Research Areas
During the progression of chronic diseases, injured tissue microenvironment consists of multiple cells (including immune cells, stromal cells, tissue stem cells, endothelial cells, etc.), soluble molecules (cytokine, growth factors, metabolites, etc), extracellular matrix, and others. These components are in dynamic change. Their crosstalk can modulate the pathogenesis of these chronic diseases. Our study are focusing on the characteristics and functional regulation of tissue microenvironments in chronic inflammatory diseases.
1．Tissue stem cells in chronic inflammatory diseases;
2．The dynamic change of immune cells in inflammatory tissue environment and their regulation in associated disease treatment;
3. Metabolism and immunoregulation.

Selected Publications (*Corresponding Author)

1. Wang Y*, Shi Y*. Unlock Secrets to Eternal Youth: Gene-Hacked Human Stem Cells Combat Aging in Primates. SCIENCE CHINA Life Sciences 2025 Oct;68(10):3125-3127.
2. Zheng C, Ye J, Yang Q, Liu K, Chen C, Cao J, Li Q, Xue Y, Ma H, Rabson A, Shao C, Hua F, Sorokin L, Melino G, Shi Y*, Wang Y*. ICAM-1 Identifies Preadipocytes and Restricts White Adipogenesis by 1 Adhering Immune Cells. Cell Death Diff 2025 Aug 15. doi: 10.1038/s41418-025-01551-2.
3. Jiang X, Wang J, Lin L, Du L, Ding Y, Zheng F, Xie H, Wang Y, Hu M, Liu B, Xu M, Zhai J, Wang X, Ye J, Cao W, Feng C, Feng J, Hou Z, Meng M, Qiu J, Li Q, Shi Y*, Wang Y*. Macrophages promote pre-metastatic niche formation of breast cancer through aryl hydrocarbon receptor activity. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024 Dec 18;9(1):352.
4. Lin L, Hu M, Li Q, Du L, Lin L, Xue Y, Zheng F, Wang F, Liu K, Wang Y, Ye J, Jiang X, Wang X, Wang J, Zhai J, Liu B, Xie H, You Y, Wang J, Kong X, Feng D, Green DR, Shi Y*, Wang Y*. Oleic acid availability impacts thymocyte preprogramming and subsequent peripheral Treg cell differentiation. Nat Immunol 2024 Jan;25(1):54-65.
5. Li Q, Lin L, Shou P, Liu K, Xue Y, Hu M, Ling W, Huang Y, Du L, Zheng C, Wang X, Zheng F, Zhang T, Wang Y, Shao C, Melino G, Shi Y*, Wang Y*. MHC class Ib-restricted CD8+ T cells possess strong tumoricidal activities. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023 Oct 24;120(43):e2304689120.
6. Wang Y, Xu M, Sun J, Li X, Shi H, Wang X, Liu B, Zhang T, Jiang X, Lin L, Li Q, Huang Y, Liang Y, Hu M, Zheng F, Zhang F, Sun J, Shi Y*, Wang Y*. Glycolytic neutrophils accrued in the spleen compromise anti-tumour T cell immunity in breast cancer. Nat Metab 2023 Aug;5(8):1408-1422.
7. Xue YQ, Lin LY, Li Q, Hu MY, Zhai JJ, Cao JC, Qin J, Sorokin L, Shi Y*, Wang Y*. SCD1 Sustains Homeostasis of Bulge Niche via Maintaining Hemidesmosomes in Basal Keratinocytes. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2023 Feb;10(4):e2201949.
8. Wang Y, Fang JK, Liu BM, Shao CS, Shi Y. Reciprocal regulation of mesenchymal stem cells and immune responses. Cell Stem Cell 2022 Nov 3;29(11):1515-1530.
9. Zhang T, Wang Y, Li Q, Lin L, Xu C, Xue Y, Hu M, Shi Y*, Wang Y*. Mesenchymal stromal cells equipped by IFNα empower T cells with potent anti-tumor immunity. Oncogene 2022 Mar;41(13):1866-1881.
10. Zheng Z, Li YN, Jia S, Zhu M, Cao L, Tao M, Jiang JT, Zhan SH, Chen YJ, Gao PJ, Hu WG, Wang Y*, Shao CS*, Shi YF*. Lung mesenchymal stromal cells influenced by Th2 cytokines mobilize neutrophils and facilitate metastasis by producing complement C3. Nat Commun 2021 Oct 27;12(1):6202.
11. Gan Y, Zhang T, Chen X, Cao W, Lin L, Du L, Wang Y, Zhou F, He X, He Y, Gan J, Sheng H, Sorokin L, Shi Y*, Wang Y*. Steroids enable mesenchymal stromal cells to promote CD8+T cell proliferation via VEGF-C. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2021 May 2;8(12):2003712.
12. Wang X, Lin L, Lan B, Wang Y, Du L, Chen X, Li Q, Liu K, Hu M, Xue Y, Roberts Art, Shao C, Melino G, Shi Y*, Wang Y*. IGF2R-initiated proton rechanneling dictates an anti-inflammatory property in macrophages. Sci Adv 2020 Nov 25;6(48):eabb7389.
