South San Francisco, California, United States Contact Info
2K followers 500+ connections

Join to view profile

About

• Experienced molecular biologist and electrophysiologist with over 10 years of…

Activity

Join now to see all activity

Experience & Education

  • Merck

View Luqia’s full experience

See their title, tenure and more.

or

By clicking Continue to join or sign in, you agree to LinkedIn’s User Agreement, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy.

Licenses & Certifications

Volunteer Experience

  • Swim Across America Graphic

    Volunteer Staff

    Swim Across America

    - 1 year

    Health

  • Science is Elementary Graphic

    Volunteer Scientist

    Science is Elementary

    - 1 year

    Children

  • Elected Committee Member

    Chinese American Biopharmaceutical Society (CABS)

    - 6 years

    Science and Technology

  • Volunteer

    Delonis Homeless Shelter

    - less than a year

    Social Services

Publications

  • A Fully-Automated Low-Cost Cardiac Monolayer Optical Mapping Robot for Measuring Calcium Dynamics

    Frontiers - Cardiovascular Medicine

    Scalable and high-throughput electrophysiological measurement systems are necessary to accelerate the elucidation of cardiac diseases in drug development. Optical mapping is the primary method of simultaneously measuring several key electrophysiological parameters, such as action potentials, intracellular free calcium and conduction velocity, at high spatiotemporal resolution. This tool has been applied to isolated whole-hearts, whole-hearts in-vivo, tissue-slices and cardiac…

    Scalable and high-throughput electrophysiological measurement systems are necessary to accelerate the elucidation of cardiac diseases in drug development. Optical mapping is the primary method of simultaneously measuring several key electrophysiological parameters, such as action potentials, intracellular free calcium and conduction velocity, at high spatiotemporal resolution. This tool has been applied to isolated whole-hearts, whole-hearts in-vivo, tissue-slices and cardiac monolayers/tissue-constructs. Although optical mapping of all of these substrates have contributed to our understanding of ion-channels and fibrillation dynamics, cardiac monolayers/tissue-constructs are scalable macroscopic substrates that are particularly amenable to high-throughput interrogation. Here, we describe and validate a scalable and fully-automated monolayer optical mapping robot that requires no human intervention and with reasonable costs. As a proof-of-principle demonstration, we performed parallelized macroscopic optical mapping of calcium dynamics in the well-established neonatal-rat-ventricular-myocyte monolayer plated on standard 35mm dishes. Given the advancements in regenerative and personalized medicine, we also performed parallelized macroscopic optical mapping of voltage dynamics in human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte monolayers using a genetically encoded voltage indictor and a commonly-used voltage sensitive dye to demonstrate the versatility of our system.

    Other authors
    See publication
  • Modulation of myosin by cardiac myosin binding protein-C peptides improves cardiac contractility in ex-vivo experimental heart failure models

    Scientific Report

    Cardiac myosin binding protein-C (cMyBP-C) is an important regulator of sarcomeric function. Reduced phosphorylation of cMyBP-C has been linked to compromised contractility in heart failure patients. Here, we used previously published cMyBP-C peptides 302A and 302S, surrogates of the regulatory phosphorylation site serine 302, as a tool to determine the effects of modulating the dephosphorylation state of cMyBP-C on cardiac contraction and relaxation in experimental heart failure (HF) models in…

    Cardiac myosin binding protein-C (cMyBP-C) is an important regulator of sarcomeric function. Reduced phosphorylation of cMyBP-C has been linked to compromised contractility in heart failure patients. Here, we used previously published cMyBP-C peptides 302A and 302S, surrogates of the regulatory phosphorylation site serine 302, as a tool to determine the effects of modulating the dephosphorylation state of cMyBP-C on cardiac contraction and relaxation in experimental heart failure (HF) models in vitro. Both peptides increased the contractility of papillary muscle fibers isolated from a mouse model expressing cMyBP-C phospho-ablation (cMyBP-CAAA) constitutively. Peptide 302A, in particular, could also improve the force redevelopment rate (ktr) in papillary muscle fibers from cMyBP-CAAA (nonphosphorylated alanines) mice. Consistent with the above findings, both peptides increased ATPase rates in myofibrils isolated from rats with myocardial infarction (MI), but not from sham rats. Furthermore, in the cMyBP-CAAA mouse model, both peptides improved ATPase hydrolysis rates. These changes were not observed in non-transgenic (NTG) mice or sham rats, indicating the specific effects of these peptides in regulating the dephosphorylation state of cMyBP-C under the pathological conditions of HF. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that modulation of cMyBP-C dephosphorylation state can be a therapeutic approach to improve myosin function, sarcomere contractility and relaxation after an adverse cardiac event. Therefore, targeting cMyBP-C could potentially improve overall cardiac performance as a complement to standard-care drugs in HF patients.

