Qin Yang

Picture of Qin Yang
Associate Professor, Medicine
School of Medicine
Associate Professor, Physiology & Biophysics
School of Medicine
M.D., Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, China
Ph.D., Osaka University, Japan
University of California, Irvine
Med Sci C335
Mail Code: 4560
Irvine, CA 92697
Research Interests
Epigenetic regulation of insulin resistance and energy expenditure in obesity and type 2 diabetes
Research Abstract
The research in the laboratory focuses on identifying novel targets and developing new tools for the treatment of obesity and diabetes. We are particularly interested in understanding epigenetic regulation of energy expenditure and insulin resistance. We have developed several animal models to ask questions regarding how epigenetic signatures are altered in obesity and type 2 diabetes, and how the altered epigenetic signatures regulate insulin sensitivity and energy metabolism. Another direction of the laboratory is directly related to transnational medicine. We are developing new tools for drug delivery to metabolic organs such as fat tissue and liver. The goal is to increase metabolic rate selectively in these organs for treating obesity and diabetes.
Publications
1. Yamagata K, Yang Q, Yamamoto K, Iwahashi H, Miyagawa J, Okita K, Yoshiuchi I, Miyazaki J, Noguchi T, Nakajima H, Namba M, Hanafusa T, Matsuzawa Y. Mutation P291fsinsC in the transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha is dominant negative. Diabetes 1998 47(8):1231-5.

2. Okita K, Yang Q* (co-first author), Yamagata K, Hangenfeldt KA, Miyagawa J, Kajimoto Y, Nakajima H, Namba M, Wollheim CB, Hanafusa T, Matsuzawa Y. Human insulin gene is a target gene of hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha (HNF-1alpha) and HNF-1beta. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1999 263(2):566-9.

3. Yang Q, Yamagata K, Yamamoto K, Miyagawa J, Takeda J, Iwasaki N, Iwahashi H, Yoshiuchi I, Namba M, Miyazaki J, Hanafusa T, Matsuzawa Y. Structure/function studies of hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha, a diabetes-associated transcription factor. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1999 266(1):196-202.

4. Yoshiuchi I, Yamagata K, Yang Q, Iwahashi H, Okita K, Yamamoto K, Oue T, Imagawa A, Hamaguchi T, Yamasaki T, Horikawa Y, Satoh T, Nakajima H, Miyazaki J, Higashiyama S, Miyagawa J, Namba M, Hanafusa T, Matsuzawa Y. Three new mutations in the hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha gene in Japanese subjects with diabetes mellitus: clinical features and functional characterization. Diabetologia 1999 42(5):621-6.

5. Zhu Q, Yamagata K, Yu L, Tomura H, Yamada S, Yang Q, Yoshiuchi I, Sumi S, Miyagawa J, Takeda J, Hanafusa T, Matsuzawa Y. Identification of missense mutations in the hepatocyte nuclear factor-3beta gene in Japanese subjects with late-onset Type II diabetes mellitus. Diabetologia 2000 43(9):1197-200

6. Yang Q, Yamagata K, Yamamoto K, Miyagawa J, Fukamizu A, Hamafusa Y, Matsuzawa Y. R127WHNF-4? is a loss of function mutation but not a rare polymorphism and causes type 2 diabetes in a Japanese family with MODY1. Diabetologia. 2000 43(4): 520-524.

7. Zhu Q, Yamagata K, Tsukahara Y, Yang Q, Liu W, Hanafusa T, Miyagawa J, Matsuzawa Y. Mutation screening of the hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-6 gene in Japanese subjects with diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2001 52(3):171-4

8. Yoshiuchi I, Yamagata K, Yoshimoto M, Zhu Q, Yang Q, Nammo T, Uenaka R, Kinoshita E, Hanafusa T, Miyagawa J, Matsuzawa Y. A non-functional HNF-1? mutation in Japanese subjects with familial type 1 diabetes. Human mutation. 2001 18(4):345-51.

