Date: 22 February 2024 (Thursday)
Time: 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Venue: Cheung Kung Hai Lecture Theatre 1, G/F, William M.W. Mong Block, 21 Sassoon Road
 

5:00 p.m.

Presenter: Weixin CHEN (PhD candidate)
Primary Supervisor: Prof. Heidi LING
Presentation Title: Hyperglycemia-induced LPO underlies CD4⁺T cell dysfunction in T2D patients
Abstract: Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are more susceptible to severe respiratory viral infections, with the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understand. Hence, this association leads to increased healthcare burdens during viral pandemics. To address this unmet clinical need, we analysed COVID-19 datasets and samples from T2D patients. Our findings revealed that T2D patients failed to mount an effective CD4⁺T helper 1 (Th1) response, which is an essential component of anti-viral immunity. Mechanistically, hyperglycemia induced metabolic perturbations within CD4⁺T cells characterized by dysfunctional mitochondria and excessive fatty acid synthesis. These aberrations resulted in lipid peroxidation (LPO), which induced a loss-of-function protein modification known as carbonylation on STAT4 - a key transcription factor for Th1 cell differentiation. Th1-mediated immunity was then impaired due to the rapid degradation of carbonylated STAT4. Therefore, targeting hyperglycemia-triggered LPO could potentially protect T2D patients against severe complications during viral infections.

5:30 p.m.

Presenter: Yiming CHAO (PhD candidate)
Primary Supervisor: Prof. Rio SUGIMURA
Presentation Title: Tracking the very first birth of blood in human peri-implantation embryo models
Abstract: Yolk sac is the first site of blood production in human. During embryo development, hypoblast give rise to extra-embryonic endoderm and contribute to the formation of yolk sac. Due to limited access to human peri-implantation embryos, it remains unknown where the first erythroblasts come from and how extra-embryonic tissues support the hematopoiesis during embryo development. We recently established peri-implantation embryo model, namely stem-cell-derived human embryonic organoid (HEMO) (Chao and Xiang, 2023). Single-cell resolution spatial transcriptomics defined the yolk sac erythro-megakaryopoietic niche. Vitronectin-integrin signaling remarked the yolk sac niche in HEMO and human fetal samples. Moreover, HEMO can mimic dynamic hematopoietic waves that correspond to known human embryonic hematopoiesis in the yolk sac (Xue and Chao, preprint). Our current work is addressing if hypoblast may contribute to the first erythroblasts. We will discuss our ongoing strategy and latest observations.

ALL ARE WELCOME

Should you have any enquiries, please feel free to contact Jerry Siu at 3917 6912.