    Other authors
    See publication
  • Aligned Nanofibrillar Scaffolds for Controlled Delivery of Modified mRNA

    Tissue Eng Part A.

    RNA-based vector delivery is a promising gene therapy approach. Recent advances in chemical modification of mRNA structure to form modified mRNA (mmRNA or cmRNA or modRNA) have substantially improved their stability and translational efficiency within cells. However, mmRNA conventionally delivered in solution can be taken up non-specifically or become cleared away prematurely, which markedly limits the potential benefit of mmRNA therapy. To address this limitation, we developed…

    RNA-based vector delivery is a promising gene therapy approach. Recent advances in chemical modification of mRNA structure to form modified mRNA (mmRNA or cmRNA or modRNA) have substantially improved their stability and translational efficiency within cells. However, mmRNA conventionally delivered in solution can be taken up non-specifically or become cleared away prematurely, which markedly limits the potential benefit of mmRNA therapy. To address this limitation, we developed mmRNA-incorporated nanofibrillar scaffolds that could target spatially localized delivery and temporally controlled release of the mmRNA both in vitro and in vivo. To establish the efficacy of mmRNA therapy, mmRNA encoding reporter proteins such as green fluorescence protein (GFP) or firefly luciferase (Fluc) was loaded into aligned nanofibrillar collagen scaffolds. The mmRNA was released from mmRNA-loaded scaffolds in a transient and temporally controlled fashion and induced transfection in human fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner. In vitro transfection was further verified using mmRNA encoding the angiogenic growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). Finally, scaffold-based delivery of HGF mmRNA to the site of surgically induced muscle injury in mice resulted in significantly higher vascular regeneration after 14 days, compared to implantation of Fluc mmRNA-releasing scaffolds. After transfection with Fluc mmRNA-releasing scaffold in vivo, Fluc activity was detectable and localized to the muscle region, based on non-invasive bioluminescence imaging. Scaffold-based local mmRNA delivery as an off-the-shelf form of gene therapy has broad translatability for treating a broad range of diseases or injuries.

    See publication
  • Small Molecule Derived From Carboxyethylpyrrole Protein Adducts Promotes Angiogenesis in a Mouse Model of Peripheral Arterial Disease

    Journal of the American Heart Association

    Background CEP (ω-[2-carboxyethyl]pyrrole) protein adducts are the end products of lipid oxidation associated with inflammation and have been implicated in the induction of angiogenesis in pathological conditions such as tissue ischemia. We synthesized small molecules derived from CEP protein adducts and evaluated the angiogenic effect of the CEP analog CEP 03 in the setting of peripheral arterial disease. Methods and Results The angiogenic effect of CEP 03 was assessed by in vitro analysis of…

