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:: Faculty ::
Associate Professor

Professor Ming-Liang HE

Associate Professor, Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health and Primary Care, CUHK

Email: mlhe@cuhk.edu.hk
Tel: (852) 3763 6096
Fax: (852) 2145 8013
Address: Room 708, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences Building, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT. , Hong Kong
Quotable Qualifications
  • Ph.D. Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry, Shanghai, China
  • Postdoc. Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Biography
Professor He got his PhD training in Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry, The Chinese academy of Sciences, and postdoctoral training in Washington University School of Medicine at St. Louis, MO, USA.  He was an assistant professor (Research) in The University of Hong Kong (2000~2004) and was appointed as associate professor in 2005 in The Chinese University of Hong Kong. His research fields including molecular mechanisms of cancers, mechanisms of virus associated diseases, control and treatment of virus infection (HIV/HBV/SARS/EV71/flu), gene therapy, genetic polymorphism of diseases and drug development. Professor He has filed or obtained 5 US patents and published over 70 research papers in peer-reviewed international journals, including JAMA, PNAS, JNCI, Hepatology, Molecular & Cellular Proteomics and Cancer Res.
Research Interests
Professor He's major interests are cancer and infectious diseases caused by viruses (including hepatitis B virus, human immunodeficiency virus, SARS-coronavirus). Currently, he is focusing on the dissection of the mechanism of these diseases and development of therapeutic drugs (including agents for gene therapy) for the treatment of cancers and viral infections. Liver cancer is one of the most frequent and malignant diseases worldwide, especially in Hong Kong and China. The molecular mechanisms of hepatocarcinogenesis are poorly understood. He identified a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated oncogene (HCAO), which is highly expressed in HCC tissue specimens and HCC cell lines but not expressed in normal liver tissues. He recently revealed that HCAO is a transcriptional repressor/co-repressor and identified a portable repressor domain. He also demonstrated that silencing HCAO expression by shRNA or overexpression of dominant-negative (DN) HCAO in HCC cells blocked tumor formation in nude mice. He is currently investigating its transcriptional regulation and signaling pathways. In addition, he is also developing agents for anti-HCC gene therapy. Around 400 million people (including 750,000 patients in Hong Kong) are suffering chronic HBV infection in the world. About 25% of them will develop liver diseases and 25% of the patients will finally die of liver failure, liver cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). He is currently investigating the mechanisms of hepatocarcinogenesis caused by chronic HBV infections and developing new strategies to guide and treat anti-HBV therapy. For example, he has developed shRNAs, which almost completely inhibited HBV replication in vitro. He is currently testing the anti-HBV in vivo efficacy for anti-HBV replication and HBV-induced HCC using recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) system (collaborated with Prof. Xiao Yang in The Chinese Academy of Military Medical Sciences in Beijing). He has also developed siRNAs which markedly inhibited SARS-associated coronavirus infection and replication. HIV/AIDS is another major threatening for public health in China. He is setting up a new PL3 lab to investigate HIV epidemic, evolution, mutation, drug resistance, drug interaction, and to develop protocol for anti-HIV therapy. He will closely collaborate with scientists and clinicians in Yunnan and Guangxi province to perform related studies, as Yunnan and Guangxi are severely hit by the HIV epidemic in China. Grants
Our studies have been strongly supported by Research Grant Council (RGC), Research Fund for Control of Infectious Diseases (RFCID), and Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) of Hong Kong government, AIDS trust fund and Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai for Research Fund (STCSRF) of Shanghai (government). Ph.D Students
  • Dr. Liu Zheng (PhD, graduated)
  • Mr. Dong Qiming (PhD, graduated)
  • Mr. Zhu Lin (M. Phil graduated)
  • Mr. Li Jun (PhD)
  • Ms. Ma Yan (PhD)
  • Mr. He Lai (PhD)
  • Ms. Zhao Jin (PhD)
  • Mr. Lu Jin (PhD)
  • Ms. Yi Lina (PhD)
Selected Publications

US patents:  

  • Ming-Liang He, Hsiang-fu kung, Mariae C. Lin A novel sensitive method for the quantification of HBV cccDNA by real-time PCR. ( No. 10/449,801).
  • Ming-Liang He, Hsiang-fu Kung Inhibition of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication by RNA interference (No. 7,067,249, issued by June 27, 2006).
  • Ming-Liang He, et al Inhibition of SARS-associated coronavirus infection and replication by RNA interference (No.7,129,223, issued by December 27, 2006).
  • Ming-Liang He, Marie Lin, Hsing-fu Kung. Gene Therapy of HBV Infection Via Adeno-Associated Viral Vector Mediated Long Term Expression of Small Hairpin RNA (shRNA).   U.S.CIP Patent Appl. No.11/415,876 (filed in May, 2006).
  • Marie Lin, Shen Zan, Ming-Liang He, et al. Cocktail gene therapy using adenoassociated virus (AAV) carrying a novel anati-angiogenesis gene, HGFK1, combined with adv-P53 or Adv-IL2 for the treatment of metastasis cancer and methods related thereto. ( US patent filed).

