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Faculty

Hui-Ying Lim, PhD
Physiology

Hui-Ying Lim, PhD

Associate Professor of Physiology

 

 

The overall goal of research in the Lim lab is to understand cardiac intercellular signaling on heart physiology and metabolism as well as inter-organ communication between the heart and other tissues on systemic lipid homeostasis, by using an integrated approach of cell biology, imaging and the power of Drosophila genetics. My lab was among the first to identify that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced under normal, non-stressed condition in the heart and they direct non-myocyte to myocyte communication that critically regulate proper heart development and function. We have found that among over 20 septate junction proteins present in the heart, Kune is a select septate junction protein that directs intercellular ROS signaling in the heart. In addition, we have evidence that Kune, which is also a claudin, regulates a Drosophila transient receptor potential (dTRP) cation channel protein in the cardiomyocytes. In light of emerging studies that claudins could interact with TRP vanilloid calcium channel proteins in the intestinal and kidney cells to regulate calcium handling, we are pursuing the hypothesis that Kune controls normal heart function by regulating the TRP-mediated calcium influx and homeostasis in the cardiomyocytes. Another arm of our cardiac intercellular interaction research theme investigates the transmission of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the heart and the consequences on heart function. We have evidence that ER stress induced in one cell type can be propagated to neighboring ER stress-naïve cells in vivo in the fly heart. We are interrogating the molecular mechanisms underlying such a transmission and the effect on heart function and systemic lipid homeostasis. Another research theme in the lab centers on the endocrine function of the heart on systemic lipid homeostasis regulation. Through large-scale genetic screens, we have identified several cardiac factors that when their levels are altered in the heart could alter whole-body lipid metabolism. We showed that apoB-lipoprotein production in the heart is increased in response to high dietary fat that in turn increases lipid uptake from the midgut (insect small intestine) and promotes systemic obesity. Therefore the heart can respond critically to changes in nutrition to evoke metabolic effects not only in the heart but also systemically. We have also identified that the Snail family transcription factors (Sna TFs) act in the heart to maintain normal systemic lipid homeostasis by controlling the expression of Tep2. Tep2 is a member of the thioester-containing family of secreted proteins that are known to be innate immune effectors but with unclear role in energy metabolism. We have found that cardiac-derived Tep2 controls TGF-beta signaling and lipid storage in the fat body (insect adipose tissue). We are studying the mechanism by which Tep2 regulates TGF-beta signaling and downstream lipid events in the fat body. Our work reveals a novel role of Tep2 in mediating a metabolic link between the heart and adipose tissue.

Education:

  • B.S. Microbiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
  • Ph.D. Pathobiology, Columbia University, New York
  • Postdoctoral. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, San Diego

Clinical/Research Interests:

  • Cardiac intercellular signaling on heart function
  • Heart control of systemic obesity

Funding:

04/01/2020 - 03/31/2025 -National Institutes of Health
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
1R01HL152205-02
“A cardiac Wingless-Snail-Tep2 axis directs normal lipid homeostasis and protects against diet-induced obesity”
Role: PI

Select Publications:

  1. Li, Y, Wang, W, Lim, H-Y†. (2023) Drosophila transmembrane protein 214 (dTMEM214) regulates midgut glucose uptake and systemic glucose homeostasis. Developmental Biology. DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2023.01.006. PMID:36657508. †Corresponding author
  2. Li, Y, Wang, W, Lim, H-Y†. (2021) Drosophila Solute Carrier 5A5 regulates systemic glucose homeostasis by mediating glucose absorption in the Midgut. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212424. PMID: 34830305. †Corresponding author
  3. Lim, H-Y†, Wang W, Nakagawa Y, Pierzchala-Koziec K. (2020) The Endocine Regulation of Systemic Energy Homeostasis Under Physiological and Pathological Conditions. Front Physiol. PMCID:PMC 33192620. (Editorial) †Corresponding author
  4. Liu, Y, Bao H, Wang, W†, Lim, H-Y†. (2019) Cardiac Snail family of transcription factors direct systemic lipid metabolism in Drosophila. PLOS Genetics. PMCID:PMC 31725726. †Corresponding author
  5. Lim, H-Y†., Bao, H., Wang, W. (2019) Select septate junction proteins direct ROS-mediated paracrine regulation of Drosophila cardiac function. Cell Reports. PMCID:PMC6703176. †Corresponding author
  6. Lee, SJ., Bao, H., Ishikawa, Z., Wang, W†., and Lim, H-Y† (2017) Cardiomyocyte regulation of systemic lipid metabolism by the apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins in Drosophila. PLOS Genetics. PMCID:PMC5283750. †Corresponding author
  7. Griffin, TM., Humphries, KM., Kinter, M., Lim, H-Y., Szweda, LI (2015) Nutrient sensing and utilization: Getting to the heart of metabolic flexibility. Biochemie. PMCID: 26476002. (Review) All authors contributed equally to this work.
  8. Lim, H-Y†., Wang, W., Chen, J., Ocorr, K., Bodmer, R† (2014) ROS regulate cardiac function via a distinct paracrine mechanism. Cell Reports. PMCID: PMC4164050. †Corresponding author (selected for Cover Image).
  9. Lim, H-Y and Bodmer, R (2011) Phospholipid homeostasis and lipotoxic cardiomyopathy:  A matter of balance. Fly (Austin). PMCID: PMC3225766.
  10. Lim, H-Y., Wang, W., Wessells, RJ., Ocorr, K., Bodmer, R (2011) Phospholipid homeostasis regulates lipid metabolism and cardiac function through SREBP signaling in Drosophila. Genes and Development. PMCID:PMC3022264.
  11. Wessells, R., Fitzgerald, E., Piazza, N., Ocorr, K., Morley, S., Davies, C., Lim, H-Y., Elmén, L., Hayes, M., Oldham, S., Bodmer, R (2009) d4EBP acts downstream of both dTOR and dFOXO to modulate cardiac functional aging in Drosophila. Aging Cell. PMCID: PMC2832479.
  12. Ocorr, K., Perrin, L., Lim, H-Y., Qian, L., Wu, X., Bodmer, R (2007) Genetic Control of heart function and aging in Drosophila. Trends Cardiovascular Medicine. PMCID:PMC1950717.
  13. Lim, H-Y., Bodmer, R. and Perrin, L (2006) Drosophila Ageing 2005/2006. Experimental Gerontology. PMCID:PMC1855203.
  14. Lim, H-Y and Tomlinson, A (2006) Organization of the peripheral fly eye: the roles of Snail family transcription factors in peripheral retinal apoptosis. Development. PMCID:PMC16914498.