The Dong Lab - Create. Innovate. Discover.
Who We Are
We are an interdisciplinary research group at IMMCG, »Æ¹Ï¶ÌÊÓƵ, dedicated to uncovering the molecular and cellular mechanisms driving human vascular diseases. Through collaboration and innovation, we aim to better understand the pathogenic mechanisms underlying these diseases, with the hope that our findings will contribute to the development of novel therapies. We welcome students, postdocs, and collaborators who share our enthusiasm for exploring the complexities of vascular diseases.
Jump to: About Dr. DongWhat We StudyResearch TeamCurrent Research InterestsPublications
About Dr. Dong
Kunzhe Dong, PhD
Assistant Professor
Immunology Center of Georgia
Kunzhe Dong has identified and explored an important RNA molecule, called CARMN, that is abundant in healthy smooth muscle cells.
Muscle cells form the lining of blood vessels; when healthy, they ensure the vessels are strong and flexible. But low levels of the molecule CARMN, Dong discovered, could lead to the muscle cells becoming unhealthy, likely increasing the risk of blocked or bulging blood vessels.
Part of Dong’s expertise centers on discovering important molecules associated with blood vessel disease by digging into large-scale sequencing datasets — and developing new ways to fight the disease. CARMN is one of those molecules, and to identify it in healthy people, Dong and colleagues used bioinformatics to analyze multi-dimensional datasets of RNA sequencing.
In experiments on mice, Dong also found that when CARMN was removed from smooth muscle cells, arteries became damaged and susceptible to injury. The CARMN molecule could also hold the key to treating vascular wall disease with very limited side effects.
The molecule is mostly limited to healthy smooth muscle cells, so altering the levels of it would not have side effects on other cells. Dong’s work was published in a 2021 paper, and he continues to explore other important molecules that control the function of smooth muscle cells and immune cells.
He also investigates cell-to-cell interactions between smooth muscle cells and immune cells in vascular diseases.
What We Study
Our lab identifies molecular and genetic factors that contribute to vascular diseases and investigates how they drive the development of conditions such as atherosclerosis and aneurysms.
Research Team
Yali Yao, MS
- Research Associate
Yingbing Zuo, MD
- Research Associate
Current Research Interests
The Dong lab investigates the molecular and cellular mechanisms driving the development of human vascular diseases, with a primary focus on atherosclerosis and aneurysm. Using a combination of genomics, genetics, cellular and molecular biology, advanced mouse genetics, and disease.
- The role of novel long non-coding RNAs in vascular cells and their involvement in vascular diseases.
- Cellular crosstalk between vascular smooth muscle cells and immune cells in disease progression.
- How GWAS-identified genomic risk loci influence cellular function and vascular disease development.
Publications
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Wu, X., Wang, C., Ishimwe, N., Zhang, W., Doja, J., Shan, S., Ge, C., Sun, Y., Zhao, J., Castillo, M., Sotonyi, P., Gyurok, G., , , , Chen, Y., Vazquez-Padron, R., & , Dec 2026, In: Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy. 11, 1, 17. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Wang, J., Wu, X., Zhang, L., Sun, X., Sun, W., & Li, Y., Jun 2025, In: Animal Bioscience. 38, 6, p. 1116-1139 24 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
