Yisong Wan, Ph.D.

wany@email.unc.edu 22-046 Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center CB# 7295 919 966 9728

Research

We are a molecular genetic laboratory studying immune functions by using mouse models. The focus of our research is to investigate the molecular mechanisms of immune responses under normal and pathological conditions. Our goal is to find therapies for various human immune disorders, such as autoimmunity (type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis), tumor and cancer, and inflammatory diseases (inflammatory bowel disease, asthma and arthritis). The research areas that we are engaged in can be generally described as following,

1) Elucidate the mechanisms through which Foxp3 expressing regulatory T cells modulate immune responses.
2) Investigate the functions of TGF-beta super-family signaling in immunity.
3) Study the roles of MAPK in the formation and function of the immune system.
4) Test the feasibility of treating various tumor and cancer by manipulating MAPK activities.

Our research is diverse and dynamic; for details regarding specific projects, please feel free to contact Yisong.

Publications

Pubmed search phrases: Wan YY or Wan Yisong

RESEARCH ARTICLES:

Yan G. Zhao , Yunqi Wang, Weidong Hao and Yisong Y. Wan, “Essential Role for TAK1 in Contact Hypersensitivity Response” Cellular & Molecular Immunology (accepted 2011)

M. Kamanaka, L.A. Zenewicz, S. Huber, N. Gagliani, C. Rathinam, W. O'Connor Jr., Y.Y, Wan, S. Nakae, Y. Iwakura, L. Hao and R.A. Flavell, “Memory/effector (CD45RBlo) CD4 T cells are controlled directly by IL-10 and cause IL-22 dependent intestinal pathology” J. Exp. Med. 2011 Apr 25. [Epub ahead of print]

Yunqi Wang, Abdallah Souabni, Richard A. Flavell, and Yisong Y. Wan. “An intrinsic mechanism predisposes Foxp3-expressing Treg cells to Th2 conversion in vivo” J Immunol. 2010 Oct 13. [Epub ahead of print] (PMID: 20944002)

Michael J. Carlson, James M. Coghill, Michelle L. West, Joseph E. Burgents, LeShara M. Fulton, Yisong Wan, Angela Panoskaltsis-Mortari, Thomas F. Tedder, Bruce R. Blazar, Jonathan S. Serody. “L-selectin is dispensable for T regulatory cell function post allogeneic bone marrow transplantation” Am J Transplant. 2010 Dec;10(12):2596-603 (PMID: 21070606)

Yisong Y. Wan. “Multi-tasking of helper T cells.” Immunology. 2010 Jun;130(2):166-71. (PMID: 20557575)

Yisong Y. Wan. “Regulatory T cells: immune suppression and beyond.” Cell Mol Immunol. 2010 May;7(3):204-10. (PMID: 20383175)

Daniel Hawiger, Yisong Y. Wan, Elizabeth E. Eynon and Richard A. Flavell. “The transcription cofactor Hopx is required for regulatory T cell function in dendritic cell-mediated peripheral T cell unresponsiveness.” Nat Immunol. 2010 Oct;11(10):962-8. Epub 2010 Aug 29. (PMID: 20802482)

Anant Jani, Tian Chi* and Yisong Y. Wan* “Chromatin remodeling complex in Treg function” Int Immunopharmacol. 2009 May;9(5):521-3. *co-correspondence (PMID: 19539570)

Yisong Y. Wan* and Richard A. Flavell*. “How Diverse—CD4 Effector T Cells and their Functions” J Mol Cell Biol. 2009 Oct;1(1):20-36.. *co-correspondence (PMID: 19482777)

Yasmina Laouar, Terrence Town, David Jeng1, Elise Tran, Yisong Wan, Vijay K Kuchroo and Richard A Flavell, “TGF-β signaling in dendritic cells is a prerequisite for the control of autoimmune encephalomyelitis.” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Aug 5;105(31):10865-70. Epub 2008 Jul 31. (PMID: 18669656)

Yisong Y. Wan & Richard A. Flavell. “TGF-beta and Regulatory T Cell in Immunity and Autoimmunity” J Clin Immunol. 2008 Nov;28(6):647-59 (PMID: 18792765)

Ming O. Li, Yisong Y. Wan and Richard A. Flavell, “T Cell-Produced Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Controls T Cell Tolerance, and Regulates Th1 and Th17 Cell Differentiation.” Immunity. 2007 May;26(5):579-91. (PMID: 17481928)

Yisong Y. Wan and Richard A. Flavell, "Regulatory T-cell functions are subverted and converted owing to attenuated Foxp3 expression." Nature. 2007 Feb 15;445(7129):766-70. (PMID: 17220876)

Yisong Y. Wan and Richard A. Flavell, ““Yin–Yang” functions of transforming growth factor-β and T regulatory cells in immune regulation” Immunol Rev. 2007 Dec;220(1):199-213. (PMID: 17979848)

Stephen H. Wrzesinski, Yisong Y. Wan and Richard A. Flavell, “Transforming Growth Factor-β and the Immune Response: Implications for Anticancer Therapy” Clin Cancer Res. 2007 Sep 15;13(18):5262-70. (PMID: 17875754)

Yisong Y. Wan and Richard Flavell, “Regulatory T cells, TGF-β and immune suppression” Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society 2007 Jul;4(3):271-6. (PMID: 17607012)

Yisong Y. Wan and Richard A. Flavell, “TGF-beta and regulatory T cells” Regulatory T Cells. Book chapter (Chapter 5) Springer Publisher 2007.

Masahito Kamanaka, Sean T. Kim, Yisong Y. Wan, Fayyaz S. Sutterwala, Maria Lara-Tejero, Jorge E. Galán, Ed Harhaj and Richard A. Flavell, "Expression of Interleukin-10 in Intestinal Lymphocytes Detected by an Interleukin-10 Reporter Knockin tiger Mouse." Immunity. 2006 Dec;25(6):941-52. (PMID: 17137799)

Yisong Y. Wan, Hongbo Chi, Min Xie, Michael D. Schneider and Richard A. Flavell, "The kinase TAK1 integrates antigen and cytokine receptor signaling for T cell development, survival and function." Nature Immunology 2006 Aug;7(8):851-8. (PMID: 16799562)

Yisong Y. Wan and Richard A. Flavell, “The roles for cytokines in the generation and maintenance of regulatory T cells” Immunological Reviews 2006 Vol. 212: 114–130. (PMID: 16903910)

Ming O. Li, Yisong Y. Wan, Shomyseh Sanjabi, Anna-Karin L. Robertson, and Richard A. Flavell, “Transforming Growth Factor-beta Regulation of Immune Responses” Annu Rev Immunol. 2006;24:99-146. (PMID: 16551245)

Martin A. Kriegel, Ming O. Li, Shomyseh Sanjabi, Yisong Y. Wan, and Richard A. Flavell, “Transforming growth factor-beta: recent advances on its role in immune tolerance.” Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2006 Apr;8(2):138-44. (PMID: 16569373)

Yisong Y. Wan, and Richard A. Flavell, “Identifying Foxp3 Expressing Suppressor T Cells with a Bi-cistronic Reporter” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Apr 5;102(14):5126-31. (PMID: 15795373)

Accomplishments

GRANT AWARDS:

2000: Biotechnology Fellowship from the Colorado Institute for Research in
Biotechnology

2003-2006: Cancer Research Institute (CRI) Postdoctoral Fellowship

2008- NIH K99/R00 career development award (1K99AI072956-01A1).
Project: Roles for TAK1 in T cell development, function and tumorigenesis