Page 44 - Hormel Institute Annual Report 2021-22
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 Liang Liu, PhD
 “Understanding the environmental origin of cancer and associated mechanisms will facilitate the development of targeted
cancer prevention strategies and therapies.”
Liang Liu
 44 | THE HORMEL INSTITUTE // Chromatin and
Epigenetic Gene Regulation
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
Research in my lab focuses on the cross- talk between genetic and epigenetic factors in regulating tissue homeostasis
and cancer development. We integrate genetics, epigenetics, and functional genomics studies to define the role of key cancer regulators in cancer development, and to identify actionable targets for cancer prevention and treatment.
Role of hairless in skin homeostasis, stem cell maintenance, immune regulation, and UV-induced skin carcinogenesis
The hairless (HR) gene encodes a transcription co-regulator that is essential for skin homeosta- sis and hair follicle cycling. Several lines of evi- dence suggests that HR functions as a master regulator of skin homeostasis via controlling the expression of its target genes involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, stem cell function and immune response. We recently reported that HR is an epigenetic regulator with histone demethylase activity. Mutational inactivation
of HR alone can dramatically increase tumor incidence and burden in response to chemical induction or UV radiation. In human skin squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) and other cancer types, we found frequent deletions of the HR gene. Moreover, HR expression
is frequently down-regulated in human SCCs but not benign actinic keratosis lesions. These
      findings prompted us to further define the anti-tumor activity of HR, its target genes, and the role of histone methylation in regulating epidermal homeostasis, stem cell activity, and skin immunity. We are performing studies to elucidate the mechanism by which HR regulates immune gene activity and to probe the role
of IL-36 signaling in skin inflammation and tumorigenesis. Ultimately, we hope to elucidate the genetic and epigenetic pathways through which HR regulates skin homeostasis and to identify new HR target genes that modulate skin inflammation and cancer development.
 


















































































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