Ying Wei, MD

Title(s)Professor, Medicine
SchoolSchool of Medicine
Address513 Parnassus Avenue, HSE, #203
San Francisco CA 94143
Phone415-514-1209
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    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse Education and Training
    Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaMD1991Medicine
    Harvard Medical School, Boston, USAPostdoc1997Medicine

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse Overview
    My research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying lung cancer and lung fibrosis. For many years my work primarily focused on proteases and adhesion receptors coordinate cell invasion and extracellular matrix remodeling, especially integrin signaling. I led the first discovery of the physical and functional connections between integrins and the key cell surface protease, plasminogen activator. After moving from Harvard to UCSF, I was committed to understanding and targeting the emerging relationship between hypoxia, EMT, and tissue remodeling during fibrogenesis and cancer progression. I pioneered the in vivo investigation of the role of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in pulmonary fibrosis and uncovered mechanistic insight as to how integrins and hypoxia regulate epithelial cell plasticity. In the past few years, I have been focusing on cell-based high throughput screen of TGFbeta1 inhibitors and identified small molecules that inactivate lysyl oxidase activity and selectively block TGFbeta1 responses in tumor cells and fibroblasts. These compounds greatly attenuated pulmonary fibrosis and blocked lung cancer metastasis in mouse disease models. I have led the efforts to the dissection of MOAs of the lead compounds and I am the main contributor to the pilot clinical study of the lead compound on blocking fibrotic biomarkers in patient lungs with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). My future goal is to bring the most promising drug candidate that specifically blocks the TGFbeta1-induced collagen program in fibroblasts to the clinical arena.

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    Collapse Publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help. to make corrections and additions.
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    Altmetrics Details PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. A fibroblast-dependent TGF-β1/sFRP2 noncanonical Wnt signaling axis promotes epithelial metaplasia in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. J Clin Invest. 2024 Jul 09; 134(18). Cohen ML, Brumwell AN, Ho TC, Garakani K, Montas G, Leong D, Ding VW, Golden JA, Trinh BN, Jablons DM, Matthay MA, Jones KD, Wolters PJ, Wei Y, Chapman HA, Le Saux CJ. PMID: 38980870; PMCID: PMC11405054.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCellsCTClinical Trials
    2. BCL-2 Modulates IRE1α Activation to Attenuate Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Pulmonary Fibrosis. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2024 Apr; 70(4):247-258. Le Saux CJ, Ho TC, Brumwell AM, Kathiriya JJ, Wei Y, Hughes JB, Garakani K, Atabai K, Auyeung VC, Papa FR, Chapman HA. PMID: 38117250; PMCID: PMC11478128.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    3. A fibroblast-dependent TGFβ1/sFRP2 noncanonical Wnt signaling axis underlies epithelial metaplasia in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. bioRxiv. 2023 Aug 04. Cohen ML, Brumwell AN, Che Ho T, Montas G, Golden JA, Jones KD, Wolters PJ, Wei Y, Chapman HA, Le Saux CJ. PMID: 37577522; PMCID: PMC10418166.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    4. Blocking LOXL2 and TGFβ1 signalling induces collagen I turnover in precision-cut lung slices derived from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Thorax. 2021 07; 76(7):729-732. Wei Y, Dong W, Jackson J, Ho TC, Le Saux CJ, Brumwell A, Li X, Klesney-Tait J, Cohen ML, Wolters PJ, Chapman HA. PMID: 33472968; PMCID: PMC8222054.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 23     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    5. Reversal of TGFβ1-Driven Profibrotic State in Patients with Pulmonary Fibrosis. N Engl J Med. 2020 03 12; 382(11):1068-1070. Chapman HA, Wei Y, Montas G, Leong D, Golden JA, Trinh BN, Wolters PJ, Le Saux CJ, Jones KD, Hills NK, Foster E, Oldham JM, Linderholm AL, Kotak P, Decaris M, Turner S, Song JW. PMID: 32160670; PMCID: PMC7297220.