Research Faculty
Qiuhong Li, Ph.D.
Dr. Qiuhong Li is currently a Research Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Florida.
Education: Ph. D, Molecular Genetics and Biology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Research Interest:
Diabetic retinopathy remains the most frequent microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus, developing in almost all type 1 cases and in 60% type 2 cases over a 20-year period and is of the leading cause of severe vision loss in people under age of sixty.
Our research goal is to understand the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy and to develop more effective therapies for treatment of this condition, with a particular focus on the targeting ocular renin angiotensin system. The renin angiotensin system, as a fundamental regulator of cardiovascular homeostasis and a key contributor in cardiovascular diseases, is also produced locally in the eye. Dysregulation of ocular renin angiotensin system is not only implicated in pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy, but also in a wide variety of other ocular diseases such as glaucoma, age-related degeneration and ocular inflammation. Funded by American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association and NIH, our research projects include (1) to investigate the role and mechanisms of ocular renin angiotensin system in development and progression of diabetic retinopathy; (2) the protective role and mechanisms of recently established new axis of the renin angiotensin system: ACE2/Ang 1-7/Mas in diabetic retinopathy, using both gene-based and pharmacological approaches in animal models as well as in vitro studies; (3) to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms of ocular renin angiotensin system in retinal neuro-vascular and immune-modulating functions and cross-talk with other signaling pathways.
Publications in recent years:
Hazra S, Rasheed A, Bhatwadekar A, Wang X, Shaw LC, Patel M, Caballero S, Magomedova L, Solis N, Yan Y, Wang W, Thinschmidt JS, Verma A, Li Q, Levi M, Cummins CL, Grant MB. Liver X Receptor Modulates Diabetic Retinopathy Outcome in a Mouse Model of Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes. 2012 Aug 13. [Epub ahead of print].
Douglas Y, Bhatwadekar AD, Shaw LC, Carnegie D, Caballero S, Li Q, Calzi SL, Raizada MK, Stitt AW, Grant MB. Bone marrow-CNS connections: Implications in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2012 Sep;31(5):481-94. Epub 2012 May 15. PMID:22609081
D. Mao, J. Wang, H. Peng, Q. Li, P. Li, K. Hu, X. Zhang, B. Lei. Aqueous humor and plasma adiponectin levels in proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients. Curr Eye Res. 2012 Sep;37(9):803-8. Epub 2012 May 7. PMID:22563689
W. Deng, A. Dinculescu,Q. Li, S. Boye, J. Li, M. Gorbatyuk, J. Pang, V. Chiodo, M. Matthes, D. Yasumura, L. Liu, F. Alkuraya, K. Zhang, D. Vollrath, M. M. LaVail, W. W. Hauswirth. Tyrosine-mutant AAV8 delivery of human MERTK provides long-term retinal preservation in RCS Rats. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012 Apr 6;53(4):1895-1904. PMID:22408006
A. Dinculescu, J. Estreicher, JC Zenteno, TS Aleman, SB Schwartz, WC Huang, AJ Roman, A Sumaroka, Q Li, WT Deng, SH Min, V Chiodo, AW Neeley, X Liu, X Shu, M Matias-Florentino, B Buentello-Volante, SL Boye, AV Cideciyan, WW Hauswirth, SG Jacobson. Gene Therapy for Retinitis Pigmentosa caused by MFRP (Membrane-type Frizzled Related Protein) Mutations: Human Phenotype and Preliminary Proof-of-Concept. Hum Gene Ther. Hum Gene Ther. 2012 Jan 26. [Epub ahead of print] PMID:22142163.
Y Qi, H Li, V Shenoy, Q Li, F Wang, M Raizada, C Sumners, M Katovich. Moderate cardiac-selective overexpression of angiotensin type 2 receptor protects cardiac functions from ischemic injury. Exp Physiol. 2012 Jan;97(1):89-101. Epub 2011 Oct 3. PMID:21967903.
A. Verma, Z.Shan, L. Yuan, B. Lei, X. Liu, T. Nakagawa, M. B Grant, A. S Lewin, W. W Hauswirth and M. Raizada, Q. Li. ACE2 and Ang-(1-7) confer protection against development of diabetic retinopathy. Mol Ther. 2012 Jan;20(1):28-36. Epub 2011 Jul 26 PMID: 21792177
Y.P. R. Jarajapu, S. Caballero, A.Verma, T. Nakagawa, M.C. Lo, Q. Li, and M. B. Grant. Blockade of NADPH Oxidase Restores Vasoreparative Function in Diabetic CD34+ Cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011 Jul 7;52(8):5093-104. PMID: 21676908
M.C. Peden, J. Min, C. Meyers, Z. Lukowski, Q. Li, S. Boye, M. Levin, W. Hauswirth, R. Ratnakaram, W. Dawson, C. Smith, M.B. Sherwood. Ab-Externo AAV-Mediated Gene Delivery to the Suprachoroidal Space Using a 250 Micron Flexible Microcatheter. PLoS One. 2011 Feb 11;6(2):e17140. PMID: 21347253.
