Qingbo Xu - Selected Publications#

1. Chen K, Mou R, Zhu P, Xu X, Wang H, Jiang L, Hu Y, Hu X, Ma L, Xiao Q, Xu Q. The effect of lymphangiogenesis in transplant arteriosclerosis. Circulation. 2023;147:482-497 (Impact Factor 40).

This paper published recently systematically investigated the nature and function of lymphatic vessels within transplanted arterial wall. It indicates a critical role of lymphangiogenesis in lesion formation of arteriosclerosis. It provided a therapeutic avenue for the patient, since the outcome of animal models is excellent.

2. Lu Y, Pechlaner R, Cai J, Yuan H, Huang Z, Yang G, Wang J, Chen Z, Kiechl S, and Xu Q. Trajectories of age-related arterial stiffness in Chinese men and women. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 2020;75:870–880 (Impact Factor 27).

We know that men develop arteriosclerosis more severely than women during earlier age, but the exact timing was unknown. This study using a large population suggests for the first time that age 58 is a crossing point between men and women in the development of arteriosclerosis. This paper was accompanied by an Editorial to highlight its importance. Cited: 41.

3. Issa Bhaloo S, Wu Y, LE Bras A, Yu B, Gu W, Xie Y, Deng J, Wang Z, Zhang Z, Kong D, Hu Y, Qu A, Zhao Q, Xu Q. Binding of dickkopf-3 to CXCR7 enhances vascular progenitor cell migration and degradable graft regeneration. Circ. Res. 2018;123:451-466(Impact Factor, 25).

Based on our stem cell hypothesis, i.e. autologous stem/progenitor cells regenerating the vessels, we created a first tissue-engineered vessel graft displaying long-term survival after grafting in animal models. Cited: 31.

4. Yu B, Kiechl S, Qi D, Wang X, Song Y, Weger S, Mayr A, Le Bras A, Karamariti E, Zhang Z, Del Barco Barrantes I, Niehrs C, Schett G, Hu Y, Wang W, Willeit J, Qu A, Xu Q. A cytokine-like protein Dickopf-related protein 3 is atheroprotective. Circulation. 2017;136:1022-1036 (Impact Factor, 40).

This investigation discovered a new cytokine-like protein DKK3 that has not only a serum biomarker, but also has a protective role during the development of atherosclerosis in humans. Cited: 37.

5. Liu Q, Hu T, He L, Huang X, Tian X, Zhang H, He L, Pu W, Zhang L, Sun H, Fang J, Yu Y, Duan S, Hu C, Hui L, Zhang H, Quertermous T, Xu Q, Red-Horse K, Wythe JD, Zhou B. Genetic targeting of sprouting angiogenesis using Apln-CreER. Nat. Commun. 2015;6:6020 (Impact Factor 18).

We established a new animal model for genetic cell lineage tracing to answer the question on endothelial origin during angiogenesis. Cited: 88.

6. Margariti A, Winkler B, Karamariti E, Zampetaki A, Tsai T, Baban D, Ragoussis J, Huang Y, Han JJ, Zeng L, Hu Y, and Xu Q. Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into endothelial cells capable of angiogenesis and reendothelisation in tissue-engineered vessels. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2012;109:13793-13798.

This is a breakthrough study which established that partially reprogrammed stem cells that have a regenerative function, but no tumour development risk. This type of cells has been used widely for promoting angiogenesis and tissue engineering. Cited: 221.

7. Zeng L, Zampetaki A, Margariti A, Li YJ, Hu Y, Chien S and Xu Q. Sustained activation of XBP1 splicing leads to endothelial apoptosis and atherosclerosis development in response to disturbed flow. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2009;106:8326-8331.

This is the first study to show that XBP1 can serve as a target for preventing endothelial cell death. Following this paper's publication, there are a number of investigations showing the impact of XBP1 in the disease. Cited: 185.

8. Zeng L, Xiao Q, Margariti A, Zhang Z, Zampetaki A, Patel S, Capogrossi MC, Hu Y and Xu Q. HDAC3 is essential for shear- and VEGF-induced stem cell differentiation toward endothelial cells. J. Cell Biol. 2006;174:1059-1069.

This research, for the first time, demonstrates that mechanical stimuli can result in activation of tyrosine-kinase receptors without ligand binding leading to stem cell differentiation into endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo. This provides an explanation on how mechanical stimulus can be converted into biological signals resulting in cell differentiation. Cited: 235.

9. Xu Q. The impact of progenitor cells in atherosclerosis. Nat. Rev. Cardiol. 2006;3:94-101 (Impact Factor 49).

This was an invited review to update the progress in stem cell research related to the development of atherosclerosis. In this article, a new hypothesis of stem cell theory had been formed. Following this hypothesis, a large number of publications from many laboratories have been published. A new research field has been established based on this theory.

10. Hu Y, Zhang Z, Tosney E, Afzal AR, Davison F, Metzler B and Xu Q. Abundant progenitor cells in the adventitia contribute to atherosclerosis of vein grafts in apoE-deficeint mice. J. Clin. Invest. 2004;113:1258-1265.

This is the first report to show the presence of stem/progenitor cells in the vessel wall. It is his major contribution to the cardiovascular research field. This landmark discovery has been included in the textbook. The paper has been highly cited (691).