Cardiovascular Tissue Homeostasis

Our Research

Cardiomyocytes withdraw from the cell cycle and become terminally differentiated soon after birth. Postmitotic cardiomyocytes have poor capacity for proliferation and functional recovery after heart attack, thus leading to the high morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular diseases. Dr. Liu’s current research focuses on the molecular modulation of cardiovascular homeostasis and cardiac metabolism. Using transgenic mouse models and isolated cardiomyocytes, the Liu laboratory aims at understanding the proliferation-maturation interplay in adult cardiomyocytes and the underlying mechanisms.

Team Members

Publications:

Liu R, Lee J, Kim BS, Wang Q, Buxton SK, Balasubramanyam N, Kim JJ, Dong J, Zhang A, Li S, Gupte AA, Hamilton DJ, Martin JF, Rodney GG, Coarfa C, Wehrens XHT, Yechoor VK & Moulik M. “Tead1 is required for maintaining adult cardiomyocyte function and its loss results in lethal dilated cardiomyopathy.” JCI Insight. 2017 Sep 7;2(17):e93343. PMID: 28878117

Liu R, Jagannathan R, Li F, Lee J, Balasubramanyam N, Kim BS, Yang P, Yechoor VK & Moulik M. “Tead1 is required for perinatal cardiomyocyte proliferation.” PLoS One. 2019 Feb 27;14(2):e0212017. PMID: 30811446

Liu R, Xiong X, Nam D, Yechoor V, Ma K. “SRF-MRTF signaling suppresses brown adipocyte development by modulating TGF-β/BMP pathway.” Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2020 Jun 27;110920. PMID: 32603734

Liu R, Jagannathan R, Sun L, Li F, Yang P, Lee J, Negi V, Garcia-Perez EM, Shiva S, Yechoor VK & Moulik M. “Tead1 is essential for mitochondrial function in cardiomyocytes.” Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2020 Jul 1;319(1):H89-H99. PMID: 32502376

Xiong X, Li W, Liu R, Saha P, Yechoor V, Ma K. “Circadian clock control of MRTF-SRF pathway suppresses beige adipocyte thermogenic recruitment.” Journal of Molecular Cell Biology. 2022 Dec 29;mjac079. PMID: 36581314

Li F, Liu R, Negi V, Yang P, Lee J, Jagannathan R, Moulik M, Yechoor V. “VGLL4 and MENIN function as TEAD1 corepressors to block pancreatic β cell proliferation.” Cell Reports. 2023 Jan 18;42(1):111904. PMID: 36662616