Biomedical subjects

Yuting Liu

Publications and source records attributed to Yuting Liu.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

A retinoic acid autoregulatory loop governing prefrontal-motor arealization.

The frontal lobe comprises the prefrontal association cortex (PFC), which supports complex cognition and goal-directed behaviour, and the motor cortex (MC), which executes movement1-14. The establishment of distinct regional identities and connections along the sensorimotor-to-association axis provides a fundamental scaffold for cortical areal organization and function15-19. Retinoic acid (RA) signalling has emerged as a key regulator of PFC development19-26. However, the mechanisms that spatially confine RA signalling within the developing PFC, and the downstream RA-responsive gene networks, remain poorly understood. Here we define an RA-associated gene regulatory network in the developing human PFC and identify MEIS2, which encodes a transcription factor linked to intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder, as a key hub of this network. Conditional deletion of Meis2 in postmitotic cortical excitatory neurons in mice results in a partial respecification of prospective prefrontal association territories towards motor-like molecular and connectivity features, highlighting a critical role of postmitotic neurons in establishing and maintaining cortical areal identities. Concomitant with Meis2 loss, the population of excitatory neurons expressing the RA-synthesizing enzyme ALDH1A3, and consequently RA signalling itself, is substantially reduced in the developing medial PFC (mPFC). These findings reveal a conserved autoregulatory loop, RA → MEIS2 → ALDH1A3 → RA, that reinforces a PFC-enriched RA gradient and organizes the MC-PFC axis. Together, our findings reveal a postmitotic mechanism by which specific features of neuronal identity reinforce RA signalling to define key features of prefrontal and motor cortical territories, linking a classic morphogen to transcriptional identity, neural circuit formation and function, and potentially to neuropsychiatric disorders.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2026

RHAMM drives formation of polyploid cancer cells and confers resistance to ER-targeted therapy in breast cancer.

Endocrine resistance in ER+ breast cancer remains a major clinical challenge. Here, we identify RHAMM as a key driver of resistance by orchestrating polyploid cancer cell (PCC) formation. Single-cell transcriptomics uncovered a G2/M-enriched, RHAMM+ subpopulation in endocrine-resistant tumors. Mechanistically, RHAMM binds Septin9/10 to promote aberrant cytoskeleton polymerization, activating YAP independent of Hippo signaling, which induces cytokinesis failure and facilitates PCC generation. Concurrently, RHAMM destabilizes p21 mRNA, enabling cell cycle progression despite genomic instability. The RHAMM-p21 axis serves as a bypass mechanism supporting polyploidization. Upon endocrine treatment, RHAMM is transcriptionally up-regulated by Slug. Clinically, RHAMMhigh signatures are enriched in metastatic and recurrent ER+ tumors and correlate with poor prognosis, highlighting its therapeutic relevance. Importantly, targeting RHAMM or YAP abrogates PCC formation and restores fulvestrant sensitivity. These findings reveal RHAMM-mediated polyploidization as an adaptive mechanism underlying endocrine resistance, suggesting the therapeutic potential of targeting the RHAMM-YAP axis.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor mediates peripheral-central neuroimmune crosstalk in autoimmune thyroid diseases.

