Qingqing Wei, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy
Office: R&E Building, CB1124
Phone: 706-721-3551
Fax: 706-721-6120
envelope-o icon qwei@augusta.edu
Dr. Zheng Dong's Research Lab
R&E Building, CB1124
Phone: 706-721-3551, 706-721-4292
Dong Lab Personnel
Qingqing Wei, PhD, Associate Professor
Man J. Livingston, MD/PhD, Asst Res Scientist
Shixuan Wang, MD/PhD, Asst Res Scientist
Guie Dong, Research Associate
Zhengwei Ma, MD/PhD, Research Associate
Xiaohong Xiang, MD, Visiting Graduate Student
Xiaoru Hu, MD, Visiting Graduate Student
Lu Wen, MD, Visiting Graduate Student
Siyao Li, MD, Visiting Graduate Student
Xun Zhou, Visiting Researcher
Education
1996 - BS, Nanjing University, Nanjing Jiangsu P.R. China
2001 - PhD, Shanghai Institute of Physiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai
P.R. China
Post Doctoral Training
Augusta University 2002-2005
University of Virginia 2001-2002
Research Interests
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major kidney disease with high mortality clinically,
which can be induced by injurious factors such as ischemia, nephrotoxins, and sepsis.
In addition, patients are at higher risk to develop chronic kidney diseases (CKD,
characterized by maladaptive tubular repair and massive renal fibrosis development)
even after they are recovered from an AKI episode. Our research interests are the
pathophysiological mechanisms, specifically the epigenetic regulation, of AKI and
CKD. Currently we mainly focus on the role of a long non-coding RNA GSTM3P1 (an RNA
transcript from pseudogene). We will use both in vitro and in vivo mouse model to
understand its pro-renal injury role in ischemic AKI, its interaction with microRNAs,
and its regulation to the parent gene GSTM3. In addition, we will also explore the
role of long non-coding RNAs and microRNAs in other AKI models and how they regulate
the renal repair and fibrosis in CKD models.
Publications
- Q Wei, S Chen, X Cheng, X Yu, J Hu, M Li, and P Zhu. Topography of skeletal muscle
ryanodine receptors studied by atomic force microscopy. Journal of Vacuum Science
and Technology B, 18(2): P636-638, 2000.
- R Xia, X Cheng, H Wang, K Chen, Q Wei, X Zhang and P Zhu. Biphasic modulation of ryanodine
binding to HSR of skeletal muscle by zinc ions. Biochemical Journal 345: P279-286,
2000.
- H Wang, Q Wei, X Cheng, K Chen and P Zhu. Inhibition of ryanodine binding to sarcoplasmic
reticulum vesicles of cardiac muscle by Zn2+ ions. Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry
11: 83-92, 2001.
- Q Wei, X Cheng, K Chen, J Hu, M Li and P Zhu. The atomic force microscopy study of
the rabbit skeletal ryanodine receptor in different functional states. Science in
China (Series C), 31(6): 565-573, 2001.
- Q Wei, M Alam, M Wang, F Yu and Z Dong. Bid activation in kidney cells following ATP
depletion in vitro and ischemia in vivo. American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology
286(4): F803-F809, 2004.
- J Wang, Q Wei, C Wang, W Hill, D Hess and Z Dong. Minocycline up-regulates Bcl-2 and
protects against cell death in the mitochondria. The Journal of Biological Chemistry,
279(19): 19948-19954, 2004.
- Q Wei, J Wang, MH Wang, F Yu and Z Dong. Inhibition of apoptosis by Zn2+ in renal
tubular cells following ATP-depletion. American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology,
287(3): F492-F500, 2004.
- Q Wei, MH Wang and Z Dong. Differential gender difference in ischemic and nephrotoxic
acute renal failure. American Journal of Nephrology, 25: 491-499, 2005.
- Q Wei, XM Yin, MH Wang and Z Dong. Bid deficiency ameliorates ischemic renal failure
and delays animal death in C57BL/6 mice American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology,
290: F35-F42, 2006.
- M Jiang, Q Wei, J Wang, Q Du, J Yu, L Zhang and Z Dong. Regulation of PUMA-a by p53
in cisplatin-induced renal cell apoptosis. Oncogene, 25: 4056-4066, 2006.
- M Jiang, Q Wei, N Pabla, G Dong, CY Wang, T Yang, SB Smith and Z Dong. Effects of
hydroxyl radical scavenging on cisplatin-induced p53 activation, tubular cell apoptosis
and nephrotoxicity. Biochemical Pharmacology, 73: 1499-1510, 2007.
- Q Wei, G Dong, J Franklin, Z Dong. The pathological role of Bax in cisplatin nephrotoxicity.
Kidney International, 72: 53-62, 2007.
- C Brooks, Q Wei, L Feng, G Dong, Y Tao, L Mei, ZJ Xie, Z Dong. Bak regulates mitochondrial
morphology and pathology during apoptosis by interacting with mitofusins. Proc Natl
Acad Sci U S A. 104: 11649-11654, 2007.
