Xiao Li

　　 　　

Our research is focused on the development of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, especially in pigs. Specifically, we are interested in genetic and epigenetic mechanisms modulating myogenic and adipogenic differentiation from progenitor cells to mature myofibers or adipocytes, which have important implications to both livestock industry and human health. We are also seeking for novel and nutritional strategies to improve pig growth and pork quality.

Specific research areas

The roles and mechanisms of noncoding RNAs during myogenesis, adipogenesis and lipogenesis;

The epigenetic pathways mediating maternal/ paternal programming of the development of skeletal muscle, adipose tissues in offspring

The cross-talk between skeletal myofibers and intramuscular adipocytes

Academic background

2005-2011 Ph.D, Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, Nanjing Agricultural University

2009-2010 Joint-Ph.D, Laboratory of Muscle biology, Virginia Tech

2010-2011 Visiting scholar, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University

2012-2018 Lecturer, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Northwest A & F University

2017-2018 Visiting scholar, Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University

2018-present Assoc. Prof., College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Northwest A & F University

Publications (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Xiao_Li219)

1) Ying Peng, Meixue Xu, Mingle Dou, Xin’e Shi, Gongshe Yang, Xiao Li. MicroRNA-129-5p inhibits C2C12 myogenesis and represses slow fiber gene expression  in vitro . American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology, 2021, 320(6): C1031-1041

2) Lujie Fan, Ying Peng, Dan Wu, Jianhong Hu, Xin’E Shi, Gongshe Yang, Xiao Li*.  Morus nigra L.  leaves improve the meat quality in finishing pigs. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 2020, 104(6):1904-1911, DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13439

3) Xiaoyu Wang, Huifang Zhang, Xin’E Shi, Gongshe Yang, Shiduo Sun, Xiao Li*.  Elevated miR-10a-5p facilitates cell cycle and restrains adipogenic differentiation via targeting Map2k6 and FASN, respectively. Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica (Shanghai), 2020, 52(11):1227-1235, DOI:10.1093/abbs/gmaa111

4) Xiaoyu Wang, Meixue Xu, Ying Peng, Qimuge Naren, Yanting Xu, Xin Wang, Gongshe Yang, Xin’E Shi, Xiao Li*. Triptolide enhances lipolysis of adipocytes by enhancing ATGL transcription via upregulation of p53. Phytotherapy Research, 2020, 34(12):3298-3310, DOI: 10.1002/ptr.6779

5) Xiaoyu Wang¹, Jing Yang¹, Ying Yao, Xin’E Shi, Gongshe Yang, Xiao Li*. AQP3 facilitates proliferation and adipogenic differentiation of porcine intramuscular adipocytes. Genes, 2020, 11(4). pii: E453. doi: 10.3390/genes11040453

6) Mingle Dou, Ying Yao, Ying Peng, Meixue Xu, Xin’e Shi, Gongshe Yang, Xiao Li*. The long noncoding RNA MyHC IIA/X-AS contributes to skeletal muscle myogenesis and maintains the fast fiber phenotype. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2020, 295(15):4937-4949, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.RA119.010498

7) Yixin Chu, Ying Yao, Youbo Zhu, Xin’e Shi, Shiduo Sun, Xiao Li*. MiR-370 enhances cell cycle and represses lipid accumulation in porcine adipocytes. Animal Biotechnology, 2019, 1-9, doi: 10.1080/10495398.2019.1697278

8) Lujie Fan, Ying Peng, Dan Wu, Jianhong Hu, Xin’e Shi, Gongshe Yang, Xiao Li*. Dietary supplementation of  Morus nigra L.  leaves decrease fat mass partially through elevating leptin-stimulated lipolysis in pig model. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2019, 249: 112416. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2019

9) Xiao Li, Xing Fu, Gongshe Yang, Min Du*. Review: Enhancing intramuscular fat development via targeting fibro-adipogenic progenitor cells in meat animals. Animal, 2020, 14(2):312-321. doi: 10.1017/S175173111900209X

10) Lujie Fan, Mingle Dou, Xiaoyu Wang, Qichun Han, Bo Zhao, Jianhong Hu, Gongshe Yang, Xin’E Shi, Xiao Li*. Fermented corn-soybean meal elevated IGF1 levels in grower-finisher pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 2018, 96(12): 5144-5151. doi: 10.1093/jas/sky361

11) Xiao Li¹, Youbo Zhu¹, Huifang Zhang, Guangjun Ma, Guofang Wu, Aoqi Xiang, Xin'E Shi, GongShe Yang, Shiduo Sun*. MicroRNA-106a-5p inhibited C2C12 myogenesis via targeting PIK3R1 and modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling. Genes (Basel), 2018, 9(7): E333

12) You-Lei Li¹, Xiao Li¹, Tian-Tuan Jiang, Jia-Min Fan, Xue-Li Zheng, Xin-E Shi, Tai-Yong Yu, Gui-Yan Chu, Gong-She Yang*. An additive effect of promoting thermogenic gene expression in mice adipose-derived stromal vascular cells by combination of Rosiglitazone and CL316,243. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017, 18(5): 1002

13) Xiao Li¹, Kuilong Huang¹, Fenfen Chen, Wanhua Li, Shiduo Sun, Xin-E Shi, Gongshe Yang*. Verification of suitable and reliable reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR during adipogenic differentiation in porcine intramuscular stromal-vascular cells. Animal, 2016, 10(6): 947-952

14) Xiao Li¹, Jing Yang¹, Youbo Zhu, Yuan Liu, Xin’e Shi, Gongshe Yang*. Mouse maternal high-fat intake dynamically programmed mRNA m⁶A modifications in adipose and skeletal muscle tissues in offspring. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2016, 17(8): 1336

15) Qiangling Zhang, Xin-E Shi, Chengchuang Song, Shiduo Sun, Gongshe Yang, Xiao Li*. BAMBI Promotes C2C12 Myogenic Differentiation by Enhancing Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2015, 16(8): 17734-17745

16) Xiao Li¹, Jinquan Wang¹, Zheng Jiang, Feng Guo, Paul D. Soloway, Ruqian Zhao*. Role of PRDM16 and its PR domain in the epigenetic regulation of myogenic and adipogenic genes during transdifferentiation of C2C12 cells. Gene, 2015, 570(2): 191-198

17) Chengchuang Song, Guofang Wu, Aoqi Xiang, Qiangling Zhang, Wanhua Li, Gongshe Yang, Xin'e Shi, Shiduo Sun*, Xiao Li*. Over-expression of miR-125a-5p inhibits proliferation in C2C12 myoblasts by targeting E2F3. Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica, 2015, 47(4): 244-249

18) Xiao Li¹, Li Qiu, Zengqi Yang*, Ruiyi Dang, Xinglong Wang*. Emergency vaccination alleviates highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection after contact exposure. BMC Veterinary Research, 2013, 9: 26

19) Jinquan Wang¹, Xiao Li¹, Xiaojing Yang, Qinwei Sun, Ruihua Huang, Jun Xing, Ruqian Zhao*. Maternal dietary protein induces opposite myofiber type transition in Meishan pigs at weaning and finishing stages. Meat Science, 2011, 89(2): 221-227

20) Xiao Li¹, Xiaojing Yang¹, Bin Shan, Jian Shi, Dong Xia, J Wegner, Ruqian Zhao*. Meat quality is associated with muscle metabolic status but not contractile myofiber type composition in premature pigs. Meat Science, 2009, 81(1): 218-223