BACKGROUND: Organ-specific autoimmune diseases, particularly Graves' disease (GD) and its extrathyroidal manifestation, Graves' orbitopathy (GO), are characterized by systemic autoimmunity that may extend its impact to the central nervous system (CNS). While thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) is the primary driver of pathological remodeling in the thyroid and orbital tissues, emerging evidence suggests it is also expressed in the brain and may participate in neuroimmune signaling. However, the molecular mechanisms linking peripheral TSHR-driven autoimmunity to these extended systemic features remain unclear. Thus, GD and GO provide a unique window to investigate how peripheral autoantibodies influence CNS involvement as part of its broader pathological spectrum. METHODS: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and post-GWAS analyses were integrated with bulk RNA sequencing, single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, and brain imaging phenotypes to comprehensively characterize peripheral and central alterations in GD and GO. Mendelian randomization was applied to test causal relationships between genetic variants and brain signatures. Structural biology analyses were further conducted including protein-protein docking, small-molecule docking, and normal mode dynamics to identify prospective modulators of TSHR. Immunofluorescence staining was performed in a GO mouse model to validate the colocalization of potential interacted proteins in the specific brain region. RESULTS: Brain imaging-derived phenotypes (IDPs) alterations in GO and GO were systematically analyzed to identify neuroanatomical and functional alterations. TSHR was further identified as a shared genetic driver across peripheral and central compartments. TSHR was expressed in spiny projection neurons, microglia, and peripheral T cells, with cell-cell communication analyses highlighting TSHR-mediated interactions among neurons, endothelial cells, and microglia. Immunofluorescence staining in a GO mouse model confirmed the colocalization of TSHR with FN1 and GNAS in the basal ganglia, providing tissue-level validation of the computationally predicted ligand-receptor interactions. Immune profiling further showed immune alterations in GD and GO. Structural modeling supported plausible physical interfaces between TSHR and interacting proteins, and small-molecule screening identified three repurposable compounds - venetoclax, irinotecan, and dutasteride - with predicted favorable docking scores and stable binding poses in our simulations. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that TSHR acts as a molecular hub mediating peripheral-central neuroimmune crosstalk in GD and GO. The results support a broader "disease-molecule axis" framework that links genetic susceptibility with multi-level immune and neural mechanisms. This work provides mechanistic insights relevant to the development of TSHR-targeted therapies, with implications for both peripheral immune modulation and central regulation. However, the limited sample size, lack of longitudinal follow-up, and absence of in vivo validation warrant cautious interpretation and further investigation.

Receptors, Thyrotropin↗

PubMed2026

Chromatin-binding protein HMGN1 promotes HCC tumorigenesis via histone methylation-induced RALB transcriptional suppression.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with metastasis being the primary cause of its high mortality. The chromatin-binding protein, high mobility group nucleosome binding domain 1 (HMGN1), has been implicated in tumour progression, but its specific role and mechanism in HCC metastasis remain unclear. This study investigates the function of HMGN1 and its potential as a therapeutic target. Analysis of patient samples confirms an upregulation of HMGN1 in HCC tissues, correlating with advanced disease and poor prognosis. Functional assays demonstrate that HMGN1 promotes HCC metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, integrated RNA sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analyses reveal that HMGN1 binds to the promoter of RAS-like proto-oncogene B (RALB) gene, recruiting the repressive histone mark H3K9me2 to epigenetically silence its transcription and drive metastasis. Therapeutically, a nanoparticle delivery system for siRNA against HMGN1 effectively silences its expression and inhibits metastasis in orthotopic liver xenograft tumour models. Our findings establish HMGN1 as a key epigenetic driver of HCC metastasis and highlight siRNA-nanoparticle targeting of HMGN1 as a promising precision therapeutic strategy.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Human-specific features of the cerebellum and ZP2-regulated synapse development.

Understanding the unique features of the human brain compared to non-human primates has long intrigued humankind. The cerebellum refines motor coordination and cognitive functions, contributing to the evolutionary development of human adaptability and dexterity. To identify shared and divergent features across primates, we conducted single-nucleus transcriptomic and chromatin accessibility profiling of the adult cerebellar cortex in humans, chimpanzees, macaques, and marmosets. We revealed human-specific transcriptomic and regulatory features, particularly those involved in synaptogenesis. Notably, we identified an enrichment of the sperm receptor zona pellucida glycoprotein 2 (ZP2) and its potential interactors, known for their roles in gamete interaction, in human granule cells. Experimental data show that ZP2 expression in human granule cells is induced by pontine mossy fibers, reducing synaptic proteins at pontocerebellar glomerular synapses, and decreasing cerebellar neuron electrophysiological activity. This unexpected co-option of ZP2 in human-specific synapse regulation provides insights into the evolutionary specialization of the human cerebellum.

Brain evolution↗