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Faculty

Jiyang Cai PhD
Biochemistry and Physiology

Jiyang Cai, PhD

Professor

 Department of Biochemistry & Physiology

405-271-2226, ext. 31896

jiyang-cai@ou.edu

Main Research Interests:

Immune cell interactions in the choroid and outer retina

The back of the eye has immune privilege and under physiological conditions is protected from overt inflammation and autoimmune responses. With aging and age-related degeneration of the outer retina and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), the initial lesions recruit and active cells from the innate and adapted immune systems. Their interactions determine the outcome as either inflammation resolution or exacerbated tissue injury. Our lab studies the cellular and molecular mechanisms of cell-cell interaction and cytokine-mediated signaling network during these processes. Our ongoing projects include (1) examining the functional interactions of microRNAs in RPE-derived extracellular vesicles and mRNAs of subretinal microglia, (2) characterizing the role of Muller cell-produced IL-33 in pathogenic angiogenesis and (3) characterizing choroidal residential CD8+ T cells for their roles in RPE injury.

Education:

Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai, China, Bachelor of Medicine, 06/1992, Subject: Clinical Medicine

Emory University, Atlanta, GA, Ph.D., 12/1999, Subject: Pharmacology

Yale University, New Haven, CT, Postdoctoral Fellowship, 01/2002, Subject: Pharmacology

Funding:

R01 EY034742, 09/30/2023-06/30/2028

NIH/NEI (Cai, PI)

Metabolic reprogramming of endothelial precursor cells in subretinal fibrosis

 

R01 EY035855, 9/30/2024-9/30/2028

NIH/NEI (Cai, PI)

Extracellular microRNA-mediated intercellular communication between retinal microglia and RPE

Select Publications:

  • Cai, J., Nelson, K. C., Wu, M., Sternberg, Jr, P., Jones, D. P. (2000). Oxidative damage and protection of the RPE. Progress in Retinal and Eye Research, 19(2), 205-21. PMID: 10674708. DOI: 10.1016/s1350-9462(99)00009-9
  • Ma Z, Wu W, Liang W, Takahashi Y, Cai J, Ma J-X. Modulation of cGAS-STING signaling by PPARa in ischemia-induced retinopathy. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2022,119:e2208934119. PMID: 36409895
  • Cai J, Litwin C, Cheng R, Ma J-X, Chen Y. DARPP32, a novel target of hyperactive mTORC1 in the retinal pigment epithelium. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2022,119:e2207489119. PMID: 35939707
  • Chen, Y., Bounds SE, Ma, X., Karmoker, J. R., Liu, Y., Ma, J.-X., Cai, J. Interleukin-17-Mediated Protective Cytokine Signaling Against Degeneration of the Retinal Pigment Epithelium. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2023,120(51), e2311647120. PMID: 38085785
  • Chen Y., Bounds SE, Kundu N., Karmoker, J.R., Liu Y, Kim, D., Cai, J. Role of miR-204 in controlling metabolic functions of the subretinal microglia. Theranostics, 2025;15: 8952-8963. doi: 10.7150/thno.111807
Complete list of published work in My Bibliography: