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Feng_chun_yang

Contact

210-450-8069

yangf1@uthscsa.edu

Departments & Divisions

Institutes & Centers

Feng-Chun Yang, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor (with Tenure), The A.B. Alexander Distinguished Chair in Cancer Research Mays Cancer Center

Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy

Currently seeking M.S. & Ph.D. students

Dr. Yang’s laboratory has been focused on investigating the cellular/molecular mechanisms of hematopoietic malignancies, with a specific focus on mutations of ASXL1, ASXL2, PHF6 and NF1 in the pathogenesis of myeloid malignancies. Alteration of ASXL1 gene is frequent in multiple forms of myeloid malignancies, including myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), MDS/MPN (such as CMML and JMML), and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In contrast, ASXL2 mutations are restricted to patients with t(8;21) AML patients both in children and adults at an incident of 23%. Interestingly, ASXL1 and ASXL2 mutations are mutually exclusive in t(8;21) AML. However, the role of ASXL1/ASXL2 in the pathogenesis of myeloid malignancies and in normal hematopoiesis remains largely unknown. Mutations in NF1 tumor suppressor gene cause the common genetic disorder neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) which is associated with a predisposition to JMML, MDS and AML. Our goal is to identify the therapeutic targets for the treatment of these gene mutation-mediated myeloid malignancies.

Current research projects include:

1)    To understand the cellular/molecular mechanisms underlying ASXL1/ASXL2 and PHF6 alteration-mediated myeloid malignancies

2)    To investigate cooperative gene mutations Asxl1 in accelerating the transformation of myeloid malignancies

3)    To explore the role of bone marrow niche in the development and/or progression of hematological malignancies utilizing murine models of ASXL1/2, PHF6, and NF1.

4)    To identify novel therapeutic targets and to develop novel therapies to treat myeloid malignancies.

  • Professional Background

    Education

    • 1996 - Ph.D. - Hematology/Oncology - Shinshu University, Japan
    • 1983 - M.D. - Medicine - Hebei Medical University

    Highlights

    2018 - present   Medical & Scientific Advisor, ASXL Rare Research Endowment Foundation.

    2013                  Trustee Teaching Award, Indiana University School of Medicine

    2004 - 2007       New Investigator Award, Department of Defense

    2000                  The T. Ray Bradley Award, International Society for Experimental Hematology

    Appointments

    • 2019 – present - Professor (with Tenure), the A.B. Alexander Distinguished Chair in Cancer Research, Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, Mays Cancer Center, Long School of Medicine - UT Health at San Antonio
    • 2014 - 2019 - Professor (with tenure), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center - University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
    • 2011 – 2014 - Associate Professor (with Tenure), Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology - Indiana University School of Medicine
    • 2005 - 2011 - Assistant Professor, Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology - Indiana University School of Medicine
    • 2001 - 2005 - Research Associate and Research Assistant Professor, Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research - Indiana University School of Medicine
    • 1998 - 2001 - Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research - Indiana University School of Medicine
    • 1996 - 1998 - Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science, the Institute of Medical Science - University of Tokyo
    • 1983 - 1991 - Resident/pediatric fellow/attending physician - Central Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China

  • Research & Grants

    Grants

    1. Role of Asxl1 in Normal Hematopoiesis and the Development of Myeloid Maligancies- NIH R01, mPI.

    2. Role of PHF6 in normal hematopoiesis and hematopoietic stem cell biology- NIH R01, PI.

    3. Roles of TET2-dependent DNA demethylation intermediates in hematological maligancies- NIH R01, mPI.

    4. Interventional Epigentics in Myeloid Malgancies- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society-Specialized Center of Research Progam, PI for Project 3

    5. Targeting ASXL1 mutation-associated MDS- Evan's Foundation, PI.

    6. TET2-Mediated transcriptional and epigentic control of normal and malignant hematopoiesis- NIH R01, Co-I.

    7. Role of Hox gene associated lincRNA in HSC function and leukemogensis- NIH R01, Co-I.

  • Publications

       

      PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS: (*corresponding author)

      1.           Khaja Syed, Naguib S, Liu Z-J, Cimmino L, Yang F-C. Novel combinations to improve hematopoiesis in myelodysplastic syndrome. Stem Cell Research & Therapy (2020) 11:132    ttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-020-01647-1

      2.          Guo Y, Zhou Y, Yamatomo S, Yang H, Zhang P, Chen S, Nimer SD, Zhao Z, Xu M, Bai J*, and Yang F-C*. ASXL1 alteration cooperates with JAK2V617F accelerate myelofibrosis. Leukemia 2019 May;33(5):1287-1291. doi: 10.1038/s41375-018-0347-y. Epub 2019 Jan 16. PMID:30651633

      3.          Luo H, Zhu G, Zha J, Yan B, Guo Y, Xu J, Lai Q, Xu B, Li W, Yang F-C, Qiu Y, Xu M, Huang S. Activation of HOTTIP lncRNA perturbs HSC function leading to AML-like disease in mice. (Cancer Cell 2019; in press).

      4.          Zhang P, He F, Bai J, Yamamoto S, Chen S, Zhang L, Sheng M, Zhang L, Guo Y, Man N, Yang H, Wang S, Cheng T, Nimer S.D., Zhou Y, Xu M*, Wang Q-F*, and Yang F-C*. Cooperative epigenetic regulation by ASXL1 and NF1 loss on leukemogenesis. J Clinical Investigation 2018 Sep 18. pii:121366.doi: 10.1172/JCI121366.

      5.          Chu Y, Zhao Z, Sant DW, Zhu G, Greenblatt SM, Liu L, Wang J, Cao Z, Tho JC, Chen S, Liu X, Zhang P, Maciejewski JP, Nimer S, Wang G, Yuan W, Yang F-C*, Xu M*. Tet2 Regulates Osteoclast Differentiation by Interacting with Runx1 and Maintaining Genomic 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC). Genomics Proteomics Bioinformatics. 2018, 16:172-186.doi:10.1016/j.gpb.2018.04.005. PMID:29908294

      6.          Guo Y, Yang U, Chen S, Zhang P, Li R, Nimer SD, Harbour JW, Xu M*, and Yang F-C*. Reduced BAP1 activity prevents ASXL1 truncation-driven myeloid malignancy in vivo. Leukemia 2018 Apr 2. doi: 10.1038/s41375-018-0126-9.PMID:29743720

      7.          Greenblatt SM, Man N, Hamard PJ, Asai T, Karl D, Martinez C, Bilbao D, Stathais V, McGrew-Jermacowicz A, Duffort S, Tadi M, Blumenthal E, Newman S, Vu L, Xu Y, Liu F, Schurer SC, McCabe MT, Kruger RG, Xu M, Yang F-C, Tenen D, Watts J, Vega F, Nimer SD. CARM1 Is Essential for Myeloid Leukemogenesis but Dispensable for Normal Hematopoiesis. Cancer Cell. 2018, 33:1111-1127.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2018.05.007.PMID:29894694

      8.        Luo H, Wang F, Li H, Du Q, Yan B, Sobh A, Vulpe Chr, Drusbosky L, Cogle C, Chepelev I, Xu B, Yang F-C, Nimer SD, Litch J, Chen B, Qiu Yi, Xu M, and Huang S. CTCF boundary remodels chromatin domain and drives aberrant HOX gene transcription in acute myeloid leukemia. Blood 2018, 132:837-848. doi: 10.1182/blood-2017-11-814319. PMID: 29760161

      9.          Inoue D, Fujino T, Sheridan P, Zhang YZ, Nagase R, Horikawa S, Li Z, Matsui H, Kanai A, Saika M, Yamaguchi R, Kozuka-Hata H, Kawabata KC, Yokoyama A, Goyama S, Inaba T, Imoto S, Miyano S, Xu M, Yang F-C, Oyama M, Kitamura T. A novel ASXL1-OGT axis plays roles in H3K4 methylation and tumor suppression in myeloid malignancies. Leukemia. 2018 doi: 10.1038/s41375-018-0083-3. PMID:29556021

      10.       Li R, Zhou Y, Cao Z, Liu L, Wang J, Chen Z, Xing W, Chen S, Bai J, Yuan W, Cheng T, Xu M, Yang F-C*, Zhao Z*. TET2 Loss Dysregulates the Behavior of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Accelerates Tet2-/--Driven Myeloid Malignancy Progression. Stem Cell Reports 2018, 10:166-179. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.11.019.

      11.       Zhang P, Chen Z, Li R, Guo Y, Shi H, Bai J, Yang H, Sheng M, Li Z, Li Z, Li J, Chen S, Yuan W, Cheng T, Xu M, Zhou Y, Yang F-C*. Loss of ASXL1 in the bone marrow niche dysregulates hematopoietic stem cell fates. Cell Discovery 2018, 4:4. doi: 10.1038/s41421-017-0004-z. eCollection. PMID:29423272

      12.       Yang H, Kurtenbach S, Guo Y, Lohse I, Durante MA, Li J, Li Z, Al-Ali H, Li L, Chen Z, Field MG, Zhang P, Chen S, Yamamoto S, Li Z, Zhou Y, Nimer DS, Harbour JW, Wahlestedt C, Xu M*, Yang F-C*. Gain of function of ASXL1 truncating protein in the pathogenesis of myeloid malignancies. Blood 2018, 131:328-341. doi: 10.1182/blood-2017-06-789669.

      13.       Li J, He F, Zhang P, Chen S, Shi H, Sun Y, Guo Y, Xu Z, Ban Y, Yang H, Man N, Greenblatt S, Li Z, Zhou Y, Wang L, Williams S, Chen S, Wang Q-T, Yu P, Nimer S, Wang Q, Xu M*, Yang F-C*. Loss of Asxl2 leads to myeloid malignancies in mice. Nature Communications 2017, 8:15456. doi: 10.1038/ncomms15456. PMID:28593990

      14.       Zhou Y., He Y., Xing W., Zhang P., Shi H., Chen S., Shi J., Bai J., Rhodes S.D., Zhang F., Yuan J, Yang X., Zhu X., Li Y., Hanenberg H., Xu M., Robertson K.A., Yuan W., Nalepa G., Cheng T., Clapp D.W., Yang F-Y*. Abnormal Bone Marrow Microenvironment Contributes to Hematopoietic Dysfunction in Fanconi Anemia. Haematologica 2017, 102:1017-1027. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2016.158717.