    Background CEP (ω-[2-carboxyethyl]pyrrole) protein adducts are the end products of lipid oxidation associated with inflammation and have been implicated in the induction of angiogenesis in pathological conditions such as tissue ischemia. We synthesized small molecules derived from CEP protein adducts and evaluated the angiogenic effect of the CEP analog CEP 03 in the setting of peripheral arterial disease. Methods and Results The angiogenic effect of CEP 03 was assessed by in vitro analysis of primary human microvascular endothelial cell proliferation and tubelike formation in Matrigel (Corning). In the presence of CEP 03, proliferation of endothelial cells in vitro increased by 27±18% under hypoxic (1% O2) conditions, reaching similar levels to that of VEGF A (vascular endothelial growth factor A) stimulation (22±10%), relative to the vehicle control treatment. A similar effect of CEP 03 was demonstrated in the increased number of tubelike branches in Matrigel, reaching >70% induction in hypoxia, compared with the vehicle control. The therapeutic potential of CEP 03 was further evaluated in a mouse model of peripheral arterial disease by quantification of blood perfusion recovery and capillary density. In the ischemic hind limb, treatment of CEP 03 encapsulated within Matrigel significantly enhanced blood perfusion by 2-fold after 14 days compared with those treated with Matrigel alone. Moreover, these results concurred with histological finding that treatment of CEP 03 in Matrigel resulted in a significant increase in microvessel density compared with Matrigel alone. Conclusions Our data suggest that CEP 03 has a profound positive effect on angiogenesis and neovessel formation and thus has therapeutic potential for treatment of peripheral arterial disease.

    See publication
  • Protein-engineered hydrogels enhance the survival of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells for treatment of peripheral arterial disease

    Biomaterial Science

    A key feature of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is damage to endothelial cells (ECs), resulting in lower limb pain and restricted blood flow. Recent preclinical studies demonstrate that transplantation of ECs via direct injection into the affected limb can result in significantly improved blood circulation. Unfortunately, the clinical application of this therapy has been limited by low cell viability and poor cell function. To address these limitations we have developed an injectable…

    A key feature of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is damage to endothelial cells (ECs), resulting in lower limb pain and restricted blood flow. Recent preclinical studies demonstrate that transplantation of ECs via direct injection into the affected limb can result in significantly improved blood circulation. Unfortunately, the clinical application of this therapy has been limited by low cell viability and poor cell function. To address these limitations we have developed an injectable, recombinant hydrogel, termed SHIELD (Shear-thinning Hydrogel for Injectable Encapsulation and Long-term Delivery) for cell transplantation. SHIELD provides mechanical protection from cell membrane damage during syringe flow. Additionally, secondary in situ crosslinking provides a reinforcing network to improve cell retention, thereby augmenting the therapeutic benefit of cell therapy. In this study, we demonstrate improved acute viability of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells (iPSC-ECs) following syringe injection delivery in SHIELD, compared to saline. Using a murine hind limb ischemia model of PAD, we demonstrate enhanced iPSC-EC retention in vivo and improved neovascularization of the ischemic limb based on arteriogenesis following transplantation of iPSC-ECs delivered in SHIELD.

    Other authors
    See publication
  • Microfibrous Scaffolds Enhance Endothelial Differentiation and Organization of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

    Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering

    Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a promising source of endothelial cells (iPSC-ECs) for engineering three-dimensional (3D) vascularized cardiac tissues. To mimic cardiac microvasculature, in which capillaries are oriented in parallel, we hypothesized that endothelial differentiation of iPSCs within topographically aligned 3D scaffolds would be a facile one-step approach to generate iPSC-ECs as well as induce aligned vascular organization. The cells in both the randomly oriented…

    Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a promising source of endothelial cells (iPSC-ECs) for engineering three-dimensional (3D) vascularized cardiac tissues. To mimic cardiac microvasculature, in which capillaries are oriented in parallel, we hypothesized that endothelial differentiation of iPSCs within topographically aligned 3D scaffolds would be a facile one-step approach to generate iPSC-ECs as well as induce aligned vascular organization. The cells in both the randomly oriented and aligned 3D scaffolds demonstrated an 11-fold upregulation in gene expression of the endothelial phenotypic marker, CD31, compared to cells on 2D films. This upregulation corresponded to >3-fold increase in CD31 protein expression in 3D scaffolds, compared to 2D films. Concomitantly, other endothelial phenotypic markers including CD144 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase also showed significant transcriptional upregulation in 3D scaffolds by >7-fold, compared to 2D films. Nitric oxide production, which is characteristic of endothelial function, was produced 4-fold more abundantly in 3D scaffolds, compared to on 2D PCL films. Within aligned scaffolds, the iPSC-ECs displayed parallel-aligned vascular-like networks with 70% longer branch length, compared to cells in randomly oriented scaffolds, suggesting that fiber topography modulates vascular network-like formation and patterning. Together, these results demonstrate that a 3D scaffold structure promotes endothelial differentiation, compared to 2D substrates, and that aligned topographical patterning induces anisotropic vascular network-like organization.

