Date: Friday, 26 February 2021

Venue: Cheung Kung Hai Lecture Theatre 2, G/F, William M.W. Mong Block, Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong [Mixed mode: Face-to-Face and Zoom]

Time: 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Zoom Link: https://hku.zoom.us/j/98889766140?pwd=d2FpVWlocEdOWGJHRmRvNXpqOHdJQT09

Meeting ID: 988 8976 6140

Password: 263360

Time: 5:00 p.m.
Speaker: Miss Sau Ni NG (MPhil candidate)
Primary Supervisor: Dr. Lydia Wai Ting CHEUNG
Presentation Title: Investigating the functional significance of AKTIP loss in breast cancer
Abstract: AKT interacting protein (AKTIP) was initially identified as a binding partner of AKT which is a key signaling molecule along the PI3K pathway. AKTIP is frequently deleted in a number of malignancies including breast cancer, yet its functional roles in cancers remain largely unknown. AKTIP loss is enriched in estrogen receptor α (ERα)-positive breast cancer and low expression of AKTIP was significantly associated with worse survival in this sub-population, suggesting a tumor suppressive role of AKTIP in ERα-positive breast cancer. Here, we found that the depletion of AKTIP promoted the acquisition of tumorigenic phenotypes in ERα-positive breast cancer cells. ERα and STAT3 signaling was activated upon AKTIP loss. Cells with AKTIP loss displayed transcriptomic signatures of ERα. Importantly, AKTIP depletion altered the responses of breast cancer cells towards ERα antagonists, which may have clinical implications in guiding therapeutic strategies.

Time: 5:30 p.m. 
Speaker: Mr. Yan Ting NG (MPhil candidate)
Primary Supervisor: Prof. Ying Shing CHAN
Presentation Title: Derivation of pericytes from rat bone marrow stromal cell-derived neurospheres for promoting remyelination
Abstract: Brain pericytes were demonstrated to promote the maturation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) into oligodendrocytes in post-traumatic remyelination. Given limiting availabilities of OPCs and pericytes in the injured CNS, we hypothesize that co-transplantation of pericyte and OPCs can promote remyelination. Previously, our group demonstrated success on derivation of OPCs from bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC)-derived neurospheres. Here, rat BMSC-derived neurosphere cells treated with pericyte induction medium in adherent culture gave rise to cells expressing pericyte markers, PDGFRβ/NG2/αSMA, and specifically the brain pericyte marker, Kir6.1. In the endothelial tube stability assay, co-culture of these derived pericyte-like cells with human umbilical vein endothelial cells improved stability of endothelial tube as compared with endothelial cell only controls, providing evidence of the pericytes at work. The neurosphere-derived pericytes will then be combined with neurosphere-derived OPCs for transplantation with shiverer mouse to demonstrate improvement in myelination.

Date: Friday, 5 March 2021

Venue: Cheung Kung Hai Lecture Theatre 1, G/F, William M.W. Mong Block, Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

Time: 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Time: 5:00 p.m.
Speaker: Mr. Gordon QIAN (PhD candidate)
Primary Supervisor: Dr. Joshua Wing Kei HO
Presentation Title: Statistical and quantitative bioinformatic methods for human gut metagenomics
Abstract: The human gut microbiome is resident to a diverse range of microorganisms where their integral role in the digestion of dietary fibres is well established. The large plethora of genetic material and functional capabilities of the gut microbiome also contributes to its wide implication in host pathophysiology, however many associations only remain statistical. In order to bridge the gap and formulate mechanistic explanations, accurate experimental design and bioinformatic methods are required. We demonstrate disparate results between different sequencing technologies and taxonomic quantification methods commonly utilised for gut microbiome analysis, which makes downstream statistical analysis prone to false positive discovery. Here we validate the accuracy of existing quantification tools and propose an in-house hybrid method utilising reference-based read alignment and de novo contig assembly. These pipelines will provide increased confidence in downstream statistical analysis of large clinical patient datasets where significant taxonomic associations are key to data-driven hypotheses. The next steps include integrative multi-omics analysis where other data types such as metabolomics or functional gene pathway profiles can help support/suggest a mechanistic association.

Time: 5:30 p.m. 
Speaker: Ms. Aqsa RUBAB (PhD candidate)
Primary Supervisor: Prof. Danny CHAN
Presentation Title: Lgr5 and Col22a1 in the in vivo and in vitro differentiation lineage to articular chondrocytes
Abstract: Articular cartilage facilitates the motion of synovial joints. Once damaged, repair is very poor leading to chronic joint diseases such as osteoarthritis, and the reason is not clear. Mesenchymal progenitor cells can be isolated from articular cartilage, these and other sources of similar cells have been used as therapeutics, but the repair is limited. A consensus is that these may not be the “right” cells or they are not presented in an optimal environment for repair. Recently, we identified in the development of the mouse synovial joint, Lgr5 and Col22a1 expressing cells are committed progenitors along the articular cartilage linage and propose they are the optimal cells for repair that can also produce the needed environment. We showed that these cells exist in human joint development, and aim to decipher their role and leverage on their expression to study the in vivo and in vitro differentiation of mouse and human pluripotent cells along this lineage through the use of reporter constructs for these genes for the monitoring of in vitro and in vivo differentiation and in repair of cartilage defect.

All are welcome. 

Should you have any enquiries, please feel free to contact Miss Cecilia Chan at 3917 9493 or Miss Cynthia Cheung at 3917 9748.