, J., Connolly, J., Savani, R.C., Narula, N., Liang,
B.T., Levy, R.J. Serotonin Mechanisms in Heart Valve Disease I:
Serotonin Induced Upregulation of TGF-b 1 via G-protein Signal
Transduction in Aortic Valve Interstitial Cells. Am. J. Path.,
in press, 2003.
Xu, J., Jian, B., Chu, R., Lu, Z., Li, Q., Dunlop, J.,
Rosenzweig-Lipson, S., McGonigle, P.,Levy, R.J.,*Liang, B.T.
Serotonin Mechanisms in Heart Valve Disease II: The 5-HT2Receptor
and its Signaling Pathway in Aortic Valve Interstitial Cells. Am
J. Path., in press, 2003.
Hu, B., Senkler, C., Yang, A., Soto, F. and *Liang, B.T. P2X4
receptor is a glycosylated cardiac receptor mediating a positive
inotropic response to ATP. J. Biol. Chem.277: 15752-15757, 2002.
Lee, J.E., Bokoch, G., and *Liang, B.T. Signaling mechanism
of the adenosine A3 receptor: Novel cardioprotective
role of RhoA. FASEB J. 15: 1886-1894, 2001.
Jacobson, K.A., Gao, Z.-G., Chen, A., Barak, D., Kim, S.-A.,
Lee, K., Rompaey, P.V., Calenbergh, S.V., Liang, B.T. Neoceptor
concept based on molecular complementarity in GPCRs: A mutant
adenosine A3 receptor with selectively enhanced
affinity for amine-modified nucleosides. J. Med. Chem. 44,
4125-4136, 2001.
Hu, B., Mei, Q., Smith, E., Barry, W.H. and *Liang, B.T. A
novel cardiac inotropic phenotype with cardiac transgenic
expression of human P2X4 Receptor transgenic mouse,
FASEB J, 10.1096/fj.01-0445fje, October 15, 2001. |
