Yunqiao Li (Li Y), PhD

Our laboratory is primarily dedicated to investigating the regulatory mechanisms governing germinal center responses, with several novel findings recently obtained:

1) Blocking plasma cell differentiation can markedly enhance the capacity of B cells to recognize and present tumor-specific antigens, induce the differentiation of memory-like B cells, and thereby promote anti-tumor immune responses.

2) The deletion of Bcl6 in activated CD8⁺ T cells can prolong their effector functions and suppress T cell exhaustion via the activation of glycolysis, ultimately promoting anti-tumor immunity.

Moving forward, our laboratory will continue to focus intensively on the role of antibodies, B cells and germinal center-mediated anti-tumor immunity. In addition, our laboratory maintains a strong research interest in other related fields, including the regulatory roles of other immune cell types in the tumor microenvironment and the pathogenesis of diseases triggered by aberrant immune regulation. We sincerely welcome inquiries and collaborative initiatives from students, researchers, and industrial professionals who have interests in our research projects. 

Currently, our laboratory is actively recruiting candidates for multiple positions, including graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research technicians, and research assistants.

Please scan the QR code for my ORCID 0000-0001-9937-1634

PUBLICATIONS

1.Luan F*, Li Y*^{, #}, Ning J, Tran JT, Blane TR, Bhargava R, Huang Z, Xiao C^#, Nemazee D^#. Loss of Bcl6 promotes antitumor immunity by activating glycolysis to rescue CD8 T-cell function. Life Sci Alliance. 2025, 9(1): e202503335. (*Co-first authors; ^#Correspondence)

2.Li Y, Bhargava R, Tran TJ, Blane BT, Peng L, Luan FK, Huang Z, Zhang Z, Sun Y, Xiao C, Nemazee D. Blocking plasma cell fate enhances antigen-specific presentation by B cells to boost anti-tumor immunity. Nat Commun. 2025, 16(1): 4454. (First author)

3.Zhou X*, Ma F*, Xie J*, Yuan M*, Li Y*, Shaabani N, Zhao F, Huang D, Wu NC, Lee CD,Liu H, Li J, Chen Z, Hong Y, Liu WH, Xiao N, Burton DR, Tu H, Li H, Chen X, Teijaro JR, Wilson IA, Xiao C, Huang Z. Diverse immunoglobulin gene usage and convergent epitope targeting in neutralizing antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2. Cell Rep. 2021, 35(6):109109. (*Co-first authors)

4.Huang Z*, Kang SG*, Li Y*, Zak J, Shaabani N, Deng K, Shepherd J, Bhargava R, Teijaro JR, Xiao C. IFNAR1 signaling in NK cells promotes persistent virus infection. Sci Adv. 2021, 7(13): eabb8087. (*Co-first authors)

5.Zhang Q, Liang H, Zhao X, Zheng L, Li Y, Gong J, Zhu Y, Jin Y, Yin Y. PTENε suppresses tumor metastasis through regulation of filopodia formation. EMBO J. 2021, 40(10): e105806.

6.Li Y*, Jin Y*, Liu B, Lu D, Zhu M, Jin Y, McNutt MA, Yin Y. PTENα promotes neutrophil chemotaxis through regulation of cell deformability. Blood. 2019, 133(19): 2079-2089. (*Co-first authors, as the leading-first author)

7.Ning X, Li Y, Qi H, Li R, Jin Y, Liu J, Yin Y. Anti-cancer effect of a novel 2,3-didithiocarbamate-substituted naphthoquinone as a tumor metabolic suppressor in vitro and in vivo. Medchemcomm. 2018, 9(4):632-638.

8.Ning X, Qi H, Li R, Li Y, Jin Y, McNutt MA, Liu J, Yin Y. Discovery of novel naphthoquinone derivatives as inhibitors of the tumor cell specific M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase. Eur J Med Chem. 2017, 138: 343-352.

9.Feng J, Liang J, Li J, Li Y, Liang H, Zhao X, McNutt MA, Yin Y. PTEN Controls the DNA Replication Process through MCM2 in Response to Replicative Stress. Cell Rep. 2015, 13: 1295-1303.

10.Lu D, Liu L, Ji X, Gao Y, Chen X, Liu Y, Liu Y, Zhao X, Li Y, Li Y, Jin Y, Zhang Y, McNutt MA, Yin Y. The phosphatase DUSP2 controls the activity of the transcription activator STAT3 and regulates TH17 differentiation. Nat Immunol. 2015,16(12):1263-73.

1）阻断浆细胞分化，可显著增强 B 细胞对肿瘤特异性抗原的识别与呈递能力，诱导记忆样 B 细胞分化，进而强化机体抗肿瘤免疫效应；

2）活化 CD8⁺ T 细胞中 Bcl6 基因的缺失，能够通过激活糖酵解通路延长细胞的效应功能、抑制其耗竭进程，最终有效促进抗肿瘤免疫应答。

与此同时，实验室亦对其他免疫细胞在肿瘤微环境中的调控作用、免疫调节异常相关疾病的发病机制等研究方向抱有浓厚兴趣。诚邀对上述研究领域感兴趣的在读学生、科研同仁及企业界人士前来交流合作。

目前，实验室正在招聘研究生、博士后、实验技术员及科研助理等岗位人员。

代表性论文列表：

1.      Luan F*, Li Y*^{, #}, Ning J, Tran JT, Blane TR, Bhargava R, Huang Z, Xiao C^#, Nemazee D^#. Loss of Bcl6 promotes antitumor immunity by activating glycolysis to rescue CD8 T-cell function. Life Sci Alliance. 2025, 9(1): e202503335. (*Co-first authors; ^#Correspondence)

2.      Li Y, Bhargava R, Tran TJ, Blane BT, Peng L, Luan FK, Huang Z, Zhang Z, Sun Y, Xiao C, Nemazee D. Blocking plasma cell fate enhances antigen-specific presentation by B cells to boost anti-tumor immunity. Nat Commun. 2025, 16(1): 4454. (First author)

3.      Zhou X*, Ma F*, Xie J*, Yuan M*, Li Y*, Shaabani N, Zhao F, Huang D, Wu NC, Lee CD,Liu H, Li J, Chen Z, Hong Y, Liu WH, Xiao N, Burton DR, Tu H, Li H, Chen X, Teijaro JR, Wilson IA, Xiao C, Huang Z. Diverse immunoglobulin gene usage and convergent epitope targeting in neutralizing antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2. Cell Rep. 2021, 35(6):109109. (*Co-first authors)

4.      Huang Z*, Kang SG*, Li Y*, Zak J, Shaabani N, Deng K, Shepherd J, Bhargava R, Teijaro JR, Xiao C. IFNAR1 signaling in NK cells promotes persistent virus infection. Sci Adv. 2021, 7(13): eabb8087. (*Co-first authors)

5.      Li Y*, Jin Y*, Liu B, Lu D, Zhu M, Jin Y, McNutt MA, Yin Y. PTENα promotes neutrophil chemotaxis through regulation of cell deformability. Blood. 2019, 133(19): 2079-2089. (*Co-first authors, as the leading-first author)

目前，实验室正在招聘研究生、博士后、实验技术员及科研助理等岗位人员。

Currently, our laboratory is actively recruiting candidates for multiple positions, including graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research technicians, and research assistants.