      15.       Li Z, Zhang P, Guo Y, Li J, Chen S, Yang H, He Y, Li J, Guo Y, Zhang W, Hajiramezanali E, Fajardo E, Ruan Y, Nimer S, Yu P, Xu M*, and Yang F-­­­­­­­­C*. ­­­­­­ASXL1 Interacts with the Cohesin Complex to Maintain Chromatid Separation and Gene Expression for Normal Hematopoiesis. Science Advances 2017, 3:e1601602. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.1601602. PMID:28116354

      16.       Pan F, Wingo S.T, Zhao Z, Gao R, Makishima H, Qu G, Yu M, Ortega JR, Nazha A, Chen S, Weeks O, Ni H, Phillips BL, Huang S, Wang J, He C, Radivoyevitch T, Li G-M, Aifantis I, Maciejewski JP, Yang F-C, Jin P, Xu M. TET2 protects the genome from mutagenicity. Nat Commun 2017, 8:15903. doi: 10.1038/ncomms15903.

      17.       Man N., Tan Y, Sun X-J, Liu F, Cheng G, Greenblatt S, Martinez C, Karl D.L., Ando K, Sun M, Hou D, Chen B, Xu M, Yang F-C, Chen Z, Chen S, Nimer SD and Wang L. Caspase-3 controls AML1-ETO-driven leukemogenesis via autophagy modulation in a ULK1 dependent manner. Blood 2017, 129:2782-2792. doi: 10.1182/blood-2016-10-745034, PMID:28381396

      18.       Zhang P, Xing C, Rhode S, He Y, Deng K, Li Z, He F, Zhu C, Nguyen L, Zhou Y, Chen S, Mohammad K, Guise TA, Abdel-Wahab O, Xu M, Wang Q-F, and Yang F-C*. Loss of Asxl1 Alters Self-Renewal and Cell Fate of Bone Marrow Stromal Cell, Leading to Bohring-Opitz-like Syndrome in Mice. Stem Cell Reports 2016, 6: 914–925.

      19.       Shi H, Yamamoto S, Sheng M, Bai J, Zhang P, Chen R, Chen S, Shi L, Abdel-Wahab O, Xu M, Zhou Y, Yang F-C*. ASXL1 plays an important role in erythropoiesis. Scientific Reports 2016; 6:28789.

      20.       Zhao Z, Chen S, Zhu X, Pan F, Li R, Zhou Y, Yuan W, Ni H, Yang F-C*, Xu M*. The catalytic activity of TET2 is essential for its myeloid malignancy-suppressive function in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Leukemia 2016; 30:1784-8. PMID:27003514

      21.       Rhodes SD, Yang F-C*. Aberrant myeloid differentiation contributes to the development of osteoporosis in neurofibromatosis type 1. Current Osteoporosis Reports 2016; 63:206-13.

      22.       Ferguson MJ, Rhodes SD, Jiang L, Li X, Yuan J, Yang X, Zhang S, Vakili ST, Territo P, Hutchins G, Yang F-C, Ingram DA, Clapp DW, Chen S. Preclinical Evidence for the Use of Sunitinib Malate in the Treatment of Plexiform Neurofibromas. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2016;63:206-13. PMID: 26375012

      23.       Man N, Sun XJ, Tan Y, Garcia-Cao M, Liu F, Cheng G, Hatlen M, Xu H, Shah R, Chastain N, Liu N, Huang G, Zhou Y, Sheng M, Song J, Yang F-C, Benezra R, Nimer SD, Wang L. Differential role of Id1 in MLL-AF9-driven leukemia based on cell of origin. Blood 2016, 127:2322-6. doi: 10.1182/blood-2015-11-677708. PMID:26944543

      24.       Zhao Z, Chen L, Dawlaty M, Pan F, Weeks O, Zhou Y, Cao Z, Shi H, W­ang J, Li L, Chen S, Yuan W, Qin Z, Ni H, Nimer SD, Yang F-C, Jaenisch R, Jin P, Xu M. Combined loss of Tet1 and Tet2 promotes B-cell, but not myeloid malignancies in mice. Cell Reports 2015; 13:1692–1704. PMID: 26586431

      25.       Rhodes SD, Yang H, Dong R, Menon K, He Y, Li Z, Chen S, Staser KW, Jiang L, Wu X, Yang X, Peng X, Mohammad KS, Guise TA, Xu M, Yang F-C*. Nf1 Haploinsufficiency Alters Myeloid Lineage Commitment and Function, Leading to Deranged Skeletal Homeostasis. J Bone Miner Res 2015; 30:1840-51.

      26.       Pan F, Weeks O, Yang F-C, Xu M. The TET2 interactors and their links to hematological malignancies. IUBMB Life. 2015, 67:438-45. doi: 10.1002/iub.1389.

      27.       Zhou Y, He Y, Sharma R, Xing W, Estwick SA, Wu X, Rhodes SD, Xu M. and Yang F-C*. Hyperactive RAS/PI3-K/MAPK Signaling Cascade in Migration and Adhesion of Nf1 Haploinsufficient Mesenchymal Stem/Progenitor Cells. Int J Mol Sci. 2015; 16:12345-59.

