Structural & Cellular Biology

Assistant Professor

zyou@tulane.edu

Research Interests:

Interleukin-17 in Prostate Cancer. A major focus of our research program is to understand the role of inflammation in cancer initiation, promotion, and progression. Our target molecule in inflammation is interleukin-17 (IL-17). IL-17 is a key cytokine in many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. IL-17RC is a receptor of IL-17. Our past studies have found that IL-17RC is expressed in many cell types (International Archives of Medicine, 2008). IL-17RC expression is increased in androgen-independent prostate cancer (Neoplasia, 2007). IL-17RC inhibits TNFα-induced apoptosis by blocking caspase-3 activation in prostate cancer cells (Cancer Research, 2006). The current emphasis is on IL-17RC-mediated IL-17 signaling, IL-17 receptor complex (including IL-17RA and IL-17RC), and IL-17-induced chemokines and cytokines in prostate cancer. We are using in-vitro and in-vivo (transgenic and knockout mice) approaches to determine the role of IL-17/IL-17RC signaling in initiation, promotion, and progression of prostate cancer. The long-term goals of these studies are to identify the molecular mechanisms of IL-17/IL-17RC signaling pathways, to develop new methods targeting IL-17/IL-17RC signaling, and to apply these methods in prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.

Doublecortin in Articular Joint Development. This research program is to understand the role of doublecortin (DCX) in development of articular joint. DCX was originally identified in migrating and differentiating neurons by other investigators. We were the first group to identify DCX in articular chondrocytes (Tissue Engineering, 2007; Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2007). Our current studies are to identify the molecular mechanisms of DCX’s function and to determine the role of DCX in differentiation of stem cells into articular chondrocytes. The long-term goals are to design new approaches in tissue engineering and regeneration of articular joint by manipulating DCX expression.

Teaching Interests:

Gross Anatomy; MSCR 7070, Molecular Medicine; Aging Studies Proseminar.

Other Academic Affiliations:

Adjunct Assistant Professor in Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Program Member of Tulane Cancer Center, Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium
Faculty Member of Tulane Center for Aging
Faculty Member of Tulane Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine

Selected Publications:

Ge D, You Z. Expression of interleukin-17RC protein in normal human tissues. Int Arch Med. 2008 Oct 17;1(1):19.

You Z, Dong Y, Kong X, Beckett LA, Gandour-Edwards R, Melamed J. Midkine is a NF-kappaB-inducible gene that supports prostate cancer cell survival. BMC Med Genomics. 2008 Feb 14;1:6.

Zhang Y, Ryan JA, Di Cesare PE, Liu J, Walsh CA, You Z. Doublecortin is expressed in articular chondrocytes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2007 Nov 23;363(3):694-700. Epub 2007 Sep 19.

You Z, Dong Y, Kong X, Zhang Y, Vessella RL, Melamed J. Differential expression of IL-17RC isoforms in androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancers. Neoplasia. 2007 Jun;9(6):464-70.

Yamane S, Cheng E, You Z, Reddi AH. Gene expression profiling of mouse articular and growth plate cartilage. Tissue Eng. 2007 Sep;13(9):2163-73.

You Z, Shi XB, DuRaine G, Haudenschild D, Tepper CG, Lo SH, Gandour-Edwards R, de Vere White RW, Reddi AH. Interleukin-17 receptor-like gene is a novel antiapoptotic gene highly expressed in androgen-independent prostate cancer. Cancer Res. 2006 Jan 1;66(1):175-83.

You Z, DuRaine G, Tien JY, Lee C, Moseley TA, Reddi AH. Expression of interleukin-17B in mouse embryonic limb buds and regulation by BMP-7 and bFGF. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005 Jan 21;326(3):624-31.

Haudenschild DR, Palmer SM, Moseley TA, You Z, Reddi AH. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-6 signaling and BMP antagonist noggin in prostate cancer. Cancer Res. 2004 Nov 15;64(22):8276-84.

You Z, Madrid LV, Saims D, Sedivy J, Wang CY. c-Myc sensitizes cells to tumor necrosis factor-mediated apoptosis by inhibiting nuclear factor kappa B transactivation. J Biol Chem. 2002 Sep 27;277(39):36671-7. Epub 2002 Jul 30.

You Z, Saims D, Chen S, Zhang Z, Guttridge DC, Guan KL, MacDougald OA, Brown AM, Evan G, Kitajewski J, Wang CY. Wnt signaling promotes oncogenic transformation by inhibiting c-Myc-induced apoptosis. J Cell Biol. 2002 Apr 29;157(3):429-40. Epub 2002 Apr 29.

You Z, Ouyang H, Lopatin D, Polver PJ, Wang CY. Nuclear factor-kappa B-inducible death effector domain-containing protein suppresses tumor necrosis factor-mediated apoptosis by inhibiting caspase-8 activity. J Biol Chem. 2001 Jul 13;276(28):26398-404. Epub 2001 May 9.

You Z, Fischer DC, Tong X, Hasenburg A, Aguilar-Cordova E, Kieback DG. Coxsackievirus-adenovirus receptor expression in ovarian cancer cell lines is associated with increased adenovirus transduction efficiency and transgene expression. Cancer Gene Ther. 2001 Mar;8(3):168-75.