Education

B.S. 2005, Xiamen University, Biology;
M.S. 2008, Xiamen University, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology;
Ph.D. 2014, University of Texas Medical Branch, Microbiology and Immunology;

Professional Experience

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015-2020;
Professor, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 2020 to Present.

Research Area

As professional antigen-presenting cells, dendritic cells (DCs) play central roles in the regulation of innate and adaptive immune responses. There is growing interest in modulating DC function to improve antitumor immunity. In the tumor microenvironment, DCs process and present tumor-associated antigens to initiate antigen-specific T cell responses. On the contrary, tumor cells produce immuosuppressive factors that can inhibit DC infiltration and dampen their antitumor immunity. A better understanding of the diversity and functions of DC subsets in tumor microenvironment may lead to enhance cancer immunotherapy. In our lab, we will investigate the role of different DC subsets in modulating the antitumor immune response, and providing new insights of future directions for basic research and clinical trials.

Selected Publications 

1.Li Y^*, Zhu L, Ko CJ, Yang JY, Wang H, Manyam G, Wang J, Cheng X, Zhao S^*, Jie Z^*. TRAF3-EWSR1 signaling axis acts as a checkpoint on germinal center responses. J Exp Med. 2023 Aug 7; 220(8): e20221483. (^*Corresponding author)
2.Shao L^#, Yang M^#, Sun T^#, Xia H, Du D, Li X^*, Jie Z^*. Role of Transport Proteins in Regulating Dendritic Cell Maturation and Function. Eur J Immunol. 2023 Dec 11:e2350385. (^*Corresponding author)
3.Jie Z^#, Ko CJ^#, Wang H, Xie X, Li Y, Gu M, Zhu L, Yang JY, Gao T, Ru W, Tang SJ, Cheng X, Sun SC. Microglia promote autoimmune inflammation via the noncanonical NF-ĸB pathway. Science Adv. 2021 Sep 3; 7(36):eabh0609. (^#co-first author)
4.Jie Z^#, Yang JY^#, Gu M, Wang H, Xie X, Li Y, Liu T, Zhu L, Shi J, Zhang L, Zhou X, Joo D, Brightbill HD, Cong Y, Lin D, Cheng X, Sun SC. NIK signaling axis regulates dendritic cell function in intestinal immunity and homeostasis. Nature Immunol. 2018 Nov;10(11):1224-35. (^#co-first author)
5.Wang B^#, Jie Z^#, Joo D, Ordureau A, Liu P, Gan W, Guo J, Zhang K, North BJ, Dai Z, Cheng X, Bian X, Zhang L, Harper JW, Sun SC, Wei W. TRAF2 and OTUD7B govern a ubiquitin-dependent switch that regulates mTORC2 signalling. Nature. 2017 May 18;545(7654):365-9. (^#co-first author)
6.Yang JY^#, Jie Z^#, Mathews A, Zhou X, Li Y, Gu M, Xie X, Ko CJ, Cheng X, Qi Y, Estrella JS, Wang J, Sun SC. Intestinal epithelial TBK1 prevents differentiation of T-helper 17 cells and tumorigenesis in mice. Gastroenterology. 2020. Nov; 159(5):1793-1806. (^#co-first author)
7.Jie Z^#, Liang Y^#, Yi P, Tang H, Soong L, Cong Y, Zhang K, Sun J. Retinoic acid regulates immune responses by promoting IL-22 production and modulating S100 proteins in viral hepatitis. J Immunol. 2017 May 1;198(9):3448-60. (^#co-first author)
8.Jie Z, Liang Y, Hou L, Dong C, Iwakura Y, Soong L, Cong Y, Sun J. Intrahepatic innate lymphoid cells secrete IL-17A and IL-17F that are crucial for T cell priming in viral infection. J Immunol. 2014 Apr 1;192(7):3289-300.