      28.       Rhodes SD, Zhang W, Yang D, Yang H, Chen S, Wu X, Li X, Yang X, Mohammad KS, Guise TA, Bergner AL, Stevenson DA, Yang F-C*.. Dystrophic Spinal Deformities in a Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Murine Model. PLoS ONE 2015, 10:e0119093. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119093

      29.       Childress P, Stayrook KR, Alvarez MB, Wang Z, Shao Y, Hernandez-Buquer S, Mack JK, Grese ZR, He Y, Horan D, Pavalko FM, Warden SJ, Robling AG, Yang F-C, Allen MR, Krishnan V, Liu Y, Bidwell JP. Genome-Wide Mapping and Interrogation of the Nmp4 Antianabolic Bone Axis. Mol Endocrinol. 2015;29:1269-85. doi: 10.1210/me.2014-1406.

      30.       Gehlhausen JR, Park SJ, Hickox AE, Shew M, Staser K, Rhodes SD, Menon K, Lajiness JD, Mwanthi M, Yang X, Yuan J, Territo P, Hutchins G, Nalepa G, Yang F-C, Conway SJ, Heinz MG, Stemmer-Rachamimov A, Yates CW, Wade Clapp D. A murine model of neurofibromatosis type 2 that accurately phenocopies human schwannoma formation. Hum Mol Genet. 2015;24:1-8. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddu414.

      31.       Li Y, Xing W, He YZ, Chen S, Rhodes SD, Yuan J, Zhou Y, Shi J, Bai J, Zhang FK, Yuan WP, Cheng T, Xu MJ, Yang F-C*. Interleukin 8/KC enhances G-CSF induced hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell mobilization in Fancg deficient mice. Stem Cell Investig. 2014 Oct 31;1:19. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2306-9759.2014.10.02. PMID: 27358865

      32.       W­ang J, Li Z, He Y, Pan F, Chen S, Rhodes R, Nguyen L, Yuan J, Jiang L, Yang X, Weeks O, Liu Z, Zhou J, Ni H, Cai C, Xu M*, Yang F-C*. Loss of Asxl1 leads to myelodysplastic syndrome-like disease in mice. BLOOD 2014, 123:541-53. doi: 10.1182/blood-2013-05-500272.

      33.       Huang H, Jiang X, Li Z, Li Y, Song C, He C, Sun M, Chen P, Gurbuxani S, Wang J, Hong G-M, Elkahloun AG, Arnovitz S, Wang J, Szulwach K, L Li, Street C, Wunderlich M, Dawlaty M, Neilly MB, Jaenisch R, Yang F-C, Mulloy JC, Jin P, Liu P, Rowley JD, Xu M, He C, Chen J. TET1 plays an essential oncogenic role in MLL-rearranged leukemia. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2013, 110:11994-9.

      34.       Sharma R, Wu X, Rhodes SD, Chen S, Yuan J, Li J, Yang X, Li X, Jiang L, Kim ET, Stevenson DA, Viskochil D, Xu M, Yang F-C*. Hyperactive Ras/MAPK signaling is critical for tibial non-union fracture in neurofibromin deficient mice. Human Molecular Genetics 2013;22:4818-28. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddt333.

      35.       Staser K, Park SJ, Rhodes SD, Zeng Y, He YZ, Shew MA, Gehlhausen JR, Cerabona D, Menon K, Chen S, Sun Z, Yuan J, Ingram DA, Nalepa G, Yang F-C, Clapp DW. Normal hematopoiesis and neurofibromin-deficient myeloproliferative disease require Erk. J Clin Invest 2013, 123:329-34. PMID:23221339

      36.       Nalepa G, Barnholtz-Sloan J, Enzor R, Dey D, He Y, Gehlhausen JR, Lehmann AS, Park SJ, Yang Y, Yang X, Chen S, Guan X, Chen Y, Renbarger J, Yang F-C, Parada LF, Clapp W. The tumor suppressor CDKN3 controls mitosis. J Cell Biol 2013. 201:997-1012 PMID:23775190

      37.       Staser K, Shew MA, Michels EG, Mwanthi MM, Yang F-C, Clapp DW, Park SJ. A Pak1-PP2A-ERM signaling axis mediates F-actin rearrangement and degranulation in mast cells. Exp Hematol 2013. 41:56-66.e2. PMID:23063725

      38.       Stevenson DA, Little D, Armstrong L, Crawford AH, Eastwood D, Friedman JM, Greggi T, Gutierrez G, Hunter-Schaedle K, Kendler DL, Kolanczyk M, Monsell F, Oetgen M, Richards BS, Schindeler A, Schorry EK, Wilkes D, Viskochil DH, Yang F-C, Elefteriou F. Approaches to treating NF1 tibial pseudarthrosis: consensus from the Children's Tumor Foundation NF1 Bone Abnormalities Consortium. J Pediatr Orthop 2013. 33:269-75. PMID:23482262

      39.       Rhodes S, Wu X, He Y, Chen S, Yang H, Staser KW, Wang J, Zhang P, Jiang C, Yokota H, Dong R, Peng X, Yang X, Murthy S, Azhar M, Mohammad KS, Xu M, Guise TA, Yang F-C* Hyperactive transforming growth factor-β1 signaling potentiates skeletal defects in a neurofibromatosis type 1 mouse model. J Bone Miner Res. 2013, 28:2476-89. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.1992. PMID: 23703870

      40.       He Y, Childress P, Hood M Jr, Alvarez M, Kacena MA, Hanlon M, McKee B, Bidwell JP, Yang F-C*. Nmp4/CIZ Suppresses the Parathyroid Hormone Anabolic Window by Restricting Mesenchymal Stem Cell and Osteoprogenitor Frequency. Stem Cells Dev 2013, 22:492-500, PMID: 22873745