Lukason M, Dufresne E, Rubin H, Pechan P, Q. Li, Kim I, Kiss S, Flaxel C, Collins M, Miller J, Hauswirth W, Maclachlan T, Wadsworth S, Scaria A. Inhibition of Choroidal Neovascularization in a Nonhuman Primate Model by Intravitreal Administration of an AAV2 Vector Expressing a Novel Anti-VEGF Molecule. Mol Ther. 2011 Feb;19(2):260-5. PMID: 20978476.
Petrs-Silva H, Dinculescu A, Q. Li, Deng WT, Pang JJ, Min SH, Chiodo V, Neeley AW, Govindasamy L, Bennett A, Agbandje-McKenna M, Zhong L, Li B, Jayandharan GR, Srivastava A, Lewin AS, Hauswirth WW. Novel Properties of Tyrosine-mutant AAV2 Vectors in the Mouse Retina. Mol Ther. 2011 Feb;19(2):293-301. PMID: 21045809
Nakagawa T, Tanabe K, Croker BP, Johnson RJ, Grant MB, Kosugi T,Li Q. Endothelial dysfunction as a potential contributor in diabetic nephropathy. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2011 Jan;7(1):36-44.
Z. Shan, P. Shi, A. E. Cuadra , Y.Dong , Q. Li, D. Seth , L. G. Navar, M. J. Katovich, C. Sumners and M. K. Raizada. Involvement of the brain (pro) renin receptor in cardiovascular homeostasis. Circ Res. . 2010 Oct 1;107(7):934-8. PMID: 20689062
P. Shi, C. Diez-Freire, J. Y. Jun, Y. Qi, M. J. Katovich, Q. Li, S. Sriramula, J. Francis, C. Sumners and M. K. Raizada. Brain Microglial Cytokines in Neurogenic Hypertension, 2010 Aug;56(2):297-303. PMID: 20547972
Petrs-Silva H, Dinculescu A, Q. Li, Deng WT, Pang JJ, Min SH, Chiodo V, Neeley AW, Govindasamy L, Bennett A, Agbandje-McKenna M, Zhong L, Li B, Jayandharan GR, Srivastava A, Lewin AS, Hauswirth WW. Novel Properties of Tyrosine-mutant AAV2 Vectors in the Mouse Retina. Mol Ther. 2011 Feb;19(2):293-301. PMID: 21045809
Nakagawa T, Tanabe K, Croker BP, Johnson RJ, Grant MB, Kosugi T, Li Q. Endothelial dysfunction as a potential contributor in diabetic nephropathy. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2011 Jan;7(1):36-44.
Z. Shan, P. Shi, A. E. Cuadra , Y.Dong , Q. Li, D. Seth , L. G. Navar, M. J. Katovich, C. Sumners and M. K. Raizada. Involvement of the brain (pro) renin receptor in cardiovascular homeostasis. Circ Res. . 2010 Oct 1;107(7):934-8. PMID: 20689062
P. Shi, C. Diez-Freire, J. Y. Jun, Y. Qi, M. J. Katovich, Q. Li, S. Sriramula, J. Francis, C. Sumners and M. K. Raizada. Brain Microglial Cytokines in Neurogenic Hypertension, 2010 Aug;56(2):297-303. PMID: 20547972
Kosugi T, Nakayama T, Li Q, Chiodo VA, Zhang L, Campbell-Thompson M, Grant M, Croker BP, Nakagawa T. Soluble Flt-1 gene therapy ameliorates albuminuria but accelerates tubulointerstitial injury in diabetic mice Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2010 Mar;298(3):F609-16. PMID: 20015944
Q. Li, A. Verma, P. Han, T. Nakagawa, R. J. Johnson, M. B. Grant, M. Campbell-Thompson, M. S. Segal, B. Lei, W. W. Hauswirth. Diabetic eNOS knockout mice develop accelerated retinopathy. IOVS, 2010;51(10):5240-5246. PMID: 20435587
Q. Li and Raizada MK. Is (Pro)renin receptor a multifunctional receptor? Hypertension. 2010 Aug;56(2):297-303. PMID: 20368502
J. Pang, S.E. Boye, B. Lei, S.L. Boye,D. Everhart, R. Ryals, Y. Umino, B. Rohrer, J. Alexander, J. Li, X. Dai, Q. Li, B. Chang, R. Barlow, W.W. Hauswirth. Self-complementary AAV-mediated gene therapy restores cone function and prevents cone degeneration in two models of Rpe65 deficiency. Gene Ther. 2010 Mar 18. [Epub ahead of print]
J. Pang, J. Alexander, B. Lei, W. Deng, K. Zhang, Q. Li, B. Chang, W.W. Hauswirth. Achromatopsia as a potential candidate for gene therapy. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2010;664:639-46.
