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Lin Zou, MD, PhD

Academic Title:

Associate Professor

Primary Appointment:

Anesthesiology

Email:

lzou@som.umaryland.edu

Location:

HSFII, GS003C

Phone (Primary):

(410) 706-2547

Fax:

(410) 706-2410

Download CV

Education and Training

1997-2002: M.D., Medicine, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, China
2006-2010: Ph.D., Ultrasound Medicine, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, China
2008-2012: Postdoc Fellow, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
2012-2016: Instructor, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Research/Clinical Keywords

Innate Immunity, extracellular RNA, Acute lung injury, Toll-like receptors, Sepsis, Trauma.

Highlighted Publications

  1. Park C, Lei Z, Li Y, Ren, B, He J, Huang H, Chen F, Li H, Brunner K, Zhu J, Jay Williams B, Chao W, Wu J, Zou L. Extracellular vesicles in sepsis plasma mediate neuronal inflammation in the brain through miRNAs and innate immune signaling. J Neuroinflammation. 2024 Oct 7;21:252. doi: 10.1186/s12974-024-03250-0 PMID:39375720; PMCID: PMC11460013.
  2. Williams B, Zou L, Pittet JF, Chao W. Sepsis-Induced Coagulopathy: A Comprehensive Narrative Review of Pathophysiology, Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Management Strategies. Anesth Analg. 2024 Apr 1;138(4):696-711. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000006888. Epub 2024 Feb 7. PMID: 38324297; PMCID: PMC10916756.
  3. Taruselli MT, Abdul Qayum A, Abebayehu D, Caslin HL, Dailey JM, Kotha A, Burchett JR, Kee SA, Maldonado TD, Ren B, Chao W, Zou L, Haque TT, Straus D, Ryan JJ. IL-33 Induces Cellular and Exosomal miR-146a Expression as a Feedback Inhibitor of Mast Cell Function. J Immunol. 2024 Apr 15;212(8):1277-1286. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200916. PMID: 38381001; PMCID: PMC10984763.
  4. Suen AO, Chen F, Wang S, Li Z, Zhu J, Yang Y, Conn O, Lopez K, Cui P, Wechsler L, Cross A, Fiskum G, Kozar R, Hu P, Miller C, Zou L, Williams B, Chao W. Extracellular RNA Sensing Mediates Inflammation and Organ Injury in a Murine Model of Polytrauma. J Immunol. 2023 Jun 15;210(12):1990-2000. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300103. PMID: 37133342; PMCID: PMC10235856
  5. Williams B, Zhu J, Zou L, Chao W. Innate immune TLR7 signaling mediates platelet activation and platelet-leukocyte aggregate formation in murine bacterial sepsis. Platelets. 2022 Aug 3:1-9. doi: 10.1080/09537104.2022.2107627. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 3592058
  6. Huang H, Zhu J, Gu L, Hu J, Feng X, Huang W, Wang S, Yang Y, Cui P, Lin SH, Suen A, Shimada BK, Williams B, Kane MA, Ke Y, Zhang CO, Birukova AA, Birukov KG, Chao W, Zou L. TLR7 Mediates Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Sepsis by Sensing Extracellular miR-146a. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2022 Jun 9. doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2021-0551OC. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35679261. (Editorial Article).
  7. Shimada BK, Boyman L, Huang W, Zhu J, Yang Y, Chen F, Kane MA, Yadava N, Zou L, Lederer WJ, Polster BM, Chao W. Pyruvate-Driven Oxidative Phosphorylation is Downregulated in Sepsis-Induced Cardiomyopathy: A Study of Mitochondrial Proteome. Shock. 2022 Apr 1;57(4):553-564. doi: 10.1097/SHK.0000000000001858. PMID: 34506367; PMCID: PMC8904652.
  8. Chen F, Zou L, Williams B, Chao W. Targeting Toll-Like Receptors in Sepsis: From Bench to Clinical Trials. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2021 Nov 20;35(15):1324-1339. doi: 10.1089/ars.2021.0005. Epub 2021 Apr 7. PMID: 33588628; PMCID: PMC8817700.
  9. Zou L, He J, Gu L, Shahror RA, Li Y, Cao T, Wang S, Zhu J, Huang H, Chen F, Fan X, Wu J, Chao W. Brain innate immune response via miRNA-TLR7 sensing in polymicrobial sepsis. Brain Behav Immun. 2022 Feb;100:10-24. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.11.007. Epub 2021 Nov 19. PMID: 34808293; PMCID: PMC8766937.