Publications (*co-first author or corresponding author)

  • Jin-Fang Zhang, Guo Li, Chu-yan Chan, Chun-ling Meng, Marie Chia-mi Lin, Yang-chao Chen, Ming-Liang He, Ping-chung Leung, Hsiang-fu Kung. Flavoids of Herba Epimedii regulate osteogenesis of human mesenchymal stem cells through BMP and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology (In press)
  • Yan Ma, Jun Yu, Henry L.Y. Chan, Yang-chao Chen, Hua Wang, Ying Chen, Chu-yan Chan, Minnie Y.Y.Go, Sau-na Tsai, Sai-ming Ngai, Ka-fai To, Joanna H.M. Tong, Qing-Yu He, Joseph J.Y. Sung, Hsiang-fu Kung, Christopher H. K. Cheng, Ming-liang He*. Glucose-Regulated Protein 78 Is an Intracellular Antiviral Factor against Hepatitis B Virus. Molecular & Cellular Proteomics 2009 (PMID: 19671925)
  • Ming Li, Jide Wang, Samuel S.M.Ng, Chu-yan Chan, Mingliang He, Fang Yu, Lihui Lai, Chao Shi, Yangchao Chen, David T. Yew, Hsiang-fu Kung, Marie Chia-mi Lin. ADP-ribosylation factor 6 is required for the epidermal growth factor-induced glioblastoma cell proliferation. Cancer 2009 (PMID: 19642173).
  • Bing Liang, Ming-Liang He, Chu-yan Chan, Yang-chao Chen, Xiang-Ping Li, Yi Li, ， Dexian Zheng, Marie C Lin, Hsiang-Fu Kung, Xin-Tao Shuai, Ying Peng. The Use of Folate-PEG-grafted-hybranched-PEI Nonviral Vector for the Inhibition of Glioma Growth In The Rat. Biomaterials 2009; 30(23-24):4014-4020. IF:6.64
  • Li G, Zhang XA, Wang H, Wang X, Meng CL, Chan CY, Yew DT, Tsang KS, Li K, Tsai SN, Ngai SM, Han ZC, Lin MC, He ML, Kung HF. Comparative proteomic analysis of mesenchymal stem cells derived from human bone marrow, umbilical cord, and placenta: implication in the migration. Proteomics 2009; 9(1):20-30
  • Wang X, Chen Y, Han QB, Chan CY, Wang H, Liu Z, Cheng CH, Yew DT, Lin MC, He ML, Xu HX, Sung JJ, Kung HF. Proteomic Identification of Molecular targets of Gambogic acid: Role of Stathmin in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Proteomics 2009; 9(2):242-253
  • Qingming Dong, Henry LY Chan, Zheng Liu, Yangchao Chen, Denise PC Chan, Bao Zhang, Hsiang-fu Kung, Joseph JY Sung, Ming-Liang He*. A1762T/G1764A Mutations of Hepatitis B virus, Associated with the Increased Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Reduce Basal Core Promoter Activities. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2008; 374(4):773-776
  • Pai-Hao Yang, William K.C. Cheung, Ying Peng, Ming-Liang He, Guo-Qing Wu, Dan Xie, Bing-Hua Jiang, Qiu-Hua Huang, Zhu Chen, and Hsiang-Fu Kung. Makorin-2 is a neurogenesis inhibitor downstream of PI3k/AKT signal. J Biological Chemistry 2008; 283(13):8486-8495. IF 5.3
  • Zheng Liu, Yuanming Sun, Qingmin Dong, Mingliang He , Christopher H. K. Cheng, Feiyue Fan. A novel, TSHR gene mutation (Ile691Phe) in a Chinese family causing autosomal dominant non-autoimmune hyperthyroidism. Journal of human genetics 2008; 53(5):475-478
  • Bing Liang*, Ming-Liang He*, Zhong- Peng Xiao, Yi Li, Chu-yan Chan, Hsiang-Fu Kung, Xin-Tao Shuai, Ying Peng. Synthesis and characterization of folate-PEG-grafted-hyperbranched-PEI for tumor-targeted gene delivery. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2008; 367( 4): 874-880. IF 2.9