, Bai, Z., He, X., Zhang, L., Hu, G., Yao, Y., Cai, C. L. & Zhou, J., May 2025, In: Journal of molecular and cellular cardiology. 202, p. 144-152 9 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Zhang, W., Pan, L., Wu, X., Slivano, O. J., & , Dec 2024, In: Vascular Pharmacology. 157, 107438. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Bordan, Z., Batori, R. K., Haigh, S., Li, X., Meadows, M. L., Brown, Z. L., West, M. A., , Han, W., Su, Y., Ma, Q., Huo, Y., Zhou, J., Abdelbary, M., , , , Chen, F., & , Jul 30 2024, In: Circulation. 150, 5, p. 393-410 18 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Wang, L., He, X., Hu, G., Liu, J., Kang, X., Yu, L., , Zhao, J., Zhang, A., Zhang, W., , , Zheng, Z. & Zhou, J., Apr 2024, In: Physiological reports. 12, 8, e16014. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Zhang, L., Xie, Q., Chang, S., Ai, Y., & Zhang, H., Apr 2024, In: Veterinary Sciences. 11, 4, 139. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Cai, Y., Zhou, Y., Yang, Q., Xu, J., Da, Q., Ma, Q., Zhao, D., Lu, T., , , Jiang, X., , , Xu, S., Hong, M., Liu, Z. & Huo, Y., Mar 22 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Pharmacological Research. p. 107156 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
He, X., , Shen, J., Hu, G., Mintz, J. D., Atawia, R. T., Zhao, J., Chen, X., Caldwell, R. W., Xiang, M., , & Zhou, J., Jul 2023, In: Gastroenterology. 165, 1, p. 71-87 17 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Zhang, S., Chen, Y., , Zhao, Y., Wang, Y., Wang, S., Qu, C., Xu, N., Xie, W., Zeng, C., Lyu, Q. R. & Zhang, Y., May 22 2023, In: Nucleic Acids Research. 51, 9, p. E49 Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Zhu, C., Zhang, L., Heidari, M., Sun, S., Chang, S., Xie, Q., Ai, Y., & Zhang, H., Mar 2023, In: Poultry Science. 102, 3, 102474. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
, Wang, W., Lu, Y., Ayala, J., , , Wang, J., , , Zhou, J., & , Jan 31 2023, In: Cell Reports. 42, 1, 112018. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Xu, C., , Jin, Y., Sahay, K., Robicsek, A., Liu, Y., , Zhou, J., , & , Dec 2022, In: Nature communications. 13, 1, 7782. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Lin, H. P., Singla, B., Ahn, W. M., Ghoshal, P., Blahove, M., Cherian-Shaw, M., Chen, A., Haller, A., Hui, D. Y., , Zhou, J., White, J., , Jasztal, A., , , , Chlopicki, S. & , Sep 21 2022, In: Science Translational Medicine. 14, 663, add2376. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Pu, Y., Ticiani, E., Waye, A. A., , Zhang, H. & Veiga-Lopez, A., Sep 2022, In: Chemosphere. 302, 134806. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
, Heidari, M., Mays, J., Chang, S., Xie, Q., Zhang, L., Ai, Y. & Zhang, H., Aug 2022, In: PloS one. 17, 8 August, e0272557. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
, Shen, J., He, X., Hu, G., Wang, L., Osman, I., Bunting, K. M., Dixon-Melvin, R., Zheng, Z., Xin, H., Xiang, M., Vazdarjanova, A., & Zhou, J., Dec 7 2021, In: Circulation. 144, 23, p. 1856-1875 20 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Liu, J., Wen, T., , He, X., , Shen, J., Fu, Z., Hu, G., Ma, W., , Wang, W., Wang, L., Akerberg, B. N., Xu, J., Osman, I., Zheng, Z., Wang, W., , Pu, W. T. & Xiang, M. & 4 others, , Jul 2021, In: Cell Death and Differentiation. 28, 7, p. 2045-2059 15 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Osman, I., , Kang, X., Yu, L., Xu, F., Ahmed, A. S. I., He, X., Shen, J., Hu, G., Zhang, W. & Zhou, J., Jul 2021, In: Journal of molecular and cellular cardiology. 156, p. 20-32 13 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Lyu, Q. R., Huang, N., , Xie, W., He, J., Xu, N. & Zhang, Y., Jun 2021, In: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids. 1866, 6, 158921. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
He, X., , Shen, J., Hu, G., Liu, J., Kang, X., Wang, L., Atawia, R. T., Osman, I., Caldwell, R. W., Xiang, M., Zhang, W., Zheng, Z., Li, L., , Deng, K., Xin, H. & Zhou, J., Feb 16 2021, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 118, 7, e2021862118. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Ruan, J., Zhang, L., Hu, D., Qu, X., Yang, F., Chen, F., He, X., Shen, J., , Sweet, M., Sanchez, C., Li, D., Shou, W., Zhou, J. & Cai, C. L., Feb 1 2021, In: Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology. 41, 2, p. 815-821 7 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