13. Zhang X#, Wang Y#, Song J#, Gerwien H, Chuquisana O, Chashchina A, Denz C, Sorokin L. The endothelial basement membrane acts as a checkpoint for entry of pathogenic T cells into the brain. J Exp Med 2020 Jul 6;217(7):e20191339.
14. Liu K, Lin L, Li Q, Xue Y, Zheng F, Wang G, Zheng C, Du L, Hu M, Shao C, Kong X, Melino G, Shi Y*, Wang Y*. Scd1 controls de novo beige fat biogenesis through succinate-dependent regulation of mitochondrial complex II. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020 Feb 4;117(5):2462-2472.
15. Du L, Lin LY, Li Q, Liu KL, Huang Y, Wang XF, Cao K, Chen XD, Cao W, Li FY, Shao CS, Wang Y*, Shi Y*. IGF-2 Preprograms Maturing Macrophages to Acquire Oxidative Phosphorylation-dependent Anti-inflammatory Properties. Cell Metab 2019 Jun 4;29(6):1363-1375.e8.
16. Huang Y, Li Q, Zhang K, Hu M, Wang Y, Du L, Lin L, Li S, Sorokin L, Melino G, Shi Y*, Wang Y*. Single cell transcriptomic analysis of human mesenchymal stem cells reveals limited heterogeneity. Cell Death Dis 2019 May 8;10(5):368.
17. Shi Y*, Wang Y, Li Qing, Liu KL, Hou JQ, Shao CS, Wang Y*. Immunoregulatory mechanisms of mesenchymal stem and stromal cells in inflammatory diseases. Nat Rev Nepherol 2018 Aug;14(8):493-507.
18. Wang G, Cao K, Liu K, Xue Y, Roberts AI, Li F, Han Y, Rabson AB, Wang Y*, Shi Y*. Kynurenic acid, an IDO metabolite, controls TSG-6-mediated immunosuppression of human mesenchymal stem cells. Cell Death Differ 2018 Jul;25(7):1209-1223.
19. Shi Y, Du L, Lin L, Wang Y*. Tumour associated mesenchymal stem/stromal cells: emerging therapeutic targets. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2017 Jan;16(1):35-52.
20. Yu P, Huang Y, Han Y, Lin L, Rabson A, Wang Y*, Shi Y*. TNFα-activated mesenchymal stromal cells promote breast cancer metastasis through recruiting CXCR2⁺ neutrophils. Oncogene 2017 Jan 26;36(4):482-490.
21. Lin LY, Du LM, Cao K, Huang Y, Yu PF, Zhang LY, Li FY, Wang Y*, Shi YF*. Tumour cell-derived exosomes endow mesenchymal stromal cells with tumour-promotion capabilities. Oncogene 2016 Nov 17;35(46):6038-6042.
22. Shou P, Chen Q, Jiang J, Xu C, Zhang J, Jiang M, Velletri T, Cao W, Huang Y, Yang Q, Han X, Zhang L, Wei L, Rabson A, Chin YE, Wang Y*, Shi Y*. Type I interferons exert anti-tumor effect via reversing immunosuppression mediated by mesenchymal stromal cells. Oncogene 2016 Nov 17;35(46):5953-5962.
23. Jiang M, Zheng C, Shou P, Li N, Cao G, Chen Q, Xu C, Du L, Yang Q, Cao J, Han Y, Li F, Cao W, Liu F, Rabson AB, Roberts AI, Xie W, Wang Y*, Shi Y*. SHP1 regulates bone mass by directing mesenchymal stem cell differentiation. Cell Rep 2016 Jul 19;16(3):769-780.
24. Chen Q, Shou P, Zheng C, Jiang M, Cao G, Yang Q, Cao J, Xie N, Velletri T, Zhang X, Xu C, Zhang L, Yang H, Hou J, Wang Y*, Shi Y*. Fate decision of mesenchymal stem cells: adipocytes or osteoblasts? Cell Death Differ 2016 Jul;23(7):1128-1139.
25. Zheng C, Yang Q, Cao J, Xie N, Liu K, Shou P, Qian F, Wang Y*, Shi Y*. Local proliferation initiates macrophage accumulation in adipose tissue during obesity. Cell Death Dis 2016 Mar 31;7(3):e2167.
26. Zheng C, Yang Q, Xu C, Shou P, Cao J, Jiang M, Chen Q, Cao G, Han Y, Li F, Cao W, Zhang L, Zhang L, Shi Y*, Wang Y*. CD11b regulates obesity-induced insulin resistance via limiting alternative activation and proliferation of adipose tissue macrophages. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015 Dec 29;112(52):E7239-E7248.
27. Shi Y, Cao J, Wang Y*. Rethinking regeneration: empowerment of stem cells by inflammation. Cell Death Differ 2015 Dec;22(12):1891-1892.
28. Cao K, Wang G, Li W, Zhang L, Wang R, Huang Y, Du L, Jiang J, Wu C, He X, Roberts AI, Wang Y*, Shi Y*. Histone deacetylase inhibitors prevent activation-induced cell death and promote anti-tumor immunity. Oncogene 2015 Dec 3;34(49):5960-5970.
29. Wang Y, Chen X, Cao W, Shi Y. Plasticity of mesenchymal stem cells in immunomodulation: pathological and therapeutic implications. Nat Immunol 2014 Nov;15(11):1009-1016.