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Qingqing Wei, PhD

Associate Professor
Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy

Office: R&E Building, CB1124
Phone: 706-721-3551
Fax: 706-721-6120
envelope-o icon qwei@augusta.edu 

 

 

Dr. Zheng Dong's Research Lab

R&E Building, CB1124
Phone: 706-721-3551, 706-721-4292

Dong Lab Personnel

Qingqing Wei, PhD, Associate Professor
Man J. Livingston, MD/PhD, Asst Res Scientist
Shixuan Wang, MD/PhD, Asst Res Scientist
Guie Dong, Research Associate
Zhengwei Ma, MD/PhD, Research Associate
Xiaohong Xiang, MD, Visiting »Æ¹Ï¶ÌÊÓƵ Student
Xiaoru Hu, MD, Visiting »Æ¹Ï¶ÌÊÓƵ Student
Lu Wen, MD, Visiting »Æ¹Ï¶ÌÊÓƵ Student
Siyao Li, MD, Visiting »Æ¹Ï¶ÌÊÓƵ Student
Xun Zhou, Visiting Researcher

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Education

1996 - BS, Nanjing University, Nanjing Jiangsu P.R. China

2001 - PhD, Shanghai Institute of Physiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai P.R. China

Post Doctoral Training

Augusta University 2002-2005

University of Virginia 2001-2002

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Research Interests

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major kidney disease with high mortality clinically, which can be induced by injurious factors such as ischemia, nephrotoxins, and sepsis. In addition, patients are at higher risk to develop chronic kidney diseases (CKD, characterized by maladaptive tubular repair and massive renal fibrosis development) even after they are recovered from an AKI episode. Our research interests are the pathophysiological mechanisms, specifically the epigenetic regulation, of AKI and CKD. Currently we mainly focus on the role of a long non-coding RNA GSTM3P1 (an RNA transcript from pseudogene). We will use both in vitro and in vivo mouse model to understand its pro-renal injury role in ischemic AKI, its interaction with microRNAs, and its regulation to the parent gene GSTM3. In addition, we will also explore the role of long non-coding RNAs and microRNAs in other AKI models and how they regulate the renal repair and fibrosis in CKD models.