    Other authors
    See publication
  • Combinatorial Extracellular Matrix Microenvironments for Probing Endothelial Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells.

    Scientific Reports

    Endothelial cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells are a promising cell type for enhancing angiogenesis in ischemic cardiovascular tissues. However, our understanding of microenvironmental factors that modulate the process of endothelial differentiation is limited. We examined the role of combinatorial extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins on endothelial differentiation systematically using an arrayed microscale platform. Human pluripotent stem cells were differentiated on the arrayed…

    Endothelial cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells are a promising cell type for enhancing angiogenesis in ischemic cardiovascular tissues. However, our understanding of microenvironmental factors that modulate the process of endothelial differentiation is limited. We examined the role of combinatorial extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins on endothelial differentiation systematically using an arrayed microscale platform. Human pluripotent stem cells were differentiated on the arrayed ECM microenvironments for 5 days. Combinatorial ECMs composed of collagen IV + heparan sulfate + laminin (CHL) or collagen IV + gelatin + heparan sulfate (CGH) demonstrated significantly higher expression of CD31, compared to single-factor ECMs. These results were corroborated by fluorescence activated cell sorting showing a 48% yield of CD31+/VE-cadherin+ cells on CHL, compared to 27% on matrigel. To elucidate the signaling mechanism, a gene expression time course revealed that VE-cadherin and FLK1 were upregulated in a dynamically similar manner as integrin subunit β3 (>50 fold). To demonstrate the functional importance of integrin β3 in promoting endothelial differentiation, the addition of neutralization antibody inhibited endothelial differentiation on CHL-modified dishes by >50%. These data suggest that optimal combinatorial ECMs enhance endothelial differentiation, compared to many single-factor ECMs, in part through an integrin β3-mediated pathway.

    Other authors
    See publication
  • Anisotropic microfibrous scaffolds enhance the organization and function of cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells.

    Biomaterials Science

    Engineering of myocardial tissue constructs is a promising approach for treatment of coronary heart disease. To engineer myocardial tissues that better mimic the highly ordered physiological arrangement and function of native cardiomyocytes, we generated electrospun microfibrous polycaprolactone scaffolds with either randomly oriented (14 μm fiber diameter) or parallel-aligned (7 μm fiber diameter) microfiber arrangement and co-seeded the scaffolds with human induced pluripotent stem…

    Engineering of myocardial tissue constructs is a promising approach for treatment of coronary heart disease. To engineer myocardial tissues that better mimic the highly ordered physiological arrangement and function of native cardiomyocytes, we generated electrospun microfibrous polycaprolactone scaffolds with either randomly oriented (14 μm fiber diameter) or parallel-aligned (7 μm fiber diameter) microfiber arrangement and co-seeded the scaffolds with human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iCMs) and endothelial cells (iECs) for up to 12 days after iCM seeding. Here we demonstrated that aligned microfibrous scaffolds induced iCM alignment along the direction of the aligned microfibers after 2 days of iCM seeding, as well as promoted greater iCM maturation by increasing the sarcomeric length and gene expression of myosin heavy chain adult isoform (MYH7), in comparison to randomly oriented scaffolds. Furthermore, the benefit of scaffold anisotropy was evident in the significantly higher maximum contraction velocity of iCMs on the aligned scaffolds, compared to randomly oriented scaffolds, at 12 days of culture. Co-seeding of iCMs with iECs led to reduced contractility, compared to when iCMs were seeded alone. These findings demonstrate a dominant role of scaffold anisotropy in engineering cardiovascular tissues that maintain iCM organization and contractile function.

    Other authors
    See publication
  • Combinatorial Extracellular Matrix Microenvironments Promote Survival and Phenotype of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Endothelial Cells in Hypoxia

    Acta Biomaterialia

    Recent developments in cell therapy using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells (iPSC-ECs) hold great promise for treating ischemic cardiovascular tissues. However, poor post-transplantation viability largely limits the potential of stem cell therapy. Although the extracellular matrix (ECM) has become increasingly recognized as an important cell survival factor, conventional approaches primarily rely on single ECMs for in vivo co-delivery with cells, even though the…

    Recent developments in cell therapy using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells (iPSC-ECs) hold great promise for treating ischemic cardiovascular tissues. However, poor post-transplantation viability largely limits the potential of stem cell therapy. Although the extracellular matrix (ECM) has become increasingly recognized as an important cell survival factor, conventional approaches primarily rely on single ECMs for in vivo co-delivery with cells, even though the endothelial basement membrane is comprised of a milieu of different ECMs. To address this limitation, we developed a combinatorial ECM microarray platform to simultaneously interrogate hundreds of micro-scale multi-component chemical compositions of ECMs on iPSC-EC response. After seeding iPSC-ECs onto ECM microarrays, we performed high-throughput analysis of the effects of combinatorial ECMs on iPSC-EC survival, endothelial phenotype, and nitric oxide production under conditions of hypoxia (1% O2) and reduced nutrients (1% fetal bovine serum), as is present in ischemic injury sites. Using automated image acquisition and analysis, we identified combinatorial ECMs such as collagen IV+gelatin+heparan sulfate+laminin and collagen IV+fibronectin+gelatin+heparan sulfate+laminin that significantly improved cell survival, nitric oxide production, and CD31 phenotypic expression, in comparison to single-component ECMs. These results were further validated in conventional cell culture platforms and within three-dimensional scaffolds. Furthermore, this approach revealed complex ECM interactions and non-intuitive cell behavior that otherwise could not be easily determined using conventional cell culture platforms. Together these data suggested that iPSC-EC delivery within optimal combinatorial ECMs may improve their survival and function under the condition of hypoxia with reduced nutrients.

    Other authors
    See publication
  • Aligned nanofibrillar collagen scaffolds - Guiding lymphangiogenesis for treatment of acquired lymphedema

    Biomaterials

    Secondary lymphedema is a common disorder associated with acquired functional impairment of the lymphatic system. The goal of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of aligned nanofibrillar collagen scaffolds (BioBridge) positioned across the area of lymphatic obstruction in guiding lymphatic regeneration in a porcine model.

    Other authors
    See publication
  • Vascularization of Three-Dimensional Engineered Tissues for Regenerative Medicine Applications

    Acta Biomaterialia

    Engineering of three-dimensional (3D) tissues is a promising approach for restoring
    diseased or dysfunctional myocardium with a functional replacement. This manuscript overviews the state-of-the-art bioengineering tools and technologies to create vascularized 3D tissues for clinical applications in regenerative medicine, highlighting the application of these technologies to engineer vascularized cardiac patches for treatment of heart failure.

    Other authors
    See publication
  • Stem Cell-Based Therapies to Promote Angiogenesis in Ischemic Cardiovascular Disease

    Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol

    Stem cell therapy is a promising approach for treatment of tissue ischemia associated with myocardial infarction and peripheral arterial disease. Stem and progenitor cells derived from bone marrow or from pluripotent stem cells have shown therapeutic benefit in boosting angiogenesis as well as restoring tissue function. This manuscript highlights the major classes of stem and progenitor cells, and summarizes the state-of-the-art approaches in applying these cell types for treating myocardial…

    Stem cell therapy is a promising approach for treatment of tissue ischemia associated with myocardial infarction and peripheral arterial disease. Stem and progenitor cells derived from bone marrow or from pluripotent stem cells have shown therapeutic benefit in boosting angiogenesis as well as restoring tissue function. This manuscript highlights the major classes of stem and progenitor cells, and summarizes the state-of-the-art approaches in applying these cell types for treating myocardial infarction and peripheral arterial disease.