- Q Wei, G Dong, T Yang, J Megyesi, PM Price, Z Dong. Activation and Involvement of
p53 in Cisplatin-induced Nephrotoxicity. American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology,
293(4): F1282-1291, 2007.
- S Periyasamy-Thandavan, M Jiang, Q Wei, R Smith, XM Yin, Z Dong. Autophagy is cytoprotective
during cisplatin injury of renal proximal tubular cells. Kidney International, 74:
631-640, 2008.
- C Brooks, Q Wei, SG Cho, Z Dong. Regulation of mitochondrial dynamics in acute kidney
injury in cell culture and rodent model. J Clin Invest, 119(5): 1275-1285, 2009. (Brooks
and Wei are co-first authors.)
- Q Wei, K Bhatt, HZ He, QS Mi, VH Haase, Z Dong. Targeted deletion of Dicer from proximal
tubules protects against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury. J Am Soc Nephrol, 21(5):
756-761, 2010.
- X Li, N Pabla, Q Wei, G Dong, RO Messing, CY Wang, Z Dong. PKC-delta promotes renal
tubular cell apoptosis associated with proteinuria. J Am Soc Nephrol, 21(7): 111-1124,
2010.
- Q Wei, WD Hill, Y Su, S Huang, Z Dong. Heme oxygenase1 induction contributes to renoprotection
by G-CSF during rhabdomyolysis-associated acute kidney injury. Am J Physiol Renal
Physiol. 301(1): F162-170, 2011.
- M Jiang, Q Wei, G Dong, M Komatsu, Y Su, Z Dong. Autophagy in proximal tubules protects
against acute kidney injury. Kidney Int, 82(12):1271-83, 2012.
• Q Wei, G Dong, JK Chen, G Ramesh, Z Dong. Bax and Bak have critical roles in ischemic
acute kidney injury in gloval and proximal tubules-specific knockout mouse models.
Kidney Int. 84(1):138-148, 2013.
- S Wang, Q Wei, G Dong, Z Dong. ERK-mediated suppression of cilia in cisplatin-induced
tubular cell apoptosis and acute kidney injury. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1832(10):1582-1590,
2013.
- X Xiao, Y Hu, PM Quirós, Q Wei, C López-Otín, Z Dong. OMA1 mediates OPA1 proteolysis
and mitochondrial fragmentation in experimental models of ischemic kidney injury.
Am J Physiol Renal Rhysiol, 306(11): F1318-1326, 2014.
- Z Ma, Q Wei, G Dong, Y Huo, Z Dong. DNA damage response in renal ischemia-reperfusion
and ATP-depletion injury of renal tubular cells. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1842(7):1088-1096,
2014.
- Q Wei, X Xiao, P Fogle, Z Dong. Changes in metabolic profiles during acute kidney
injury and recovery following ischemia/reperfusion. PLoS One. 9(9): e106647, 2014.
- D Zhang, Y Liu, Q Wei, Y Huo, K Liu, F Liu, Z Dong. Tubular P53 regulates multiple
genes to mediate AKI. J Am Soc Nephrol. 25(10):2278-2289, 2014.
- C Guo, Q Wei, Y Su, Z Dong. SUMOylation occurs in acute kidney injury and plays a
cytoprotective role. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1852 (3): 482-489, 2015.
- K Bhatt, Q Wei, N Pabla, G Dong, QS Mi, M Liang, C Mei, Z Dong. MicroRNA-687 Induced
by Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 Targets Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog in Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion
Injury. J Am Soc Nephrol. 26(7): 1588-1596, 2015.
- J Zhang, NP Rudemiller, MB Patel, Q Wei, NS Karlovich, AD Jeffs, M Wu, MA Sparks,
JR Privratsky, M Herrera, SB Gurley, SA Nedospasov, SD Crowley. Competing actions
of Type 1 Angiotensin II Receptors Expressed on T lymphocytes and Kidney Epithelium
during Cisplatin-Induced AKI. J Am Soc Nephrol. 27(8): 2257-2264, 2016.
- Q Wei, Y Lium P Liu, J Hao, M Liang, QS Mi, JK Chen, Z Dong. MicroRNA-489 Induction
by Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 Protects against Ischemic Kidney Injury. J Am Soc Nephrol,
27(9): 2784-2796, 2016.
- J Hao, Q Wei, S Mei, L Li, Y Su, C Mei, Z Dong. Induction of microRNA-17-5p by P53
protects against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury by targeting death receptor 6.
Kidney Int, 91(1):106-118. 2017.
- J Hao, Q Lou, Q Wei, S Mei, L Li, G Wu, QS Mi, C Mei, Z Dong. MicroRNA-375 is induced
in cisplatin nephrotoxicity to repress hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-β. J Biol Chem,
292(11):4571-4582, 2017.
- S Mei, L Li, Q Wei, J Hao, Y Su, C Mei, Z Dong. Double knockout of Bax and Bak from
kidney proximal tubules reduces unilateral urethral obstruction associated apoptosis
and renal interstitial fibrosis. Sci Rep, 7: 44892, 2017.
