Biography

Dr. Hongde Li earned his medical bachelor's degree from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 2009 and completed his PhD at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2014. Following his doctoral studies, he pursued postdoctoral research at Indiana University Bloomington in the United States from 2014 to 2018. In 2018, Dr. Li joined the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center as a Research Scientist. He returned to China in 2023 to establish his independent research career as an Investigator at the Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Research Interests

Research Interest I: the functional interactions between Hippo signaling and metabolism in cancer

The Hippo signaling pathway is a highly conserved regulatory network essential for regulating organ size, tissue homeostasis, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Dysregulation of this pathway has been implicated in various cancers, influencing tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. Our research focuses on the interactions between Hippo signaling and cellular metabolism in cancer biology, with the goal of uncovering novel mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies to combat human malignancies.

 Research Interest II: metabolic interactions within the tumor microenvironment

Metabolic interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME) are pivotal to cancer development, progression, and therapy resistance. The TME comprises a complex network of cancer cells, stromal cells (including fibroblasts, immune cells, and endothelial cells), extracellular matrix, and a diverse array of metabolites. These components engage in dynamic crosstalk, shaping the metabolic landscape of the tumor to create an environment that supports tumor growth while suppressing immune responses. We employ a range of advanced techniques, including metabolomics, scRNA-seq, and gene editing, across multiple models—ranging from cell cultures and mouse genetic models to clinical samples—to dissect the metabolic regulatory networks within the TME. Our ultimate goal is to identify therapeutic targets that can inhibit tumor growth or enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Research Interest III: metabolic regulation and pathophysiological functions of polyamines

Polyamines, including putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, are small organic cations that play essential roles in cellular functions and are tightly regulated across various biological processes. These molecules are involved in DNA stabilization, RNA processing, protein synthesis, and cell proliferation. Given their critical roles in cellular metabolism, dysregulation of polyamine metabolism is linked to several pathophysiological conditions, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and inflammation. Our focus is on unraveling the genetic mechanisms that regulate polyamine homeostasis and understanding the specific roles of individual polyamines in human cancers.

Selected Publications

1. Li H, Wu BK, Kanchwala M, Cai J, Wang L, Xing C, Zheng Y, Pan D.YAP/TAZ drives cell proliferation and tumour growth via a polyamine-eIF5A hypusination-LSD1 axis (2022). Nature Cell Biology, 24(3): 373-383.
2.  Wang L, Choi K, Su T, Li B, Wu X, Zhang R, Driskill JH, Li H, Lei H, Guo P, Chen EH, Zheng Y, Pan D (2022). Multiphase coalescence mediates Hippo pathway activation. Cell, 185(23):4376-4393.e18. (Recommended by Faculty Opinions))
3. Cai J, Choi K, Li H, Prieto KDP, Zheng Y, Pan, D (2022). YAP-VGLL4 antagonism defines the major physiological function of the Hippo signaling effector YAP. Genes & Development, 36(21-24):1119-1128.
4. Karsai G, Lone M, Kutalik Z, Brenna JT, Li H, Pan D, Eckardstein AV, Hornemann T (2020). FADS3 is a Δ14Z sphingoid base desaturase that contributes to gender differences in the human plasma sphingolipidome. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 295(7):1889-1897.
5. Li H, Rai M, Buddika K, Sterrett MC, Luhur A, Mahmoudzadeh NH, Julick CR, Pletcher RC, Chawla G, Gosney CJ, Burton AK, Karty JA, Montooth KL, Sokol NS, and Tennessen JM (2019). Lactate dehydrogenase and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase cooperatively regulate growth and carbohydrate metabolism during Drosophila melanogaster larval development. Development 146: dev175315. (Editor highlighted article)
6. Li H, Chawla G, Hurlburt AJ, Sterrett MC, Zaslaver O, Cox J, Karty JA, Rosebrock AP, Caudy AA, Tennessen JM (2017). Drosophila larvae synthesize the putative oncometabolite L-2-hydroxyglutarate during normal developmental growth. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA, 114(6): 1353-1358. (Recommended by Faculty Opinions)
7. Zhang W, Li H, Ogando DG, Li S, Feng M, Price Jr. FW, Tennessen JM, Bonanno JA (2017). Glutaminolysis is essential for energy production and ion transport in human corneal endothelium. eBioMedicine 16: 292-301.
8. Li H#, Stokes W#, Chater E#, Roy R#, Bruin E, Hu Y, Liu Z, Smit EF, Heynen GJ, Downward J, Seckl MJ, Wang Y, Tang H, Pardo OE (2016). Decreased glutathione biosynthesis contributes to EGFR T790M-driven erlotinib resistance in non-small cell lung cancer. Cell Discovery, 2: 16031. (#equal contribution)
9. Zhang C#, Yin A#, Li H#, Wang R#, Wu G#, Shen J#, Zhang M, Wang L, Hou Y, Ouyang H, Zhang Y, Zheng Y, Wang J, Lv X, Wang Y, Zhang F, Zeng B, Li W, Yan F, Zhao Y, Pang X, Zhang X, Fu H, Chen F, Zhao N, Hamaker BR, Bridgewater LC, Weinkove D, Clement K, Dore J, Holmes E, Xiao H, Zhao G, Yang S, Bork P, Nicholson JK, Wei H, Tang H, Zhang X, Zhao L (2015). Dietary modulation of gut microbiota contributes to alleviation of both genetic and simple obesity in children. eBioMedicine, 2(8): 968-984. (#equal contribution)

Contacts

E-mail: lihongde@him.cas.cn

Hangzhou Institute of Medicine

Chinese Academy of Science

150 Fucheng Road, Qiantang District

Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China 310000