    Other authors
    See publication
  • Near-Infrared II Fluorescence for Imaging Hindlimb Vessel Regeneration with Dynamic Tissue Perfusion Measurement

    Circulation Cardiovascular Imaging

    Real-time vascular imaging that provides both anatomic and hemodynamic information could greatly facilitate the diagnosis of vascular diseases and provide accurate assessment of therapeutic effects. In this study, we have developed a novel fluorescence-based all-optical method, named near-infrared II (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging, to image murine hindlimb vasculature and blood flow in an experimental model of peripheral arterial disease, by exploiting fluorescence in the NIR-II region…

    Real-time vascular imaging that provides both anatomic and hemodynamic information could greatly facilitate the diagnosis of vascular diseases and provide accurate assessment of therapeutic effects. In this study, we have developed a novel fluorescence-based all-optical method, named near-infrared II (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging, to image murine hindlimb vasculature and blood flow in an experimental model of peripheral arterial disease, by exploiting fluorescence in the NIR-II region (1000–1400 nm) of photon wavelengths. The penetration depth of millimeters, high spatial resolution, and fast acquisition rate of NIR-II imaging make it a useful imaging tool for murine models of vascular disease.

    Other authors
    See publication
  • Role of extracellular matrix signaling cues in modulating cell fate commitment for cardiovascular tissue engineering

    Adv Healthc Mater

    It is generally agreed that engineered cardiovascular tissues require cellular interactions with the local milieu. Within the microenvironment, the extracellular matrix (ECM) is an important support structure that provides dynamic signaling cues in part through its chemical, physical, and mechanical properties. In response to ECM factors, cells activate biochemical and mechanotransduction pathways that modulate their survival, growth, migration, differentiation, and function. This Review…

    It is generally agreed that engineered cardiovascular tissues require cellular interactions with the local milieu. Within the microenvironment, the extracellular matrix (ECM) is an important support structure that provides dynamic signaling cues in part through its chemical, physical, and mechanical properties. In response to ECM factors, cells activate biochemical and mechanotransduction pathways that modulate their survival, growth, migration, differentiation, and function. This Review describes the role of ECM chemical composition, spatial patterning, and mechanical stimulation in the specification of cardiovascular lineages, with a focus on stem cell differentiation, direct transdifferentiation, and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition. The translational application of ECMs will be discussed in the context of cardiovascular tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

    Other authors
    See publication
  • Genetically engineered excitable cardiac myofibroblasts coupled to cardiomyocytes rescue normal propagation and reduce arrhythmia complexity in heterocellular monolayers.

    PLoS One

    The use of genetic engineering of unexcitable cells to enable expression of gap junctions and inward rectifier potassium channels has suggested that cell therapies aimed at establishing electrical coupling of unexcitable donor cells to host cardiomyocytes may be arrhythmogenic. Whether similar considerations apply when the donor cells are electrically excitable has not been investigated. Here we tested the hypothesis that adenoviral transfer of genes coding Kir2.1 (I(K1)), Na(V)1.5 (I(Na)) and…

    The use of genetic engineering of unexcitable cells to enable expression of gap junctions and inward rectifier potassium channels has suggested that cell therapies aimed at establishing electrical coupling of unexcitable donor cells to host cardiomyocytes may be arrhythmogenic. Whether similar considerations apply when the donor cells are electrically excitable has not been investigated. Here we tested the hypothesis that adenoviral transfer of genes coding Kir2.1 (I(K1)), Na(V)1.5 (I(Na)) and connexin-43 (Cx43) proteins into neonatal rat ventricular myofibroblasts (NRVF) will convert them into fully excitable cells, rescue rapid conduction velocity (CV) and reduce the incidence of complex reentry arrhythmias in an in vitro model. The results provide proof of concept that cell therapies with excitable donor cells increase safety and reduce arrhythmogenic potential.

    Other authors
    • Bin Hu
    • Jose Jalife
    See publication
  • TGF-β1, Released by Myofibroblasts, Differentially Regulates Transcription and Function of Sodium and Potassium Channels in Adult Rat Ventricular Myocytes.

    PLos One

    Cardiac injury promotes fibroblasts activation and differentiation into myofibroblasts, which are hypersecretory of multiple cytokines. It is unknown whether any of such cytokines are involved in the electrophysiological remodeling of adult cardiomyocytes. We proved that TGF-β1 released by myofibroblasts differentially regulates transcription and function of the main cardiac sodium channel and of the channel responsible for the transient outward current. The results provide new mechanistic…

    Cardiac injury promotes fibroblasts activation and differentiation into myofibroblasts, which are hypersecretory of multiple cytokines. It is unknown whether any of such cytokines are involved in the electrophysiological remodeling of adult cardiomyocytes. We proved that TGF-β1 released by myofibroblasts differentially regulates transcription and function of the main cardiac sodium channel and of the channel responsible for the transient outward current. The results provide new mechanistic insight into the electrical remodeling associated with myocardial injury.

    Other authors
    See publication
  • Extracellular Matrix Promotes Highly Efficient Cardiac Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells.

    Circulation Research

    Cardiomyocytes differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells are increasingly being used for cardiovascular research, including disease modeling, and hold promise for clinical applications. Current cardiac differentiation protocols exhibit variable success across different PSC lines and are primarily based on the application of growth factors. This study proved that dynamic extracellular matrix application promoted epithelial–mesenchymal transition of human PSCs and complemented growth…

    Cardiomyocytes differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells are increasingly being used for cardiovascular research, including disease modeling, and hold promise for clinical applications. Current cardiac differentiation protocols exhibit variable success across different PSC lines and are primarily based on the application of growth factors. This study proved that dynamic extracellular matrix application promoted epithelial–mesenchymal transition of human PSCs and complemented growth factor signaling to enable robust cardiac differentiation.

    Other authors
    See publication
  • Dynamic reciprocity of sodium and potassium channel expression in a macromolecular complex controls cardiac excitability and arrhythmia.

    Proc Natl Acad Sci USA

    The cardiac electrical impulse depends on an orchestrated interplay of transmembrane ionic currents in myocardial cells. Two critical ionic current mechanisms are the inwardly rectifying potassium current (IK1), which is important for maintenance of the cell resting membrane potential, and the sodium current (INa), which provides a rapid depolarizing current during the upstroke of the action potential. By controlling the resting membrane potential, IK1 modifies sodium channel availability and…

    The cardiac electrical impulse depends on an orchestrated interplay of transmembrane ionic currents in myocardial cells. Two critical ionic current mechanisms are the inwardly rectifying potassium current (IK1), which is important for maintenance of the cell resting membrane potential, and the sodium current (INa), which provides a rapid depolarizing current during the upstroke of the action potential. By controlling the resting membrane potential, IK1 modifies sodium channel availability and therefore, cell excitability, action potential duration, and velocity of impulse propagation. Additionally, IK1–INa interactions are key determinants of electrical rotor frequency responsible for abnormal, often lethal, cardiac reentrant activity. Here, we have used a multidisciplinary approach based on molecular and biochemical techniques, acute gene transfer or silencing, and electrophysiology to show that IK1–INa interactions involve a reciprocal modulation of expression of their respective channel proteins (Kir2.1 and NaV1.5) within a macromolecular complex.

    Other authors
    See publication
  • Simultaneous voltage and calcium mapping of genetically purified human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac myocyte monolayers.

    Circulation Research

    Human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) offer a powerful in vitro tool to investigate disease mechanisms and to perform patient-specific drug screening. We developed new methods of generating and optically mapping impulse propagation of large human iPSC-CM cardiac monolayers. The multiparametric imaging system presented here offers a scalable enabling technology to measure simultaneously action potential and intracellular calcium wave amplitude and dynamics of…

    Human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) offer a powerful in vitro tool to investigate disease mechanisms and to perform patient-specific drug screening. We developed new methods of generating and optically mapping impulse propagation of large human iPSC-CM cardiac monolayers. The multiparametric imaging system presented here offers a scalable enabling technology to measure simultaneously action potential and intracellular calcium wave amplitude and dynamics of cardiac monolayers. The advent of large-scale production of human iPSC-CMs makes it possible to now generate sufficient numbers of uniform cardiac monolayers that can be utilized for the study of arrhythmia mechanisms and offers advantages over commonly used rodent models.