  • Zhi Li, Hong Yao, Yan Ma , Qingming Dong, Yangchao Chen, Ying Peng, Bo-jian Zheng, Jian-dong Huang, Chu-yan Chan, Marie C. Lin, Joseph J Sung, Kwok Yun Yuen, Hsiang-fu Kung*, Ming-Liang He*. Inhibition of HBV gene expression and replication by stably expressed interferon-α1 via adeno-associated viral vectors J. Gen. Med 2008; 10(6):619-627. IF 3.92
  • Zan Shen, Zhen Fan Yang, Yi Gao, Ji-Cheng Li, Ching Chiu Liu, Wayne D Hsueh, Randy Poon, Sheng Tat Fan, Ying Peng, Tsai-ping Li, Ren-bao Gan, Ming-Liang He, Hsiang-fu Kung, Marie CM Lin. The Kringle 1 Domain of Hepatocyte Growth factor has antiangiogenic and antitumor Cell effects on Hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Research 2008; 68(2):404-414. IF 8.1
  • Yan Ma, Chu-yan Chan, Ming-Liang He*. RNA interference and antiviral therapy World J. Gastroenterology 2007; 13:5169-5179 (Editorial).
  • Nan Yang, Julian A. Tanner, Bo-Jian Zheng, Rory M. Watt, Ming-Liang He, Lin-Yu Lu, Jie-Qing Jiang, Ka-To Shum, Yong-Ping Lin, Kin-Ling Wong, Marie C. M. Lin, Hsiang-Fu Kung, Hongzhe Sun, and Jian-Dong Huang. Bismuth Complexes Inhibit the SARS Coronavirus . ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-Internation Edit 2007; 46:6464-6468. IF 10.2
  • Yangchao Chen, Marie Chia-mi Lin, Hua Wang, Chu-yan Chan, Lei Jiang, Sai Ming Ngai, Jun Yu, Ming-Liang He, Pang-Chui Show, David T Yew, Joseph J Sung, Hsiang-fu Kung. Proteomic analysis of EZH2 downstream proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma. Proteomic 2007; 7(17):3097-3104. IF 6.1
  • Samuel S. M. Ng, Yuen-Ting Cheung, Ming Li, Xiao-Meng An, Gloria Hoi-Yee Li, William Cheung, Johnny Sze, Lihui Lai, Ming-Liang He, Ying Peng, Harry H. X. Xia, Benjamin C. Y. Wong, Suet-Yi Leung, Hsiang-Fu Kung, and Marie C. Lin. Cell cycle related kinase , a novel candidate oncogene in human glioblastoma JNCI 2007 99:936-948. IF:15.27
  • Guofa Liu, Weiquan Li, Xue Gao, Xiaoling Li, Claudia Jürgensen, Hwan-Tae Park, Nah-Young Shin, Jian Yu, Ming-Liang He, Steven K. Hanks, Jane Y. Wu, Kun-Liang Guan , Yi Rao. p130 CAS is required for Netrin signaling and commissural axon guidance. J Neuroscience 2007; 27:957-968. IF: 8.3
  • Chen Y , Lin MC, Yao H, Wang H, Zhang AQ, Yu J, Hui CK, Lau GK, He ML, Sung J, Kung HF. Lentivirus-mediated RNA interference targeting EZH2 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma growth via down-regulation of stathmin. Hepatology 2007; 46(1):200-208. IF: 10.45
  • Ming-Liang He, Che-Kit Lin, Kenneth Tong, Bingying Xu, Joseph JY Sung, Hsiang-fu Kung, Shui Shan Lee. Absence of CYP2B6 promoter -82T>C mutation in Chinese as an additional factor for slow metabolism of drugs commonly used in infections. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2006; 62:585-586. IF: 2.08
  • Kenneth Tong, Ming-Liang He, Lin CK, Liping Guo, Hsiang-fu Kung, Joseph J Sung, Shui Shan Lee. The implications of a high allelic frequency of CYP2B6 G516T in ethnic Chinese. Clin. Infect. Dis 2006; 43:541-542. IF: 6.49
  • Ming-Liang He, Bo-jian Zheng, Ying Chen, Kin-Ling Wong, Jian-Dong Huang, Marie C. Lin, Ying Peng, Kwok Y. Yuen, Joseph JY Sung, Hsiang-fu Kung. Kinetics and synergistic effects of siRNAs targeting structural and replicase genes of SARS-associated coronavirus. FEBS Lett 2006; 580(10):2414-2420. IF: 3.84