Publications

• Q Wei, S Chen, X Cheng, X Yu, J Hu, M Li, and P Zhu. Topography of skeletal muscle ryanodine receptors studied by atomic force microscopy. Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B, 18(2): P636-638, 2000.
• R Xia, X Cheng, H Wang, K Chen, Q Wei, X Zhang and P Zhu. Biphasic modulation of ryanodine binding to HSR of skeletal muscle by zinc ions. Biochemical Journal 345: P279-286, 2000.
• H Wang, Q Wei, X Cheng, K Chen and P Zhu. Inhibition of ryanodine binding to sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles of cardiac muscle by Zn2+ ions. Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry 11: 83-92, 2001.
• Q Wei, X Cheng, K Chen, J Hu, M Li and P Zhu. The atomic force microscopy study of the rabbit skeletal ryanodine receptor in different functional states. Science in China (Series C), 31(6): 565-573, 2001.
• Q Wei, M Alam, M Wang, F Yu and Z Dong. Bid activation in kidney cells following ATP depletion in vitro and ischemia in vivo. American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology 286(4): F803-F809, 2004.
• J Wang, Q Wei, C Wang, W Hill, D Hess and Z Dong. Minocycline up-regulates Bcl-2 and protects against cell death in the mitochondria. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 279(19): 19948-19954, 2004.
• Q Wei, J Wang, MH Wang, F Yu and Z Dong. Inhibition of apoptosis by Zn2+ in renal tubular cells following ATP-depletion. American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology, 287(3): F492-F500, 2004.
• Q Wei, MH Wang and Z Dong. Differential gender difference in ischemic and nephrotoxic acute renal failure. American Journal of Nephrology, 25: 491-499, 2005.
• Q Wei, XM Yin, MH Wang and Z Dong. Bid deficiency ameliorates ischemic renal failure and delays animal death in C57BL/6 mice American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology, 290: F35-F42, 2006.
• M Jiang, Q Wei, J Wang, Q Du, J Yu, L Zhang and Z Dong. Regulation of PUMA-a by p53 in cisplatin-induced renal cell apoptosis. Oncogene, 25: 4056-4066, 2006.
• M Jiang, Q Wei, N Pabla, G Dong, CY Wang, T Yang, SB Smith and Z Dong. Effects of hydroxyl radical scavenging on cisplatin-induced p53 activation, tubular cell apoptosis and nephrotoxicity. Biochemical Pharmacology, 73: 1499-1510, 2007.
• Q Wei, G Dong, J Franklin, Z Dong. The pathological role of Bax in cisplatin nephrotoxicity. Kidney International, 72: 53-62, 2007.
• C Brooks, Q Wei, L Feng, G Dong, Y Tao, L Mei, ZJ Xie, Z Dong. Bak regulates mitochondrial morphology and pathology during apoptosis by interacting with mitofusins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 104: 11649-11654, 2007.
• Q Wei, G Dong, T Yang, J Megyesi, PM Price, Z Dong. Activation and Involvement of p53 in Cisplatin-induced Nephrotoxicity. American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology, 293(4): F1282-1291, 2007.
• S Periyasamy-Thandavan, M Jiang, Q Wei, R Smith, XM Yin, Z Dong. Autophagy is cytoprotective during cisplatin injury of renal proximal tubular cells. Kidney International, 74: 631-640, 2008.
• C Brooks, Q Wei, SG Cho, Z Dong. Regulation of mitochondrial dynamics in acute kidney injury in cell culture and rodent model. J Clin Invest, 119(5): 1275-1285, 2009. (Brooks and Wei are co-first authors.)
• Q Wei, K Bhatt, HZ He, QS Mi, VH Haase, Z Dong. Targeted deletion of Dicer from proximal tubules protects against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury. J Am Soc Nephrol, 21(5): 756-761, 2010.
• X Li, N Pabla, Q Wei, G Dong, RO Messing, CY Wang, Z Dong. PKC-delta promotes renal tubular cell apoptosis associated with proteinuria. J Am Soc Nephrol, 21(7): 111-1124, 2010.
• Q Wei, WD Hill, Y Su, S Huang, Z Dong. Heme oxygenase1 induction contributes to renoprotection by G-CSF during rhabdomyolysis-associated acute kidney injury. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 301(1): F162-170, 2011.
• M Jiang, Q Wei, G Dong, M Komatsu, Y Su, Z Dong. Autophagy in proximal tubules protects against acute kidney injury. Kidney Int, 82(12):1271-83, 2012.
  • Q Wei, G Dong, JK Chen, G Ramesh, Z Dong. Bax and Bak have critical roles in ischemic acute kidney injury in gloval and proximal tubules-specific knockout mouse models. Kidney Int. 84(1):138-148, 2013.
• S Wang, Q Wei, G Dong, Z Dong. ERK-mediated suppression of cilia in cisplatin-induced tubular cell apoptosis and acute kidney injury. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1832(10):1582-1590, 2013.
• X Xiao, Y Hu, PM Quirós, Q Wei, C López-Otín, Z Dong. OMA1 mediates OPA1 proteolysis and mitochondrial fragmentation in experimental models of ischemic kidney injury. Am J Physiol Renal Rhysiol, 306(11): F1318-1326, 2014.
• Z Ma, Q Wei, G Dong, Y Huo, Z Dong. DNA damage response in renal ischemia-reperfusion and ATP-depletion injury of renal tubular cells. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1842(7):1088-1096, 2014.
• Q Wei, X Xiao, P Fogle, Z Dong. Changes in metabolic profiles during acute kidney injury and recovery following ischemia/reperfusion. PLoS One. 9(9): e106647, 2014.
• D Zhang, Y Liu, Q Wei, Y Huo, K Liu, F Liu, Z Dong. Tubular P53 regulates multiple genes to mediate AKI. J Am Soc Nephrol. 25(10):2278-2289, 2014.
• C Guo, Q Wei, Y Su, Z Dong. SUMOylation occurs in acute kidney injury and plays a cytoprotective role. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1852 (3): 482-489, 2015.
• K Bhatt, Q Wei, N Pabla, G Dong, QS Mi, M Liang, C Mei, Z Dong. MicroRNA-687 Induced by Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 Targets Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog in Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury. J Am Soc Nephrol. 26(7): 1588-1596, 2015.
• J Zhang, NP Rudemiller, MB Patel, Q Wei, NS Karlovich, AD Jeffs, M Wu, MA Sparks, JR Privratsky, M Herrera, SB Gurley, SA Nedospasov, SD Crowley. Competing actions of Type 1 Angiotensin II Receptors Expressed on T lymphocytes and Kidney Epithelium during Cisplatin-Induced AKI. J Am Soc Nephrol. 27(8): 2257-2264, 2016.
• Q Wei, Y Lium P Liu, J Hao, M Liang, QS Mi, JK Chen, Z Dong. MicroRNA-489 Induction by Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 Protects against Ischemic Kidney Injury. J Am Soc Nephrol, 27(9): 2784-2796, 2016.
• J Hao, Q Wei, S Mei, L Li, Y Su, C Mei, Z Dong. Induction of microRNA-17-5p by P53 protects against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury by targeting death receptor 6. Kidney Int, 91(1):106-118. 2017.
• J Hao, Q Lou, Q Wei, S Mei, L Li, G Wu, QS Mi, C Mei, Z Dong. MicroRNA-375 is induced in cisplatin nephrotoxicity to repress hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-β. J Biol Chem, 292(11):4571-4582, 2017.
• S Mei, L Li, Q Wei, J Hao, Y Su, C Mei, Z Dong. Double knockout of Bax and Bak from kidney proximal tubules reduces unilateral urethral obstruction associated apoptosis and renal interstitial fibrosis. Sci Rep, 7: 44892, 2017.
• GR Crislip, PM O’Connor, Q Wei, JC, Sullivan. Vasa Recta pericyte density is negatively associated with vascular congestion in the renal medulla following ischemia reperfusion in rats. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, 313(5): F1097-F1105, 2017.
• C Guo, L Pei, X Xiao, Q Wei, JK Chen, HF Dong, S Huang, G Fan, H Shi, Z Dong. DNA methylation protects against cisplatin-induced kidney injury by regulating specific genes, including interferon regulatory factor 8. Kidney Int, 92(5): 1194-1205, 2017.
• B Singla, P Ghoshal, H Lin, Q Wei, Z Dong, G Csányi. PKCδ-Mediated Nox2 Activation Promotes Fluid-Phase Pinocytosis of Antigens by Immature Dendritic Cells. Front Immunol, 9:537, 2018.
• JR Privratsky, J Zhang, X Lu, N Rudemiller, Q Wei, YR Yu, MD Gunn, SD Crowley. Interleukin 1 receptor (IL-1R1) activation exacerbates toxin-induced acute kidney injury. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, 315(3):F682-F691, 2018.
• Z Ma, Q Wei, M Zhang, JK Chen, Z Dong. Dicer deficiency in proximal tubules exacerbates renal injury and tubulointerstitial fibrosis and upregulates Smad2/3. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, 315(6):F1822-F1832, 2018.
• Q Wei, H Sun, S Song, Y Liu, P Liu, MJ Livingston, J Wang, M Liang, QS Mi, Y Huo, NS Nahman, C Mei, Z Dong. MicroRNA-668 represses MTP18 to preserve mitochondrial dynamics in ischemic acute kidney injury. J Clin Invest, 128(12):5448-5464, 2018.
• Q We, J Su, G Dong, M Zhang, Y Huo, Z Dong. Glycolysis inhibitors suppress renal interstitial fibrosis via divergent effects on fibroblasts and tubular cells. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, 316(6):F1162-F1172, 2019.
• Z Song, J Zhu, Q Wei, G Dong, Z Dong. Canagliflozin reduces cisplatin uptake and activates Akt to protect against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 318(4):F1041-F1052, 2020.
• J Zhu, G Zhang, Z Song, X Xiang, S Shu, Z Liu, D Yang, Q Wei, Z Dong. Protein Kinase C-δ Mediates Kidney Tubular Injury in Cold Storage-Associated Kidney Transplantation. J Am Soc Nephrol. 31(5):1050-1065, 2020.
• GR Crislip, B Patel, R Mohamed, SC Ray, Q Wei, J Sun, AJ Polichnowski, JC Sullivan, PM O'Connor. Ultrasound measurement of change in kidney volume is a sensitive indicator of severity of renal parenchymal injury. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 319(3):F447-F457, 2020.

