Date: Wednesday, 23 February 2022

Time: 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

via Zoom: https://hku.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYqcuGtqTkoGtcnNdJGDxIcjGjXOKpb20za

Meeting ID: 927 5857 2203

Passcode: 946837

5:00 p.m.

Speaker: Dr. Oi Ling YU (Post-doctoral Fellow)
Primary Supervisor: Dr. Yick Pang CHING
Presentation Title: The effects of L-glutamine and lactate acidosis on cell proliferation and centrosome overduplication in hepatocyte and cancer cell lines to CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice
Abstract: Centrosome overduplication plays a role in tumorigenesis and metastasis. It is also observed in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) which the viral infection plays a crucial role in the metabolic reprogramming of mice tumor cells by upregulating glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation and reshaping glucose metabolism with lactic acid.  Since glucose, glutamine, and lactate acid all play a role in cell metabolism through the Krebs cycle and link to the development of liver fibrosis in humans and animals, we want to investigate if there is an association between centrosome overduplication and metabolic pathways of cancer/hepatocyte cell lines and animals. By treating hepatocytes cells and cancer cells with base medium either with Glucose (Glucose+), L-Glutamine (L-Glutamine+), lactate acid (LA+), or Lactate acidosis only, we discovered that cell proliferation and centrosome overduplication were significantly higher in L-Glutamine+ than in other mediums.  Centrosome overduplication was also observed in CCl4-induced mice livers.

5:30 p.m. 

Speaker: Dr. Haifeng FU (Post-doctoral Fellow)
Primary Supervisor: Prof. Pengtao LIU
Presentation Title: Establishment of rabbit expanded potential stem cells (rbEPSCs) based on a feeder-free culture system
Abstract: Expanded potential stem cells (EPSCs), which now can be derived from many species including mouse, human, porcine and bovine, shared enriched molecular signatures of blastomeres and possessed developmental potency for all embryonic and extra-embryonic cell lineages. Recently, we attempted to establish rabbit EPSCs (rbEPSCs) by modulating different signaling pathways such as Wnt and Src signaling pathway. Established rbEPSCs exhibited robust both embryonic and extra-embryonic potency. This new type of rabbit stem cells provides a novel platform for antibody production and disease research. Meanwhile, we optimize a feeder-free EPSCs culture system. The feeder-free EPSCs are genetically stable in long-term culture and easy to perform gene-editing. Therefore, our EPSCs present a unique cellular platform for translational research in biotechnology and regenerative medicine.

ALL ARE WELCOME

Should you have any enquiries, please feel free to contact Miss River Wong at 3917 9216.