- GR Crislip, PM O’Connor, Q Wei, JC, Sullivan. Vasa Recta pericyte density is negatively
associated with vascular congestion in the renal medulla following ischemia reperfusion
in rats. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, 313(5): F1097-F1105, 2017.
- C Guo, L Pei, X Xiao, Q Wei, JK Chen, HF Dong, S Huang, G Fan, H Shi, Z Dong. DNA
methylation protects against cisplatin-induced kidney injury by regulating specific
genes, including interferon regulatory factor 8. Kidney Int, 92(5): 1194-1205, 2017.
- B Singla, P Ghoshal, H Lin, Q Wei, Z Dong, G Csányi. PKCδ-Mediated Nox2 Activation
Promotes Fluid-Phase Pinocytosis of Antigens by Immature Dendritic Cells. Front Immunol,
9:537, 2018.
- JR Privratsky, J Zhang, X Lu, N Rudemiller, Q Wei, YR Yu, MD Gunn, SD Crowley. Interleukin
1 receptor (IL-1R1) activation exacerbates toxin-induced acute kidney injury. Am J
Physiol Renal Physiol, 315(3):F682-F691, 2018.
- Z Ma, Q Wei, M Zhang, JK Chen, Z Dong. Dicer deficiency in proximal tubules exacerbates
renal injury and tubulointerstitial fibrosis and upregulates Smad2/3. Am J Physiol
Renal Physiol, 315(6):F1822-F1832, 2018.
- Q Wei, H Sun, S Song, Y Liu, P Liu, MJ Livingston, J Wang, M Liang, QS Mi, Y Huo,
NS Nahman, C Mei, Z Dong. MicroRNA-668 represses MTP18 to preserve mitochondrial dynamics
in ischemic acute kidney injury. J Clin Invest, 128(12):5448-5464, 2018.
- Q We, J Su, G Dong, M Zhang, Y Huo, Z Dong. Glycolysis inhibitors suppress renal interstitial
fibrosis via divergent effects on fibroblasts and tubular cells. Am J Physiol Renal
Physiol, 316(6):F1162-F1172, 2019.
- Z Song, J Zhu, Q Wei, G Dong, Z Dong. Canagliflozin reduces cisplatin uptake and activates
Akt to protect against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol.
318(4):F1041-F1052, 2020.
- J Zhu, G Zhang, Z Song, X Xiang, S Shu, Z Liu, D Yang, Q Wei, Z Dong. Protein Kinase
C-δ Mediates Kidney Tubular Injury in Cold Storage-Associated Kidney Transplantation.
J Am Soc Nephrol. 31(5):1050-1065, 2020.
- GR Crislip, B Patel, R Mohamed, SC Ray, Q Wei, J Sun, AJ Polichnowski, JC Sullivan,
PM O'Connor. Ultrasound measurement of change in kidney volume is a sensitive indicator
of severity of renal parenchymal injury. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 319(3):F447-F457,
2020.
Review AND COMMENT
- Q Wei, Z Dong. Regulation and pathological role of Bid in ischemic acute kidney injury.
Renal Failure, 29(8): 935-940, 2007.
- Q Wei, Z Dong. Mouse model of ischemic acute kidney injury: technical notes and tricks.
Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 303(11): F1487-1494, 2012.
- Q Wei, QS Mi, Z Dong. The regulation and function of microRNAs in kidney diseases.
IUBMB Life, 65(7):602-614, 2013.
- Q Wei, Z Dong. HDAC4 Blocks autophagy to trigger podocyte injury: non-epigenetic action
in diabetic nephopathy. Kidney Int, 86(4): 666-668, 2014.
- MJ Livingston, Q Wei. MicroRNAs in extracellular vesicles protect kidney from ischemic
injury: from endothelial to tubular epithelial. Kidney Int, 90(6): 1150-1152, 2016.
- L He, Q Wei, J Liu, M Yi, Y Liu, H Liu, L Sun, Y Peng, F Liu, MA Venkatachalam, Z
Dong. AKI on CKD: heightened injury, suppressed repair, and the underlying mechanisms.
Kidney Int, 92(5): 1071-1083, 2017.
- J Liu, Q Wei, C Guo, G Dong, Y Liu, C Tang, Z Dong. Hypoxia, HIF, and Associated Signaling
Networks in Chronic Kidney Disease. Int J Mol Sci. 18: 950, 2017.
- Q Wei. Novel strategy for septic acute kidney injury rescue: maintenance of the tubular
integrity. Kidney Int. 97(5):847-849, 2020.
- Q Wei, Z Dong. The yin and yang of retinoic acid signaling in kidney diseases. J Clin
Invest. 130(10):5124-5126, 2020.
- S Li, L Wen, X Hu, Q Wei, Z Dong. HIF in Nephrotoxicity during Cisplatin Chemotherapy:
Regulation, Function and Therapeutic Potential. Cancers (Basel). 13(2): 180, 2021.