  10. Wang S, Yang Y, Suen A, Zhu J, Williams B, Hu J, Chen F, Kozar R, Shen S, Li Z, Jeyaram A, Jay SM, Zou L, Chao W. Role of extracellular microRNA-146a-5p in host innate immunity and bacterial sepsis. iScience. 2021 Nov 13;24(12):103441. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103441. PMID: 34877498; PMCID: PMC8633977.
  11. Lopez K, Suen A, Yang Y, Wang S, Williams B, Zhu J, Hu J, Fiskum G, Cross A, Kozar R, Miller C, Zou L, Chao W. Hypobaria Exposure Worsens Cardiac Function and Endothelial Injury in AN Animal Model of Polytrauma: Implications for Aeromedical Evacuation. Shock. 2021 Oct 1;56(4):601-610. doi: 10.1097/SHK.0000000000001716. PMID: 33394971; PMCID: PMC8522996.
  12. Shimada BK, Yang Y, Zhu J, Wang S, Suen A, Kronstadt SM, Jeyaram A, Jay SM, Zou L, Chao W. Extracellular miR-146a-5p Induces Cardiac Innate Immune Response and Cardiomyocyte Dysfunction. Immunohorizons. 2020 Sep 21;4(9):561-572. doi: 10.4049/immunohorizons.2000075. PMID: 32958516; PMCID: PMC7754174.
  13. Jeyaram A, Lamichhane TN, Wang S, Zou L, Dahal E, Kronstadt SM, Levy D, Parajuli B, Knudsen DR, Chao W, Jay SM. Enhanced Loading of Functional miRNA Cargo via pH Gradient Modification of Extracellular Vesicles. Mol Ther. 2020 Mar 4;28(3):975-985. doi: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2019.12.007. Epub 2019 Dec 24. PMID: 31911034; PMCID: PMC7054713.
  14. Williams B, Neder J, Cui P, Suen A, Tanaka K, Zou L, Chao W. Toll-like receptors 2 and 7 mediate coagulation activation and coagulopathy in murine sepsis. J Thromb Haemost. 2019 Oct;17(10):1683-1693. doi: 10.1111/jth.14543. Epub 2019 Jul 23. PubMed PMID: 31211901.
  15. Jian W, Gu L, Williams B, Feng Y, Chao W, Zou L. Toll-like Receptor 7 Contributes to Inflammation, Organ Injury, and Mortality in Murine Sepsis. 2019 Jul;131(1):105-118. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000002706. PubMed PMID: 31045897; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6822621.
  16. Xu J, Feng Y, Jeyaram A, Jay SM, Zou L, Chao W. Circulating Plasma Extracellular Vesicles from Septic Mice Induce Inflammation via MicroRNA- and TLR7-Dependent Mechanisms. J Immunol. 2018 Dec 1;201(11):3392-3400. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1801008. Epub 2018 Oct 24. PubMed PMID: 30355788; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6240609.
  17. Xu G, Feng Y, Li D, Zhou Q, Chao W, Zou L. Importance of the Complement Alternative Pathway in Serum Chemotactic Activity During Sepsis. 2018 Oct;50(4):435-441. doi: 10.1097/SHK.0000000000001031. PubMed PMID: 29040213; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6462261.
  18. Li D, Zou L, Feng Y, Xu G, Gong Y, Zhao G, Ouyang W, Thurman JM, Chao W. Complement Factor B Production in Renal Tubular Cells and Its Role in Sodium Transporter Expression During Polymicrobial Sepsis. Crit Care Med. 2016 May;44(5):e289-99. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000001566. PubMed PMID: 26757165; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4833616.
  19. Zou L, Feng Y, Xu G, Jian W, Chao W. Splenic RNA and MicroRNA Mimics Promote Complement Factor B Production and Alternative Pathway Activation via Innate Immune Signaling. J Immunol. 2016 Mar 15;196(6):2788-98. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1502106. Epub 2016 Feb 17. PubMed PMID: 26889043; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6464635.
  20. Zou L, Chen HH, Li D, Xu G, Feng Y, Chen C, Wang L, Sosnovik DE, Chao W. Imaging Lymphoid Cell Death In Vivo During Polymicrobial Sepsis. Crit Care Med. 2015 Nov;43(11):2303-12. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000001254. PubMed PMID: 26335111; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6889962.