9. Nishigori H, Tomura H, Tonooka N, Kanamori M, Yamada S, Sho K, Inoue I, Kikuchi N, Onigata K, Kojima I, Kohama T, Yamagata K, Yang Q, Matsuzawa Y, Miki T, Seino S, Kim MY, Choi HS, Lee YK, Moore DD, Takeda J. Mutations in the small heterodimer partner gene are associated with mild obesity in Japanese subjects. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2001 98(2):575-580

10. Yamagata K, Nammo T, Moriwaki M, Ihara A, Iizuka K, Yang Q, Satoh T, Li M, Uenaka R, Okita K, Iwahashi H, Zhu Q, Cao Y, Imagawa A, Tochino Y, Hanafusa T, Miyagawa J and Matsuzawa Y. Overexpression of dominant-negative mutant HNF-1? in pancreatic ?-cells causes abnormal islet architecture with decreased expression of E-cadherin, reduced b-cell proliferation and diabetes. Diabetes. 2002 51(1):114-23.

11. Iwahashi H, Yamagata K, Yoshiuchi I, Terasaki J, Yang Q, Cao Y, Hanafusa T, Miyagawa J and Matsuzawa Y. Thyroid hormone receptor interaction protein (Trip3) is a novel coactivator of hepatocyte nuclear factor-1? (HNF-4??). Diabetes. 2002 51(4):910-4.

12. Yang Q, Yamagata K, Fukui K, Cao Y, Nammo T, Iwahashi H, Wang H, Matsumura I, Hanafusa T, Bucala R, Wollheim CB, Miyagawa J Matsuzawa Y. HNF-1? affects pancreatic b-cell growth by regulating IGF-1 expression in INS-1 cells. Diabetes. 2002 51(6):1785-92.

13. Li M, Miyagawa J, Moriwaki M, Yuan M, Yang Q, Kozawa J, Yamamoto K, Imagawa A, Iwahashi H, Tochino Y, Yamagata K, Matsuzawa Y. Analysis of expression profiles of islet-associated transcription and growth factors during beta-cell neogenesis from duct cells in partially duct-ligated mice. Pancreas. 2003 27(4):345-55.

14. Fukui K, Yang Q (co-first author) , Cao Y, Wang H, Hanafusa T, Wollheim CB, Miyagawa J, Matsuzawa Y and Yamagata K. The HNF-1 target collectrin controls insulin exocytosis by SNARE complex formation. Cell Metabolism. 2005 Dec;2(6):373-84

15. Yang Q*, Graham E.T* (contribute equally), Mody N, Peroni O, Preitner F, Zabolotny J, Kotani K, Quadro L, Kahn B.B. Serum retinol binding protein 4 contributes to insulin resistance in obesity and type 2 diabetes. Nature. 2005 Jul 1;436(7049):356-62.

16. Graham TE*, Yang Q* (co-first author), Bluher M, Hammarstedt A, Ciaraldi TP, Henry RR, Wason CJ, Oberbach A, Jansson PA, Smith U, Kahn BB. Retinol-binding protein 4 and insulin resistance in lean, obese, and diabetic subjects. N Engl J Med. 2006 Jun 15 354(24):2596-8

17. Zhang Y, Wada J, Yasuhara A, Iseda I, Eguchi J, Fukui K, Yang Q, Yamagata K, Hiesberger T, Igarashi P, Zhang H, Wang H, Akagi S, Kanwar YS, Makino H. The role for HNF-1beta-targeted collectrin in maintenance of primary cilia and cell polarity in collecting duct cells. PLoS ONE. 2007 May 2;2(5):e414

18. Yan QW, Yang Q, Mody N, Graham TE, Hsu CH, Xu Z, Houstis NE, Kahn BB, Rosen ED. The Adipokine Lipocalin 2 Is Regulated by Obesity and Promotes Insulin Resistance Diabetes. 2007;56(10):2533-40

19. Mody N, Graham TE, Tsuji Y, Yang Q, Kahn BB. Decreased clearance of serum retinol-binding protein and elevated levels of transthyretin in insulin-resistant ob/ob mice. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Apr;294(4):E785-93

20. Yang Q, Eskurza I, Kiernan UA, Phillips DA, Blüher M, Graham TE, Kahn BB. Quantitative Measurement of Full-length and C-Terminal Proteolyzed RBP4 in Serum of Normal and Insulin Resistant Humans using a Novel Mass Spectrometry Immunoassay. Endocrinology 2012 Mar;153(3):1519-27.