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 25     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    6. Fibroblast-specific inhibition of TGF-β1 signaling attenuates lung and tumor fibrosis. J Clin Invest. 2017 Oct 02; 127(10):3675-3688. Wei Y, Kim TJ, Peng DH, Duan D, Gibbons DL, Yamauchi M, Jackson JR, Le Saux CJ, Calhoun C, Peters J, Derynck R, Backes BJ, Chapman HA. PMID: 28872461; PMCID: PMC5617667.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 100     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    7. Local lung hypoxia determines epithelial fate decisions during alveolar regeneration. Nat Cell Biol. 2017 Aug; 19(8):904-914. Xi Y, Kim T, Brumwell AN, Driver IH, Wei Y, Tan V, Jackson JR, Xu J, Lee DK, Gotts JE, Matthay MA, Shannon JM, Chapman HA, Vaughan AE. PMID: 28737769; PMCID: PMC5600325.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 140     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    8. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) ligation induces a raft-localized integrin signaling switch that mediates the hypermotile phenotype of fibrotic fibroblasts. J Biol Chem. 2014 May 02; 289(18):12791-804. Grove LM, Southern BD, Jin TH, White KE, Paruchuri S, Harel E, Wei Y, Rahaman SO, Gladson CL, Ding Q, Craik CS, Chapman HA, Olman MA. PMID: 24644284; PMCID: PMC4007467.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 21     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    9. Inhibition of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and pulmonary fibrosis by methacycline. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2014 Jan; 50(1):51-60. Xi Y, Tan K, Brumwell AN, Chen SC, Kim YH, Kim TJ, Wei Y, Chapman HA. PMID: 23944988; PMCID: PMC3930932.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 25     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    10. Suppression of tumor invasion and metastasis by concurrent inhibition of c-Met and VEGF signaling in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Cancer Discov. 2012 Mar; 2(3):270-87. Sennino B, Ishiguro-Oonuma T, Wei Y, Naylor RM, Williamson CW, Bhagwandin V, Tabruyn SP, You WK, Chapman HA, Christensen JG, Aftab DT, McDonald DM. PMID: 22585997; PMCID: PMC3354652.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 190     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    11. Axin pathway activity regulates in vivo pY654-β-catenin accumulation and pulmonary fibrosis. J Biol Chem. 2012 Feb 10; 287(7):5164-72. Ulsamer A, Wei Y, Kim KK, Tan K, Wheeler S, Xi Y, Thies RS, Chapman HA. PMID: 22203675; PMCID: PMC3281604.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 46     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    12. Integrin a6ß4 identifies an adult distal lung epithelial population with regenerative potential in mice. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2011 Aug 1; 121(8):3360-3360. Chapman CH, Li LX, Alexander AJ, Brumwell BA, Lorizio LW, Tan TK, Sonnenberg SA, Wei WY, Vu VT. .
      View in: Publisher Site   Mentions:
    13. Antagonistic anti-urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) antibodies significantly inhibit uPAR-mediated cellular signaling and migration. J Biol Chem. 2010 Aug 27; 285(35):26878-26888. Duriseti S, Goetz DH, Hostetter DR, LeBeau AM, Wei Y, Craik CS. PMID: 20501655; PMCID: PMC2930687.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 37     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    14. Integrin alpha3beta1-dependent beta-catenin phosphorylation links epithelial Smad signaling to cell contacts. J Cell Biol. 2009 Jan 26; 184(2):309-22. Kim Y, Kugler MC, Wei Y, Kim KK, Li X, Brumwell AN, Chapman HA. PMID: 19171760; PMCID: PMC2654298.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 88     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    15. Epithelial cell alpha3beta1 integrin links beta-catenin and Smad signaling to promote myofibroblast formation and pulmonary fibrosis. J Clin Invest. 2009 Jan; 119(1):213-24. Kim KK, Wei Y, Szekeres C, Kugler MC, Wolters PJ, Hill ML, Frank JA, Brumwell AN, Wheeler SE, Kreidberg JA, Chapman HA. PMID: 19104148; PMCID: PMC2613463.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 233     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    16. Signaling through urokinase and urokinase receptor in lung cancer cells requires interactions with beta1 integrins. J Cell Sci. 2008 Nov 15; 121(Pt 22):3747-56. Tang CH, Hill ML, Brumwell AN, Chapman HA, Wei Y. PMID: 18940913; PMCID: PMC3903460.