Y. Qi, X, Liu, H. Li, V. Shenoy, Q. Li, W. Hauswirth, C. Sumners and M. J Katovich. Selective tropism of the rAAV9 serotype for rodent cardiac tissue. J Gene Med. 2010 Jan;12(1):22-34.
T. Kosugi, T. Nakayama, Q. Li, V. Chiodo, L. Zhang, M. Campbell-Thompson, M. Grant, B. P. Croker, T. Nakagawa. Soluble-Flt-1 Gene Therapy Ameliorates Albuminuria, but Accelerates Tubulointerstitial Injury in Diabetic Mice. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2009 Dec 16. PMID: 20015944.
Mancuso, K., W. W. Hauswirth, Q. Li, T. B. Connor, J. Kuchenbecker, M. C. Mauck, J. Neitz, M. Neitz. Gene therapy for red-green colour blindness in adult primates. Nature. 2009, Oct 8;461(7265):784-7. Epub 2009 Sep 16.
Li, W., Kong, F., Li X., Dai. X, Liu, X., Wu, R., Zhou, X., Lü, F., Chang, B., Q. Li, Hauswirth, W. W., Qu, J., Pang. J. Gene therapy following subretinal AAV5 vector delivery is not affected by a previous intravitreal AAV5 vector administration in the partner eye. Mol Vis. 2009;15:267-75. Epub 2009 Feb 6.
Kosugi T., M. Heinig, T. Connor, Y. Yuzawa, Q. Li, W. W. Hauswirth, M. B. Grant, B. P Croker, M. Campbell-Thompson, L. Zhang, M. A Atkinson, M. S. Segal, and T. Nakagawa. Lowering blood pressure blocks mesangiolysis and mesangial nodules, but not tubulointerstitial injury, in diabetic eNOS knockout mice. Am J Pathol. 2009 Apr;174(4):1221-9. Epub 2009 Feb 26.
Petrs-Silva, H, Dinculescu, A, Q. Li, S.H. Min, V. Chiodo, J.J. Pang, Zhong, L., Zolotukhin, S., Srivastava, A., Lewin, A.S and Hauswirth, W.W. High-efficiency transduction of the mouse retina by tyrosine-mutant AAV serotype vectors. Mol Ther. 2009 Mar;17(3):463-71. Epub 2008 Dec 16.
Q. Li, R. Miller, P. Y. Han, J. Pang, A. Dinculescu, V. Choido, and W. Hauswirth. Route of AAV2 vector administration defines humoral immune response and therapeutic potential. Mol. Vision. Sep 24;14:1760-9.2008.
Q. Li, Dinculescu A, Shan Z, Miller R, Pang J, Lewin AS, Raizada MK, Hauswirth WW. Downregulation of p22phox in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Inhibits Choroidal Neovascularization in Mice. Mol Ther. 2008 Oct;16(10):1688-94. Epub 2008 Jul 29.
Pang JJ, Boye SL, Kumar A, Dinculescu A, Deng W, Li J, Q. Li, Rani A, Foster TC, Chang B, Hawes NL, Boatright JH, Hauswirth WW. AAV-mediated gene therapy delays retinal degeneration in the rd10 mouse containing a recessive PDE{beta}mutation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2008 Oct;49(10):4278-83.
Pang, J., Lauramore A, Deng WT, Q. Li, Doyle TJ, Chiodo V, Li J, Hauswirth WW. Comparative analysis of in vivo and in vitro AAV vector transduction in the neonatal mouse retina: Effects of serotype and site of administration. Vision Res. 2008 Feb;48(3):377-85.
Q. Li, Timmers AM, Guy J, Pang J, Hauswirth WW. Cone-specific expression using a human red opsin promoter in recombinant AAV. Vision Res. 2008 Feb;48(3):332-8.
Alexander JJ, Umino Y, Everhart D, Chang B, Min SH, Q. Li, Timmers AM, Hawes NL, Pang JJ, Barlow RB, Hauswirth WW. Restoration of cone vision in a mouse model of achromatopsia. Nat Med. 2007 Jun;13(6):685-7. Epub 2007 May 21.
Pang JJ, Chang B, Kumar A, Nusinowitz S, Noorwez SM, Li J, Rani A, Foster TC, Chiodo VA, Doyle T, Li H, Malhotra R, Teusner JT, McDowell JH, Min SH, Q. Li, Kaushal S, Hauswirth WW. Gene therapy restores vision- dependent behavior as well as retinal structure and function in a mouse model of RPE65 Leber congenital amaurosis. Mol Ther. 2006 Mar;13(3):565-72.