21. Kraus D, Yang Q*(co-first and co-corresponding author), Kong D, Banks AS, Zhang L, Rodgers JT, Pirinen E, Pulinilkunnil TC, Gong F, Wang YC, Cen Y, Sauve AA, Asara JM, Peroni OD, Monia BP, Bhanot S, Alhonen L, Puigserver P, Kahn BB. Nicotinamide N-Methyltransferase (NNMT) Knockdown Protects Against Diet-induced Obesity. Nature. 2014 Apr 10;508(7495):258-62.

22. Liu M, Li L, Chu J, Zhu B, Zhang Q, Yin X, Jian W, Dai G, Ju W, Wang Z, Yang Q (Corresponding author), Fang Z. Serum N1-methylnicotinamide is Associated with Obesity and Diabetes in Chinese. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015 Jun 12:jc20151732. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 26066674

23. Gao W, Wang H, Zhang L, Cao Y, Bao JZ, Liu ZX, Wang LS, Yang Q (Corresponding author), Lu X: Retinol-binding protein 4 induces cardiomyocyte hypertrophy by activating TLR4/MyD88 pathway.Endocrinology. 2016 Apr 21:en20152022. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 27100622

24. Luo T, Nocon A, Fry J, Sherban A, Rui X, Jiang B, Xu XJ, Han J, Yan Y, Yang Q, Li Q, Zang M. AMPK Activation by Metformin Suppresses Abnormal Adipose Tissue Extracellular Matrix Remodeling and Ameliorates Insulin Resistance in Obesity. Diabetes. 2016 May 13. pii: db151122.

25. Cao Y, Matsubara T, Zhao C, Gao W, Peng L, Shan J, Liu Z, Yuan F, Tang L, Li P, Guan Z, Fang Z, Lu X, Huang H, Yang Q. Antisense oligonucleotide and thyroid hormone conjugates for obesity treatment. Scientific Reports. 2017 Aug 24;7(1):9307.PMID: 28839185

26. Eldredge AC, Johnson ME, Cao Y, Zhang L, Zhao C, Liu Z, Yang Q, Guan Z. Dendritic peptide bolaamphiphiles for siRNA delivery to primary adipocytes. Biomaterials. 2018 Apr 16. pii: S0142-9612(18)30280-1. PMID: 29705001

27. Yuan F, Zhang L, Cao Y, Gao W, Zhao C, Fang Y, Zahedi K, Soleimani M, Lu X, Fang Z, Yang Q. Spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase-mediated polyamine catabolism regulates beige adipocyte biogenesis. Metabolism. 2018 Apr 28. pii: S0026-0495(18)30107-0 PMID: 29715464

28. Yang Q, Vijayakumar A, Kahn BB. Metabolites as regulators of insulin resistivity and metabolism. Nature Review Molecular Cell Biology, 2018 Aug 13; PMID: 30104701
29. Gao W, Liu JL, Lu X, Yang Q. Epigenetic regulation of energy metabolism in obesity. Journal of Molecular Cell Biology. 2021 PMID: 34289049
30. Cao Y, Tang L, Du K, Paraiso K, Sun Q, Liu z, Ye X, Fang Y, Yuan F, Chen H, Chen Y, Wang X, Yu C, blitz I, Wang P, Huang L, Cheng H, Lu x, Cho K, Seldin M, Fang Z, Yang Q. Anterograde Regulation Mitochondrial Genes and FGF21 Signaling by Hepatic LSD1. JCI Insight. 2021. PMID: 34314389
Other Experience
Resident and fellow
Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine
Attending Physician
Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine
Resident
Jacobi Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Clinical Fellow
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School
Assistant Professor
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School
Assistant Professor
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
Board Certified Internal Medicine
American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)
Board Certified Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)
Research Centers
Diabetes Center
Last updated
10/27/2022