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 32     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    17. Urokinase receptors are required for alpha 5 beta 1 integrin-mediated signaling in tumor cells. J Biol Chem. 2007 Feb 09; 282(6):3929-39. Wei Y, Tang CH, Kim Y, Robillard L, Zhang F, Kugler MC, Chapman HA. PMID: 17145753.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 48     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    18. Functional relevance of urinary-type plasminogen activator receptor-alpha3beta1 integrin association in proteinase regulatory pathways. J Biol Chem. 2006 May 12; 281(19):13021-13029. Ghosh S, Johnson JJ, Sen R, Mukhopadhyay S, Liu Y, Zhang F, Wei Y, Chapman HA, Stack MS. PMID: 16510444.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 28     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    19. Regulation of alpha5beta1 integrin conformation and function by urokinase receptor binding. J Cell Biol. 2005 Jan 31; 168(3):501-11. Wei Y, Czekay RP, Robillard L, Kugler MC, Zhang F, Kim KK, Xiong JP, Humphries MJ, Chapman HA. PMID: 15684035; PMCID: PMC2171741.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 53     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    20. Distinct ligand binding sites in integrin alpha3beta1 regulate matrix adhesion and cell-cell contact. J Cell Biol. 2003 Oct 13; 163(1):177-88. Zhang F, Tom CC, Kugler MC, Ching TT, Kreidberg JA, Wei Y, Chapman HA. PMID: 14557254; PMCID: PMC2173444.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 47     Fields:    Translation:Cells
    21. Urokinase receptor and integrin interactions. Curr Pharm Des. 2003; 9(19):1565-74. Kugler MC, Wei Y, Chapman HA. PMID: 12871068.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 30     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    22. Urokinase receptors promote beta1 integrin function through interactions with integrin alpha3beta1. Mol Biol Cell. 2001 Oct; 12(10):2975-86. Wei Y, Eble JA, Wang Z, Kreidberg JA, Chapman HA. PMID: 11598185; PMCID: PMC60149.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 90     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    23. Identification of a urokinase receptor-integrin interaction site. Promiscuous regulator of integrin function. J Biol Chem. 2000 Apr 07; 275(14):10228-34. Simon DI, Wei Y, Zhang L, Rao NK, Xu H, Chen Z, Liu Q, Rosenberg S, Chapman HA. PMID: 10744708.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 50     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    24. A role for caveolin and the urokinase receptor in integrin-mediated adhesion and signaling. J Cell Biol. 1999 Mar 22; 144(6):1285-94. Wei Y, Yang X, Liu Q, Wilkins JA, Chapman HA. PMID: 10087270; PMCID: PMC2150580.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 100     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    25. Plasmin and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 promote cellular motility by regulating the interaction between the urokinase receptor and vitronectin. J Clin Invest. 1997 Jul 01; 100(1):58-67. Waltz DA, Natkin LR, Fujita RM, Wei Y, Chapman HA. PMID: 9202057; PMCID: PMC508165.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 64     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    26. Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) and the urokinase receptor (CD87) form a functional unit on monocytic cells. Blood. 1996 Oct 15; 88(8):3185-94. Simon DI, Rao NK, Xu H, Wei Y, Majdic O, Ronne E, Kobzik L, Chapman HA. PMID: 8874219.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 50     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    27. Regulation of integrin function by the urokinase receptor. Science. 1996 Sep 13; 273(5281):1551-5. Wei Y, Lukashev M, Simon DI, Bodary SC, Rosenberg S, Doyle MV, Chapman HA. PMID: 8703217.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 176     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    28. Identification of the urokinase receptor as an adhesion receptor for vitronectin. J Biol Chem. 1994 Dec 23; 269(51):32380-8. Wei Y, Waltz DA, Rao N, Drummond RJ, Rosenberg S, Chapman HA. PMID: 7528215.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 145     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells