Research Interests

Our laboratory is dedicated to exploring the immune and epigenetic regulation in the development of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, helping us better understand the pathogenesis of diseases and develop the more effective treatment strategies for patients with pancreatic diseases.  Our lab is currently focused on:

1. Immunopathological mechanisms of acute and chronic pancreatitis;

2. How immune cells or inflammatory signals promote the initiation and development of pancreatic cancer;

3. Role of epigenetic dysregulation in pancreatic cancer initiation, immune escape, and metabolism.

Featured publication

1. Wang Y#, Liang YY#, Xu HY#, Zhang X, Mao TB, Cui JJ, Yao JY, Wang YC, Jiao F,  Xiao XY, Hu J, Xia Q, Zhang XF,  Wang XJ,  Sun YW, Fu DL, Shen L, Xu XJ*, Xue J* and Wang LW*. Single-cell analysis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma identifies a novel fibroblast subtype associated with poor prognosis but better immunotherapy response. Cell Discov. May 25;7(1):36 (2021)

2. Niu NN#, Lu P#,Yang YL, He WZ, Zhang L, Shi JJ, Wu JH, Yang MW, Zhang ZG, Wang LW, Gao WQ, Habtezion A, Xiao GG, Sun YW*, Li L*, Xue J*. Loss of Setd2 promotes Kras-induced acinar-to-ductal metaplasia and epithelia mesenchymal transition during pancreatic carcinogenesis. Gut. Apr;69(4):715-726 (2020)

3. Wu JH#, Zhang L#, Shi JJ, He RZ, Habtezion A, Niu NN*, Lu P*, Xue J*; Macrophage phenotypic switch orchestrates the inflammation and repair/regeneration following acute pancreatitis injury, EBioMedicine. 58: 102920 (2020)

4. Lu P#, Geng J#, Zhang L#, Wang Y, Niu NN, Fang Y, Liu F, Shi J, Zhang ZG, Sun YW, Wang LW*, Tang YJ*, Xue J*. THZ1 reveals CDK7-dependent transcriptional addictions in pancreatic cancer. Oncogene. May;38(20):3932-3945 (2019)

5. He WZ, Wu JH, Shi JJ, Huo YM, Dai WT, Geng J, Lu P, Yang MW, Fang Y, Wang W, Zhang ZG, Habtezion A*, Sun YW*, Xue J*. IL-22RA1/ STAT3 signaling promotes stemness and tumorigenicity in pancreatic cancer, Cancer Research, Jun 15;78(12):3293-3305 (2018)

6. Xue J*, #, Zhao QL#, Sharma V, Nguyen LP, Lee YN, Pham KL, Edderkaoui M, Pandol SJ, Park W, Habtezion A* , Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Ligands in Cigarette Smoke Induce Production of Interleukin-22 to Promote Pancreatic Fibrosis in Models of Chronic Pancreatitis. Gastroenterology.151(6):1206~1217 (2016)