Biochemistry and Physiology
Jiyang Cai, PhD
Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Physiology
405-271-2226, ext. 31896
jiyang-cai@ouhsc.edu
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 examining the functional interactions of microRNAs in RPE-derived extracellular vesicles and mRNAs of subretinal microglia, and characterizing the role of Muller cell-produced IL-33 in pathogenic angiogenesis.
Current Funding Information
- R01 NEI/NIH EY035855
- “Metabolic reprogramming of endothelial precursor cells in subretinal fibrosis”
- (PI:Cai; 9/30/2023-6/30/2027)
Clinical/Research Interests:
- Mechanisms of inflammation and immune responses in the posterior eye
- Intercellular communications mediated by exosome and non-coding RNA
Select Publications:
- Chen Y., Bounds S.E., 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. PNAS 2023;120: e2311647120. PMID: 38085785
- Cai J, Litwin C, Cheng R, Ma J-X, Chen Y. DARPP32, a novel target of hyperactive mTORC1 in the retinal pigment epithelium. PNAS 2022,119:e2207489119. PMID: 35939707
- 2. Ma Z, Wu W, Liang W, Takahashi Y, Cai J, Ma J-X. Modulation of cGAS-STING signaling by PPARa in ischemia-induced retinopathy. PNAS 2022,119:e2208934119