  21. Liu Y, Asnani A, Zou L, Bentley VL, Yu M, Wang Y, Dellaire G, Sarkar KS, Dai M, Chen HH, Sosnovik DE, Shin JT, Haber DA, Berman JN, Chao W, Peterson RT. Visnagin protects against doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy through modulation of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase. Sci Transl Med. 2014 Dec 10;6(266):266ra170. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3010189. PubMed PMID: 25504881; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4360984
  22. Gong Y, Zou L, Feng Y, Li D, Cai J, Chen D, Chao W. Importance of Toll-like receptor 2 in mitochondrial dysfunction during polymicrobial sepsis. Anesthesiology. 2014 Dec;121(6):1236-47. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000000470. PMID: 25272245; PMCID: PMC4237710.
  23. Feng Y, Zou L, Chen C, Li D, Chao W. Role of cardiac- and myeloid-MyD88 signaling in endotoxin shock: a study with tissue-specific deletion models. 2014 Dec;121(6):1258-69. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000000398. PubMed PMID: 25089642; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4237623.
  24. Zhang M, Zou L, Feng Y, Chen YJ, Zhou Q, Ichinose F, Chao W. Toll-like receptor 4 is essential to preserving cardiac function and survival in low-grade polymicrobial sepsis. 2014 Dec;121(6):1270-80. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000000337. PubMed PMID: 24937074; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4237617.
  25. Chen C, Feng Y, Zou L, Wang L, Chen HH, Cai JY, Xu JM, Sosnovik DE, Chao W. Role of extracellular RNA and TLR3-Trif signaling in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. J Am Heart Assoc. 2014 Jan 3;3(1):e000683. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.113.000683. PubMed PMID: 24390148; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3959703.
  26. Zou L, Feng Y, Li Y, Zhang M, Chen C, Cai J, Gong Y, Wang L, Thurman JM, Wu X, Atkinson JP, Chao W. Complement factor B is the downstream effector of TLRs and plays an important role in a mouse model of severe sepsis. J Immunol. 2013 Dec 1;191(11):5625-35. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1301903. Epub 2013 Oct 23. PubMed PMID: 24154627; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3906719.
  27. Zou L, Feng Y, Zhang M, Li Y, Chao W. Nonhematopoietic toll-like receptor 2 contributes to neutrophil and cardiac function impairment during polymicrobial sepsis. 2011 Oct;36(4):370-80. doi: 10.1097/SHK.0b013e3182279868. PubMed PMID: 21701420; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3178725.

Research Interests

My research focuses on investigating the critical role of extracellular nucleic acids in innate immune signaling and acute lung injury during critical illnesses, including sepsis and trauma. Over the past few years, I have gained extensive experience studying the role of innate immune signaling pathways, such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the complement system, in the development of organ injuries, including those affecting the lungs and brain, during sepsis and trauma. Most recently, we demonstrated that extracellular RNAs/miRNAs are released during polytrauma or polymicrobial sepsis. These molecules can activate innate immune signaling through TLR7, leading to robust cytokine and complement production in both immune and non-immune cells. My current NIH R35-funded research is focused on exploring the role of extracellular RNA in trauma innate immunity.

Grants and Contracts

Project 1: Extracellular nucleic acids in trauma innate immunity

R35 GM124775 (NIH/NIGMS) (09/01/2017-07/31/2029)

Role: PI

Project 2: Targeting brain inflammation and neurocognitive dysfunction in sepsis.

R01 NS110567 (05/01/2019-02/28/2025)

Role: MPI

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