Review AND COMMENT

• Q Wei, Z Dong. Regulation and pathological role of Bid in ischemic acute kidney injury. Renal Failure, 29(8): 935-940, 2007.
• Q Wei, Z Dong. Mouse model of ischemic acute kidney injury: technical notes and tricks. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 303(11): F1487-1494, 2012.
• Q Wei, QS Mi, Z Dong. The regulation and function of microRNAs in kidney diseases. IUBMB Life, 65(7):602-614, 2013.
• Q Wei, Z Dong. HDAC4 Blocks autophagy to trigger podocyte injury: non-epigenetic action in diabetic nephopathy. Kidney Int, 86(4): 666-668, 2014.
• MJ Livingston, Q Wei. MicroRNAs in extracellular vesicles protect kidney from ischemic injury: from endothelial to tubular epithelial. Kidney Int, 90(6): 1150-1152, 2016.
• L He, Q Wei, J Liu, M Yi, Y Liu, H Liu, L Sun, Y Peng, F Liu, MA Venkatachalam, Z Dong. AKI on CKD: heightened injury, suppressed repair, and the underlying mechanisms. Kidney Int, 92(5): 1071-1083, 2017.
• J Liu, Q Wei, C Guo, G Dong, Y Liu, C Tang, Z Dong. Hypoxia, HIF, and Associated Signaling Networks in Chronic Kidney Disease. Int J Mol Sci. 18: 950, 2017.
• Q Wei. Novel strategy for septic acute kidney injury rescue: maintenance of the tubular integrity. Kidney Int. 97(5):847-849, 2020.
• Q Wei, Z Dong. The yin and yang of retinoic acid signaling in kidney diseases. J Clin Invest. 130(10):5124-5126, 2020.
• S Li, L Wen, X Hu, Q Wei, Z Dong. HIF in Nephrotoxicity during Cisplatin Chemotherapy: Regulation, Function and Therapeutic Potential. Cancers (Basel). 13(2): 180, 2021.