      41.       Yang F-C*, Staser K, Clapp DW. The Plexiform Neurofibroma Microenvironment. Cancer Microenvironment. 2012. 5:307-10. PMID: 22821631

      42.       He Y, Rhodes SD, Chen S, Wu X, Yuan J, Yang X, Jiang L, Li X, Takahashi N, Xu M, Mohammad KS, Guise TA, Yang F-C*. c-Fms signaling mediates neurofibromatosis Type-1 osteoclast gain-in-functions. PLoS One 2012 7:e46900

      43.       Robertson KA, Nalepa G, Yang F-C, Bowers DC, Ho CY, Hutchins GD, Croop JM, Vik TA, Denne SC, Parada LF, Hingtgen CM, Walsh LE, Yu M, Pradhan KR, Edwards-Brown MK, Cohen MD, Fletcher JW, Travers JB, Staser KW, Lee MW, Sherman MR, Davis CJ, Miller LC, Ingram DA, Clapp DW. Imatinib mesylate for plexiform neurofibromas in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1: a phase 2 trial. Lancet Oncol 2012, 13:1218-24. PMID:23099009

      44.       Staser K, Yang F-C, Clapp DW. Pathogenesis of plexiform neurofibroma: tumor-stromal/hematopoietic interactions in tumor progression. Annu Rev Pathol 2012. 7:469-95. PMID:22077553

      45.       Staser K, Yang F-C, Clapp DW. Mast cells and the neurofibroma microenvironment. Blood 2012. 116:157-64 PMID:20233971

      46.       Bidwell JP, Childress P, Alvarez MB, Hood JM, He Y, Pavalko FM, Kacena MA, and Yang F-C*. Nmp4/CIZ Closes the Parathyroid Hormone Anabolic Window. Crit Rev Eukaryot Gene Expr 2012, 22:205–218

      47.       Bocker MT, Tuorto F, Raddatz G, Musch T, Yang F-C, Xu M, Lyko F & Breiling A. Hydroxylation of 5-methylcytosine by TET2 maintains the active state of the mammalian HOXA cluster. Nature Communications 2012, 3: 818 (DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1826)

      48.       Stevenson DA, Yan J., He Y., Li H,. Liu Y., Zhang Q., Jing Y., Guo Z., Zhang W., Yang D., Wu X., Hanson H., Li X, Staser K., Viskochil DH., Carey JC., Chen S., Miller L., Roberson K., Moyer-Mileur L., Yu M., Schwarz EL., Pasquali M., Yang F-C*. Multiple Increased Osteoclast Functions in Individuals with Neurofibromatosis Type 1. Am J Med Genet A 2011, 155A:1050-9. PMID:21465658

      49.       Stevenson DA, Yang F-C. The Musculoskeletal Phenotype of the RASopathies. Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet 2011, 157:90-103. PMID:21495174

      50.       Zhang W, Rhodes SD, Zhao L, He Y, Zhang Y, Shen Y, Yang D, Wu X, Li X, Yang X, Park S-J, Chen S, Turner C, and Yang F-C*. Primary osteopathy of vertebrae in a neurofibromatosis type 1 murine model. Bone, 2011, 48:1378-87. PMID:21439418

      51.       Yang Z, Chen M, Sitarski SA, Saadatzadeh T, Yin F, Yu M, Yang F-C, Chan R. Genetic disruption of the scaffolding protein, Kinase Suppressor of Ras1(KSR1), differentially regulates GM-CSF-stimulated hyper proliferation in hematopoietic progenitors expressing activating PTPN11 mutants D61Y and E76K. Leukemia Research 2011. 35:961-4. PMID:21555152

      52.       Wu X, Chen S, He Y, Rhodes SD, Mohammad KS, Li  X, Yang X, Jiang L, Nalepa G, Snider P, Robling AG, Clapp DW, Conway S J, Guise TA, Yang F-C*. Correction of the haploinsufficient hematopoietic microenvironment is sufficient to normalize the pathological fracture repair in genetically engineered murine models of neurofibromatosis type 1. PLoS One 2011, 6:e24917 PMID:21980365  

      53.       Li Z, Cai X, Cai CL, Wang J, Zhang W, Petersen BE, Yang F-C, Xu M. Deletion of Tet2 in mice leads to dysregulated hematopoietic stem cells and subsequent development of myeloid malignancies. Blood 2011, 118:4509-4518. PMID:21803851

      54.       He Y, Staser K, Rhodes SD, Liu y, Wu X, Park. S, Yang X, Li X, Jiang L, Chen S, Yang F-C*. Erk1 positively regulates osteoclast differentiation and bone resorptive activity. PLoS One 2011, 6:e24780. PMID:21961044

      55.       Wu X, Chen S, Orlando SA, Yuan J, Kim ET, Munugalavadla V, Mali RS, Kapur R, Yang F-C*. p85α regulates osteoblast differentiation by cross-talking with MAPK pathway. J Biol Chem 2011, 286:13512-21. PMID:21324896

      56.       Stevenson DA, Schwarz EL, Carey JC, Viskochil DH, Hanson H, Bauer S, Cindy Weng HY, Greene T, Reinker K, Swensen J, Chan RJ, Yang F-C, Senbanjo L, Yang Z, Mao R, Pasquali M. Bone Resorption in Syndromes of the Ras/MAPK Pathway. Clin Genet  2011. 80:566-73 PMID:21204800

      57.       Nebesio T, Chen S, Yang F-C*. What accounts for the variable responses to progesterone on Schwann cells from mice and humans – the species-specific influence or the paracrine effects from the tumor microenvironment? Cancer Biology & Therapy 2010, 10:11, 1-2 

      58.       Pulliam-Leath AC, Ciccone SL, Nalepa G, Li X, Si Y, Miravalle L, Smith D, Yuan J, Li J, Anur P, Orazi A, Vance GH, Yang F-C, Hanenberg H, Bagby GC, Clapp DW. Genetic disruption of both Fancc and Fancg in mice recapitulates the hematopoietic manifestations of Fanconi anemia. Blood 2010. 116:2915-20. PMID:20606166

      59.       Staser K, Yang F-C, Clapp DW. Plexiform neurofibroma genesis: questions of Nf1 gene dose and hyperactive mast cells. Curr Opin Hematol 17:287-93. PMID:20571392 (2010)

      60.       Chen S, Burgin S, McDaniel A, Li X, Yuan J, Chen M, Khalaf W, Clapp DW, Yang F-C*. Nf1-/- Schwann cell-conditioned medium modulates mast cell degranulation by c-Kit-mediated hyperactivation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Am J Pathol 2010, 177:3125-32. PMCID: PMC2993306

      61.       Benson EA, Goebl MG, Yang F-C, Kapur R, McClintick J, Sanghani S, Clapp D and Harrington M. Loss of SIMPL Compromises TNFα Dependent Survival of Hematopoietic Progenitors. Exp Hematol 2010. 38:71-81

      62.       Hirasawa H, Jiang C, Zhang P, Yang F-C, Yokota H. Mechanical stimulation suppresses phosphorylation of eIF2a and PERK-mediated responses to stress to the endoplasmic reticulum. FEBS Letters 2010. 584:745–752

      63.       Li Y, Chen S, Yuan J, Yang Y, Li J, Ma J, Wu X, Freund M, Pollok K, Hanenberg H, Goebel WS, Yang F-C*.  Mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells promote the reconstitution of exogenous hematopoietic stem cells in Fancg-/- mice in vivo. Blood 2009, 113:2342-51

      64.       Li H, Liu Y, Zhang Q, Jing Y, Chen S, Song Z, Yan J, Li Y, Wu X, Zhang X, Zhang Y, Case J, Yu M, Ingram DA, Yang F-C*.  Ras dependent paracrine secretion of osteopontin by Nf1+/- osteoblasts promotes osteoclast activation in a neurofibromatosis type I murine model. Pediatr Res 2009, 65:613-8

      65.       Elefteriou F, Kolanczyk M, Schindeler A, Viskochil DH, Hock JM, Schorry EK, Crawford AH, Friedman JM, Little D, Peltonen J, Carey JC, Feldman D, Yu X, Armstrong L, Birch P, Kendler DL, Mundlos S, Yang F-C, Agiostratidou G, Hunter-Schaedle K, Stevenson DA.Skeletal abnormalities in neurofibromatosis type 1: approaches to therapeutic options. Am J Med Genet A 2009. 149A:2327-38

      66.       Goodman ML, Chen S, Yang F-C, Chan RJ. Novel Method of Murine Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Osteoclast Development. Stem Cells Dev 2009. 18:195-200. PMID:18616393

      67.       Yan J, Chen S, Zhang Y, Li Y, Li X, Yuan J, Eskwick S, Robling A, Kapur R, Chan RJ, Yang F-C*. Rac1, but not Rac2, mediates osteoclast gain-of-function induced by Nf1 haploinsufficiency. Hum Mol Genet 2008, 17:936-48

      68.       Yang F-C, Ingram DA, Chen S, Zhu Y, Yuan J, Li X, Yang X, Knowles S, Horn W, Li Y, Zhang S, Vakili ST, Yu M, Burns D, Robertson K, Hutchins G, Parada LF, Clapp DW. NF1 tumor suppressor haploinsufficient bone marrow complements nullizygous Schwann cells to form plexiform neurofibromas. Cell 2008, 135:437-448

      69.       Munugalavadla V, Vemula S, Krishnan S, Sims EC, Chen S, Yan J, Li H, Niziolek PJ, Takemoto C, Robling AG, Yang F-C, Kapur R. p85{alpha} subunit of class IA PI-3Kinase regulates the expression of multiple genes involved in osteoclast maturation and migration. Mol Cell Biol 2008. 28:7182-7198  

      70.       Nebesio TD, Ming W, Chen S, Clegg T, Yuan J, Yang Y, Estwick SA, Li Y, Li X, Hingtgen CM, Yang F-C*. Neurofibromin-deficient Schwann cells have increased lysophosphatidic acid dependent survival and migration-implications for increased neurofibroma formation during pregnancy. Glia 2007, 55:527-536

      71.       Khalaf WF, Yang F-C, Chen S, White H, Bessler W, Ingram DA, Clapp DW.  K-ras Is Critical for Modulating Multiple c-kit-Mediated Cellular Functions in WT and Nf1+/- Mast Cells. J Immunol 2007, 178:2527-2734

