Liuhui Fu

PhD Immunology, Tsinghua University, 2021

My long-term research interest revolves around identifying crucial tissue signals involved in the interactions between the environment and the immune system. Unraveling the precise mechanisms underlying these interactions will pave the way for more effective disease therapies. To investigate the contribution of gut microbiota to anti-tumor immunity, I joined Dr. Xiaohuan Guo's Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology at Tsinghua University, embarking on my first collaborative Ph.D. project. Our findings uncover the role of the gut microbial metabolite butyrate in modulating anti-tumor CD8+ T cell responses through ID2-dependent IL-12 signaling. This discovery highlights the potential of gut microbial metabolites in enhancing anti-cancer immunity and improving therapeutic outcomes. Building upon this, I subsequently revealed a non-canonical mitochondria STAT3-methionine metabolism pathway in group 2 innate lymphoid cells, providing new potential targets and avenues for the treatment of asthma.

As a postdoctoral fellow in the Littman Lab, my research endeavors are concentrated on elucidating the intricate cellular networks orchestrating the spectrum of immune responses, from inflammation to tolerance. This exploration is focused on deciphering the complex dialogues among T cells, antigen-presenting cells, and the enteric nervous system, aiming to unravel the mechanisms of immune regulation within the gut microenvironment.

 

Publications:

  1. Huang, J., Zhang, X., Xu, H., Fu, L., Liu, Y., Zhao, J., Huang, J., Song, Z., Zhu, M., Fu, Y.X., et al. (2024). Intraepithelial lymphocytes promote intestinal regeneration through CD160/HVEM signaling. Mucosal Immunol 17, 257-271.

  2. Huang, J., Fu, L., Huang, J., Zhao, J., Zhang, X., Wang, W., Liu, Y., Sun, B., Qiu, J., Hu, X., et al. (2022). Group 3 Innate Lymphoid Cells Protect the Host from the Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Infection in the Bladder. Adv Sci (Weinh), e2103303.

  3. Fu, L., Zhao, J., Huang, J., Li, N., Dong, X., He, Y., Wang, W., Wang, Y., Qiu, J., and Guo, X. (2022). A mitochondrial STAT3-methionine metabolism axis promotes ILC2-driven allergic lung inflammation. J Allergy Clin Immunol 149, 2091-2104.

  4. He, Y.*, Fu, L.*, Li, Y., Wang, W., Gong, M., Zhang, J., Dong, X., Huang, J., Wang, Q., Mackay, C.R., et al. (2021). Gut microbial metabolites facilitate anticancer therapy efficacy by modulating cytotoxic CD8(+) T cell immunity. Cell Metab 33, 988-1000.