, Yang, M., Han, J., Ma, Q., Han, J., Song, Z., Luosang, C., Gorkhali, N. A., Yang, B., He, X., Ma, Y. & Jiang, L., Dec 2020, In: BMC Genomics. 21, 1, 800. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
, He, X., , & Zhou, J., Dec 1 2020, In: BMC Medical Genomics. 13, 1, 167. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Ding, D., Wei, C., , Liu, J., Stanton, A., Xu, C., Min, J., Hu, J. & Chen, C., Sep 18 2020, In: Nucleic Acids Research. 48, 16, p. 9262-9272 11 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Wu, D. D., Yang, C. P., Wang, M. S., , Yan, D. W., Hao, Z. Q., Fan, S. Q., Chu, S. Z., Shen, Q. S., Jiang, L. P., Li, Y., Zeng, L., Liu, H. Q., Xie, H. B., Ma, Y. F., Kong, X. Y., Yang, S. L., Dong, X. X., Esmailizadeh, A. & Irwin, D. M. & 10 others, , Jun 1 2020, In: National Science Review. 7, 6, p. 952-963 12 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Zhang, L., Zhu, C., Heidari, M., , Chang, S., Xie, Q. & Zhang, H., Feb 24 2020, In: Veterinary Research. 51, 1, 19. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Akerberg, B. N., Gu, F., VanDusen, N. J., Zhang, X., Dong, R., Li, K., Zhang, B., Zhou, B., Sethi, I., Ma, Q., Wasson, L., Wen, T., Liu, J., , Conlon, F. L., Zhou, J., Yuan, G. C., Zhou, P. & Pu, W. T., Dec 1 2019, In: Nature communications. 10, 1, 4907. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Mays, J. K., Black-Pyrkosz, A., Mansour, T., Schutte, B. C., Chang, S., , Hunt, H. D., Fadly, A. M., Zhang, L. & Zhang, H., Dec 1 2019, In: Journal of Virology. 9, 23, e00861-19. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
, Chang, S., Xie, Q., Zhao, P. & Zhang, H., Dec 1 2019, In: Scientific reports. 9, 1, 14182. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Ding, D., Liu, J., , Melnick, A. F., Latham, K. E. & Chen, C., Mar 18 2019, In: Nucleic Acids Research. 47, 5, p. 2594-2608 15 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Ding, D., Liu, J., Midic, U., Wu, Y., , Melnick, A., Latham, K. E. & Chen, C., Dec 1 2018, In: Nature communications. 9, 1, 127. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Yang, M., Song, S., , Chen, X., Liu, X., Rouzi, M., Zhao, Q., He, X., Pu, Y., Guan, W., Ma, Y. & Jiang, L., Dec 1 2017, In: Scientific reports. 7, 1, 13502. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Ding, D., Liu, J., , Midic, U., Hess, R. A., Xie, H., Demireva, E. Y. & Chen, C., Dec 1 2017, In: Nature communications. 8, 1, 819. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
He, X., Chen, X., Zhang, W., Pu, Y., Song, S., Han, J., , Zhao, Q., Guan, W., Ma, Y. & Jiang, L., Nov 2 2017, In: Mitochondrial DNA Part A: DNA Mapping, Sequencing, and Analysis. 28, 6, p. 851-854 4 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Li, X., Yang, S., , Tang, Z., Li, K., Fan, B., Wang, Z. & Liu, B., Oct 2017, In: Animal Genetics. 48, 5, p. 600-605 6 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
, Chang, S., Xie, Q., Black-Pyrkosz, A. & Zhang, H., Jun 2017, In: PloS one. 12, 6, e0178923. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Kader, A., Liu, X., , Song, S., Pan, J., Yang, M., Chen, X., He, X., Jiang, L. & Ma, Y., Oct 1 2016, In: Animal Genetics. 47, 5, p. 560-569 10 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Gorkhali, N. A., , Yang, M., Song, S., Kader, A., Shrestha, B. S., He, X., Zhao, Q., Pu, Y., Li, X., Kijas, J., Guan, W., Han, J., Jiang, L. & Ma, Y., Jul 22 2016, In: Scientific reports. 6, 29963. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Song, S., Yao, N., Yang, M., Liu, X., , Zhao, Q., Pu, Y., He, X., Guan, W., Yang, N., Ma, Y. & Jiang, L., Feb 18 2016, In: BMC Genomics. 17, 1, 122. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
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