      72.       Wu X, Estwick SA, Chen S, Ming W, Nebesio TD, Li Y, Yuan J, Kapur R, Ingram D, Yoder MC, Yang F-C*. Neurofibromin plays a critical role in modulating osteoblast differentiation of mesenchymal stem /progenitor cells. Hum Mol Genet 2006,15:2837- 2845

      73.       Perry BC, Zhou D, Wu X, Yang F-C, Byers MA, Chu TM, Hockema JJ, Woods EJ, Goebel WS. Collection, cryopreservation, and characterization of human dental pulp-derived mesenchymal stem cells for banking and clinical use. Tissue Eng Part C Methods 2008. 14:149-56

      74.       Pulliam AC, Hobson MJ, Ciccone SL, Li Y, Chen S, Srour EF, Yang F-C, Broxmeyer HE, Clapp DW. AMD3100 synergizes with G-CSF to mobilize repopulating stem cells in Fanconi anemia knockout mice. Exp Hematol 2008. 36:1084-90

      75.       Li B, Jia N, Waning DL, Yang F-C, Haneline LS, Chun KT. Cul4A is required for hematopoietic stem cell engraftment and self-renewal. Blood 2007. 110:2704-7. PMID:17616641

      76.       Yang F-C, S. Chen,  T. Clegg, X. Li, T. Morgan, S.A. Estwick, J. Yuan, W. Khalaf, S. Burgin, J. Travers, L.F. Parada, D.A. Ingram, and D.W. Clapp.  Nf1+/- mast cells induce neurofibroma like phenotypes through secreted TGF-b signaling. Hum Mol Genet 2006, 16:1-17

      77.       Yang F-C *, S. Chen, A.G. Robling,  X. Yu, T.D. Nebesio, J. Yan, T. Morgan, X. Li, Jin Yuan, J. Hock, D.A. Ingram and D.W. Clapp.  Hyperactivation of p21ras and PI3-K cooperate to alter murine and human NF1 haploinsufficient osteoclast functions.  J Clin Invest 2006, 116:2880-2891

      78.       Munchhof AM, LFi, White HA, Mead LE, Krier TR, Fenoglio A, Li X, Yuan J, Yang F-C and Ingram DA.  Neurofibroma-associated growth factors activate a distinct signaling network to alter the function of neurofibromin-deficient endothelial cells. Hum Mol Genet 2006. 15:1858-1869

      79.       Li F, Munchhof AM, White HA, Mead LE, Krier TR, Fenoglio A, Chen S, Wu X, Cai S, Yang F-C, and Ingram DA.  Neurofibromin is a novel regulator of RAS-induced signals in primary vascular smooth muscle cells. Hum Mol Genet 2006. 15:1921-1930

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      83.       Jansen M, Yang F-C, Cancelas JA, Bailey JR, Williams D.  Rac2-deficient hematopoietic stem cells show defective interaction with the hematopoietic microenvironment and long-term engraftment failure. Stem Cells 2005, 23:335-46. PMID: 15749928

      84.       Li B, Yang F-C, Clapp WD, Chun KT.  Enforced expression of CUL-4A interferes with granulocytic differentiation and exit from the cell cycle. Blood 2003, 101:1769-76. PMID:12393421

      85.       Huddleston H, Tan B, Yang F-C, White H, Wenning MJ, Orazi A, Yoder MC, Kapur R, Ingram DA.  Functional p85alpha gene is required for normal murine fetal erythropoiesis. Blood. 2003. 102:142-5.  PMID:12623844

      86.       Yang F-C, Ingram DA, Chen S, Hingtgen CM, Ratner N, Monk KR, Clegg T, White H, Mead L, Wenning MJ, Williams DA, Kapur R, Atkinson SJ, Clapp DW.  Neurofibromin deficient Schwann cells secrete a potent migratory stimulus for Nf1 +/- mast cells. J Clin Invest 2003, 112:1851-61. PMCID:PMC296994

      87.       Croker BA, Handman E, Hayball JD, Baldwin TM, Voigt V, Cluse LA, Yang F-C, Williams DA, Roberts AW.  Rac2-deficient mice display perturbed T-cell distribution and chemotaxis, but only minor abnormalities in T(H)1 responses. Immunol Cell Biol 2002. 80:231-40. PMID:12067410

      88.       Croker BA, Tarlinton DM, Cluse LA, Tuxen AJ, Light A, Yang F-C, Williams DA, Roberts AW.  The Rac2 guanosine triphosphatase regulates B lymphocyte antigen receptor responses and chemotaxis and is required for establishment of B-1a and marginal zone B lymphocytes. J Immunol 2002. 168:3376-86. PMID:11907095

      89.       Ingram DA, Zhang L, McCarthy J, Wenning MJ, Fisher L, Yang F-C., Clapp DW, Kapur R.  Lymphoproliferative defects in mice lacking the expression of neurofibromin: functional and biochemical consequences of Nf1 deficiency in T-cell development and function. Blood 2002. 100:3656-62.