  • Xiang-Ping Li, Christine Y.S. Li, Xiaohua Li, Yanqing Ding, Lally L.Y. Chan, Pai-Hao Yang, Gang Li, Xong Liu, Jennifer S. Lin, Jide Wang, Ming-Liang He, Hsiang-fu Kung, Marie C. Lin and Ying Peng. Inhibition of Human Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Growth and Metastasis in Mice by Adenovirus-associated Virus Mediated Expression of Human Endostatin Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2006; 5(5):1290-1298. IF:5.2
  • Ming-Liang He, Samuel Sai-ming Ng, Jide Wang, Lihui Lai, Suet Yi Leung, Michel Franco, Ying Peng, Ming-liang He, Hsiang-fu Kung, and Marie Chia-mi Lin. EFA6A enhances glioma cell invasion through ARF6/ERK signaling. Cancer Res 2006; 66(3):1583-1590. IF: 8.5
  • Bo-Jian Zheng, Yi Guan, Ming-Liang He, Hongzhe Sun, Lanying Du, Ying Zheng, Kin-Ling Wong, Honglin Chen, Ying Chen, Linyu Lu, Julian A Tanner, Rory M Watt, Neri Niccolai, Andrea Bernini, Ottavia Spiga, Patrick CY Woo, Hsiang-fu Kung, Kwok-Yung Yuen, Jian-Dong Huang. Synthetic peptides outside the spike protein hepted repeat regions as potent inhibitors of SARS-associated coronavirus. Ativiral Therapy 2005; 10:375-385. IF: 6.1
  • Julian A. Tanner, Rory M. Watt, Lan Jin, Bo-Jian Zheng, Ming-Liang He, Lin-Yu Lu, Yi Guan, Ying Chen, Marie C. M. Lin, Hsiang-Fu Kung, Hong-Zhe Sun, Jian-Dong Huang. The Adamantane-Derived Bananins are Potent Inhibitors of the Helicase Activities and Replication of SARS Coronavirus. Chemistry & Biology 2005; 12(3):303-311 IF: 6.1.
  • Ying Peng, K.H.H. Kwok, Pai-Hao Yang, Samuel S.M. Ng, Jie Liu, O.G. Wong, Ming-Liang He, Hsiang-Fu Kung and Marie C.M. Lin. Ascorbic acid inhibits ROS production, NF-kappaB activation and prevents ethanol-induced growth retardation and microencephaly. Neuropharmacology 2005; 48(3):426-434. IF: 3.8
  • Bernini A, Spiga O, Ciutti A, Chiellini S, Bracci L, Yan X, Zheng B, Huang J, He ML, Song HD, Hao P, Zhao G, Niccolai N. Prediction of quaternary assembly of SARS coronavirus peplomer. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2004; 325(4):1210-1214. IF2.9
  • Peng Y, Jiang BH, Yang PH, Cao Z, Shi X, Lin MC, He ML, Kung HF. Phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase signaling is involved in neurogenesis during Xenopus embryonic development. J Biol Chem 2004; 279:28509-28514. IF: 6.7
  • Bojian Zheng*, Ming-Liang He*, King-Ling Wong, Ching Tung Lum, Leo L.M. Poon, Ying Peng, Yi Guan, Marie C.M. Lin, Hsiang-fu, Kung. Potent Inhibition of SARS-Associated Coronavirus (SCoV) Infection and Replication by Type I Interferons (IFNα/β) but not by Type II Interferon (IFNγ) J. Interferon Cytokine Res 2004. 24, 388-390. (* co-first author). IF 2.1
  • Ying Peng, Pai Hao Yang, Oscar G, Wong; Samuel S. M. Ng; Jie Liu; Ming-Liang He, Hsiang-fu Kung, Marie C. M. Lin. Critical role of Pax6 in alcohol-induced fetal microcephaly. Neurobiology of Disease 2004; 16:370-376. IF: 5.2
  • Ying Chen, Johnny Sze, Ming-Liang He*. The occurrence of HBV cccDNA in the patients’ sera is an indicator for HBV reactivation and an early signal of liver damage. World J. Gastroenter 2004; 10:82-85. IF: 3.3
  • Ying Peng, Pai-Hao Yang, Yan Guo, Samuel S.M.Ng, Jie Liu, P.C.W. Fung, David Tay, Jian Ge, Ming-Liang He, Hsiang-fu Kung, Marie C. Lin. Catalase and Peroxiredoxin 5 Protect Xenopus Embryos Against Alcohol-induced Ocular Anomalies. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 2004; 45:23-29. IF: 4.1