My laboratory studies lung vascular biology and immuno-pathogenesis of acute lung injury. Our research focuses on the mechanism of respiratory viral-induced lung vascular injury and signals between endothelial cells and immune cells during the innate and adaptive immune response. The SARS-CoV-2 and H1N1-induced acute lung injury models are two major animal models used in the laboratory. We are also interested in lung vascular regeneration and mechanisms of transcriptional regulation in the vasculature. By understanding the mechanisms which regulate the balance between inflammatory injury and regeneration in viral acute lung injury, we will be able to develop new therapies that minimize inflammatory injury, maximize tissue repair and reduce patient mortality.
Developing novel strategies to minimize inflammatory lung injury, maximize lung repair and reduce patient mortality.
Mentoring and training graduate students to be next generation of scientists in lung injury, vascular biology and immunology.
- MD, Medical School of Fudan University, Shanghai, China, 2003
- PhD, Pharmacology, University of Rochester, 2013
- Postdoctoral, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2022
Education & Training
Zhang L, Gao S, White Z, Dai Y, Malik AB, Rehman J. Single-Cell Transcriptomic Profiling Identifies Dynamic Inflammatory and Regenerative Subpopulations Following Vascular Injury. JCI Insight. 2022; Jun 8;7(11): e158079.
Zhang L, Dutta S, Xiong S, Chan M, Chan KK, Fan TM, Bailey KL, Lindeblad M, Cooper LM, Rong L, Gugliuzza AF, Shukla D, Procko E, Rehman J, Malik AB. An engineered high affinity ACE2 peptide therapeutically mitigates lung vascular injury and mortality induced by distinct SARS-CoV-2 variants. Nature Chemical Biology. 2022; 2022 Mar;18(3): 342-351.
Zhang L, Narayanan KK, Cooper L, Chan KK, Devlin CA, Aguhob A, Shirley K, Rong L, Rehman J, Malik AB, Procko E. An engineered ACE2 decoy receptor can be administered by inhalation and potently targets the BA.1 and BA.2 omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2. bioRxiv. 2022; Mar 28:2022: Preprint.
Xiong S, Zhang L, Richner JM, Class J, Rehman J, Malik AB. Interleukin-1RA Mitigates SARS-CoV-2-Induced Inflammatory Lung Vascular Leakage and Mortality in Humanized K18-hACE-2 Mice. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2021; Nov;41(11): 2773-2785.
Jambusaria A, Hong Z, Zhang L, Srivastava S, Jana A, Toth PT, Dai Y, Malik AB, Rehman J. Endothelial heterogeneity across distinct vascular beds during homeostasis and inflammation. Elife. 2020; Jan 16;9: doi:10.7554/eLife.51413.
Liu M, Zhang L, Marsboom G, Jambusaria A, Xiong S, Toth PT, Benevolenskaya EV, Rehman J, Malik AB. Sox17 is required for endothelial regeneration following inflammation-induced vascular injury. Nat Communications. 2019; May 9;10(1): 2126.
Zhang L, Jambusaria A, Hong Z, Marsboom G, Toth PT, Herbert BS, Malik AB, Rehman J. SOX17 Regulates Conversion of Human Fibroblasts Into Endothelial Cells and Erythroblasts by Dedifferentiation Into CD34+ Progenitor Cells. Circulation. 2017; Jun 20;135(25): 2505-2523.
Zhang L, Malik AB, Rehman J. Reprogramming fibroblasts to endothelial cells: converted or born again?. Circulation. 2014; Sep 30;130(14): 1136-8.
Zhang L, Malik S, Pang J, Wang H, Park KM, Yule DI, Blaxall BC, Smrcka AV. Phospholipase Ce hydrolyzes perinuclear phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate to regulate cardiac hypertrophy. Cell. 2013; Mar 28;153(1): 216-27.
Zhang L, Malik S, Pang J, Wang H, Park KM, Yule DI, Blaxall BC, Smrcka AV. Phospholipase Ce hydrolyzes perinuclear phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate to regulate cardiac hypertrophy. Cell. 2013; 153(1): 216-27.
- The Winner of American Heart Association - 3 CPR Shark Tank Research Competition, 2018
- The Finalist for the 2021 Cournand & Comroe Early Career Investigator Award, 2021