      90.       Yang F-C, Atkinson SJ, Gu Y, Borneo J, Pennington J, Williams DA.  The hematopoietic-specific Rho GTPase, Rac2, is essential for normal adhesion and controlled movement of hematopoietic progenitor cells in vitro and in vivo. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2001, 98:5614-18

      91.       Yi G, Jia B, Yang F-C, D’Souza M, Harris CE, Derrow CW, Zheng Y, Williams DA.  Biochemical and Biological Characterization of a Human Rac2 GTPase mutant associated with phagocytic immunodeficiency. J Biol Chem 2001. 276:15929-38. PMID:11278678

      92.       Xu M, Matsuoka S, Yang F-C, Ebihara Y, Manabe A, Tanaka R, Eguchi M, Asano S, Nakahata T,  Tsuji K.  Evidence for the presence of murine primitive megakaryocytopoiesis in the early yolk sac. Blood 2001 97:2016-22. PMID:11264166

      93.       Yang F-C, Kapur R, King AJ, Tao W, Kim C, Borneo J, Breese R, Marshall M, Dinauer MC, Williams DA. Rac 2 mediates Akt activation and BAD/Bcl-XL expression controlling cell survival and actin-based cell function in primary mast cells. Immunity 2000, 12:557-68

      94.       Ingram DA, Yang F-C, Travers JB, Wenning MJ, Hiatt K, New S, Hood A, Shannon K, Williams DA, Clapp DW.  Genetic and biochemical evidence that haploinsufficiency of the Nf1 tumor-suppressor gene modulates melanocyte and mast cell fates in vivo. J Exp Med 2000, 191:181-7. PMID:10620616. PMCID: PMC2195790

      95.       Williams DA, Tao W, Yang F-C, Kim C, Gu Y, Mansfield P, Levine J, Petryniak B, Derrow D, Harris C,  Jia B, Zheng Y, Ambruso D, Lowe J, Akison S, Dinauer MC, Boxer L.  A dominant negative mutation of the hematopoietic-specific RhoGTPase, Rac2, is associated with a human phagocyte immunodeficiency. Blood 2000, 96:1646-1654

      96.       Ma F, Yang F-C, Kaneko A, Manabe A, Tanaka R, Asano S, Nakahata T, Tsuji K.  Cytokine requirement for the development of T-lymphoid lineage potential in clonal lymphohematopoietic progenitors in vitro. Br J Haematol 2000. 111:1170-79

      97.       Yang F-C, Tsuji K, Oda A, Ebihara Y, Xu MJ, Kaneko A, Hanada S, Mitsui T, Kikuchi A, Manabe A, Watanabe S, Ikeda Y, Nakahata T.  Differential effect of human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (hG-CSF) and thrombopoietin on megakaryocytopoiesis and platelet function in hG-CSF receptor-transgenic mice. Blood 1999, 94:950-8

      98.       Yang F-C, Watanabe S, Tsuji K, Xu M, Kaneko A, Ebihara Y, Nakahata T.  Human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) stimulates the in vitro and in vivo development but not commitment of primitive multipotential progenitors from transgenic mice expressing human G-CSF receptor. Blood 1998, 92:4632-40. PMID:9845529

      99.    Xu MJ, Tsuji K, Ueda T, Mukouyama YS, Hara T, Yang F-C, Ebihara Y, Matsuoka S, Manabe A, Kikuchi A, Ito M, Miyajima A, Nakahata T.  Stimulation of mouse and human primitive hematopoiesis by murine embryonic aorta-gonad-mesonephros-derived stromal cell lines. Blood 1998. 92:2032-40. PMID:9731061

      100.    Umemoto Y, Tsuji K, Yang F-C, Ebihara Y, Kaneko A, Furukawa S, Nakahata T.  Leptin stimulates the proliferation of murine myelocytic and primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells. Blood 1997. 90:3438-43. PMID: 9345027

      101.    Agematsu K, Nagumo H, Yang F-C, Nakazawa T, Fukushima K, Susumu I, Kanji S, Mori T, Morimoto C, Komiyama A.  B cell subpopulations separated by CD27 crucial collaboration of CD27+ B cells and helper T cells in immunoglobulin production. Eur J Immunol 1997. 27:2073-9. PMID 9295047

      102.    Yang F-C, Agematsu K, Nakazawa T, Mori T, Ito S, Kobata T, Morimoto C, Komiyama A.  CD27/CD70 interaction directly induces NK cell killing activity. Immunology 1996 88:289-93. PMID:8690463

      103.    Yabuhara A, Yang F-C, Iwasaki Y, Mori T, Kawai H, Komiyama A.  A killing defect of natural killer cells as an underlying immunologic abnormality in childhood systemic lupus erythematosus. J Rheumatol 1996. 23:171-7.  PMID: 8838528

      104.    Yang F-C, Yabuhara A, Koike K, Komiyama A.  Functional Abnormalities of Nature Killer Cells in Childhood Hemophagocytic Syndrome.  Jpn J Clin Immuno 1995. 18:36-44

      105.    Koike K, Yabuhara A, Yang F-C, Shiohara M, Sawai N, Sugenoya A, Iida F, Koyama Y, Takano K, Takahashi T.  Frequent natural killer cell abnormality in children in an area highly contaminated by the Chernobyl accident. Int J Hematol 1995. 61:139-45. PMID:7599325

      106.    Agematsu K, Kobata T, Yang F-C; Nakazawa T, Fukushima K, Kitahara M, Mori T, Sugita K, Morimoto C, Komiyama A. CD27/CD70 interaction directly drives B cell IgG and IgM synthesis. European Journal of Immunology 1995. 25:2825-2829