Zhi Liu, M.D., Ph.D., Professor

Education/Degrees

  • Nankai University (Tianjin, P.R. of China), B.S., 1982, Genetics
  • Nankai University (Tianjin, P.R. of China), M.S., 1985, Developmental Biology
  • Medical College of Wisconsin (Milwaukee, WI), Ph.D.,1993, Biochemistry


Postgraduate training

  • 1993-1994 Dermatology Foundation Research Fellow, Department of Dermatology, Medical                                 College of Wisconsin

Research Interests

  • Biochemistry, cell biology, and immunology of hemidesmosome and basement membrane.
  • Immunopathogenesis of inflammatory reactions in human autoimmune skin blistering diseases.
  • Cellular and humoral immune responses to BP180 autoantigen.

Selected Publications

  1. Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A., Swartz, S.J., Fairley, J.A., Troy, J.L., and Giudice, G.J. Molecular mapping of a pathogenically relevant BP180 epitope associated with experimentally induced murine bullous pemphigoid.  J. Immunol. 155:5449-5454, 1995.
  2. Liu, Z., Haas, A.L., Diaz, L.A., Conrad, C.A., and Giudice, G.J. Characterization of a novel human ubiquitin carrier protein. J. Biol. Chem. 271:2817-2822, 1996.
  3. Liu, Z., Giudice, G.J., Zhou, X., Swartz, S.J., Troy, J.L., Fairley, J.A., Till, G.O., and Diaz, L.A. A major role for neutrophils in experimental bullous pemphigoid. J. Clin. Invest. 100:1256-1263, 1997.
  4. Espaņa, A., Diaz, L.A., Giudice, G.J., Fairley, J.A., Till, G.O., and Liu, Z. Mechanisms of acantholysis in pemphigus foliaceus. The role of complement.  Clin. Immunol. Immunopath. 85:83-89, 1997.
  5. Liu, Z., Roopenian, D.C., Zhou, X., Diaz, L.A., Sedmak, D.D., and Anderson, C.L. b2 microglobulin-deficient mice are resistant to bullous pemphigoid. J. Exp. Med. 186:777-783, 1997.
  6. Liu, Z., Shipley, J.M., Vu, T.H., Zhou, X., Diaz, L.A., Werb, Z., and Senior, R.M. Gelatinase B-deficient mice are resistant to experimental BP. J. Exp. Med. 188:475-482, 1998.
  7. Ding, X., Diaz, L.A., Fairley, J.A., Giudice, G.J., and Liu, Z. he anti-desmoglein 1 autoantibodies in pemphigus vulgaris sera are pathogenic.  J. Invest. Dermatol. 112:739-743, 1999.
  8. Liu, Z., Shapiro, S.D., Zhou, X., Twining, S., Senior, R.M., Giudice, G.J., Fairley, J.A., and Diaz, L,A. Neutrophil elastase plays a direct role in dermal-epidermal junction separation in experimental bullous pemphigoid. J. Clin. Invest. 105:113-123. 2000.
  9. Liu, Z., Zhou, X., Shapiro, S.D., Shipley, J.M., Twining, S.S., Diaz, L.A., Senior, R.M., Werb, Z. The serpin alpha1-proteinase inhibitor is a critical substrate for gelatinase B/MMP-9 in vivo. Cell 102:647-55. 2000.