Ruowen Ge

Academic Qualifications

• PhD University of Pennsylvania, USA

Research Interests

Angiogenesis, antiangiogenic proteins/peptides, cancer, inflammation, COPD, and drug discovery:

Angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation) is essential for embryonic development and adult physiological functions such as wound healing, reproduction and tissue homeostasis. Abnormal angiogenesis is involved in more than 70 human diseases including cancer. To suppress cancer through inhibiting tumor angiogenesis has been actively pursued as an anticancer therapeutic approach.

In recent years, we have focused on identifying and investigating novel endogenous anti-angiogenesis proteins that contain the thrombospondin type 1 repeat domain (TSR). These endogenous proteins are not only valuable for anticancer drug development, but also important for understanding tissue homeostasis and organ function. So far, we have identified 3 novel endogenous antiangiogenic proteins: Isthmin 1 (ISM1), ADAMTS5 and ADAMTS4. We use CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing approach to generate knockout mice for functional investigations. We also study the mechanisms of action of these proteins using cultured primary human endothelial cells and various molecular and cell biology approaches.

Notably, we discovered a previously unrecognized protein trafficking pathway from late endosome to mitochondria which allows extracellular antiangiogenic proteins to reach mitochondria via endocytosis and execute apoptosis. We believe this is a fundamental protein trafficking pathway that is likely to exist in many cell types. We are currently investigating what are the key players in this protein trafficking pathway and how late endosome interact and fuse with mitochondria.

We have also extended our research into inflammation suppression and resolution. By serendipity, we discovered a novel protein suppressor that can quench cigarette-smoke induced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in mice. We are currently investigating the mechanism of action of this novel inflammation suppressor in COPD as well as its roles in other inflammatory lung diseases such as acute lung injury (ALI) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).