    Other authors
    See publication
  • A major role for HERG in determining frequency of reentry in neonatal rat ventricular myocyte monolayer.

    Circulation Research

    The rapid delayed rectifier potassium current, I(Kr), which flows through the human ether-a-go-go-related (hERG) channel, is a major determinant of the shape and duration of the human cardiac action potential (APD). However, it is unknown whether the time dependency of I(Kr) enables it to control APD, conduction velocity (CV), and wavelength (WL) at the exceedingly high activation frequencies that are relevant to cardiac reentry and fibrillation. In this study, I discovered that hERG…

    The rapid delayed rectifier potassium current, I(Kr), which flows through the human ether-a-go-go-related (hERG) channel, is a major determinant of the shape and duration of the human cardiac action potential (APD). However, it is unknown whether the time dependency of I(Kr) enables it to control APD, conduction velocity (CV), and wavelength (WL) at the exceedingly high activation frequencies that are relevant to cardiac reentry and fibrillation. In this study, I discovered that hERG overexpression dramatically accelerates reentry frequency in NRVM monolayers. Both APD and WL shortening, together with transient hyperpolarization, underlies the increased rotor frequency and stability.

    Other authors
    See publication
  • Mechanisms of stretch-induced atrial fibrillation in the presence and the absence of adrenocholinergic stimulation: interplay between rotors and focal discharges.

    Heart Rhythm

    Both atrial stretch and combined adrenocholinergic stimulation (ACS) have been shown to favor initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). Their respective contributions to the electrophysiological mechanism remains, however, incompletely understood. This study endeavored to determine the mechanism of maintenance of stretch-related AF (SRAF) in the presence and absence of ACS and to assess how focal discharges interact with rotors to modify the level of complexity in the activation…

    Both atrial stretch and combined adrenocholinergic stimulation (ACS) have been shown to favor initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). Their respective contributions to the electrophysiological mechanism remains, however, incompletely understood. This study endeavored to determine the mechanism of maintenance of stretch-related AF (SRAF) in the presence and absence of ACS and to assess how focal discharges interact with rotors to modify the level of complexity in the activation patterns to perpetuate AF.

    Other authors
    See publication

Courses

  • Accounting

    -

  • Design Thinking

    -

  • Entrepreneurship

    -

  • Finance

    -

  • Gene Structure & Regeulation

    HUMGEN 541

  • Integrative Genomics

    Phy 555

  • Marketing

    -

  • Membrane Physiology

    Phy 577

  • Operations

    -

  • Signal Transduction

    Phy 576

  • Systematic & Integrative Physiology

    Phy 510

Honors & Awards

  • Cardiovascular Institute Postdoctoral Travel Award

    Stanford University - Cardiovascular Institute

  • CABS President Outstanding Service Award

    Chinese American Biopharmaceutical Society

  • Cardiovascular Institute Postdoctoral Travel Award

    Stanford University - Cardiovascular Institute

  • Rackham Graduate Student Research Grant

    University of Michigan

  • EDGE Outstanding Graduate Student Fellowship

    University of Michigan

  • Rackham Graduate School Travel Grant

    University of Michigan

Languages

  • English

    Full professional proficiency

  • Chinese

    Native or bilingual proficiency

Organizations

  • Chinese-American Biopharmaceutical Society (CABS)

    Elected Committee Member

    - Present
  • American Physiology Society (APS)

    Member

    - Present
  • American Heart Association (AHA)

    Member

    - Present
  • American Association for the Advanced Science (AAAS)

    Member

    - Present
  • Cardiac Electrophysiology Society

    Member

    - Present

Recommendations received

More activity by Luqia

View Luqia’s full profile

  • See who you know in common
  • Get introduced
  • Contact Luqia directly
Join to view full profile

Other similar profiles

Explore collaborative articles

We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.

Explore More

Add new skills with these courses