On January 12, 2024, we were delighted to host Professor Liu Yong from the School of Life Sciences at Wuhan University to the Li Hu Campus of Shenzhen University. Professor Liu Yong was invited by Professor Liu Jie from the Medical School of Shenzhen University, to deliver the 97th session of the Shenzhen University 40th Anniversary Celebration - Shenzhen Medical Forum. 

In his presentation, Professor Liu Yong delved into the essential functions of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and its stress responses. He emphasized the regulatory pathways of ER stress and focused on the pivotal role of IRE1α (Inositol-Requiring Enzyme 1α) within this context. Professor Liu Yong and his team have made significant contributions to understanding the organ-specific biological functions of IRE1α. For instance, in a high-fat diet-induced obesity mouse model, they discovered that IRE1α expression by macrophages in adipose tissue was increased compared to normal mice. Knocking out IRE1α significantly alleviated the fat inflammation caused by the high-fat diet, and promoted the browning of white fat. Furthermore, in the liver of a spontaneous type 2 diabetic mouse model (db/db mice), IRE1α was activated by Ser724 phosphorylation. Inhibiting IRE1α in these mice significantly reduced blood glucose levels and improved glucose tolerance. Professor Liu also shared recent findings on the role of IRE1α in various tissues and cells, such as endothelial cells and pancreatic islets, and discussed the potential of IRE1α as a target for drug development.

Brief introduction to the speaker

Professor Liu Yong is a full Professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Life Sciences, Wuhan University. He is the recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars. His previous roles include Deputy Director at the Institute of Nutritional Sciences, SIBS, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Deputy Director of the Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism at the Chinese Academy of Sciences; and Deputy Dean of the School of Life Sciences at Wuhan University. He has received several awards and honors, including the Meiji Dairy Science Award, the WuXi AppTec Life Chemistry Research Award, the Shanghai Outstanding Academic Leader Award, and the Shanghai Leading Talent Award. He is also an Editorial board member of the Journal of Biological Chemistry. Professor Liu Yong's long-standing research interest lies in exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular stress, metabolic disorders, and aging-related diseases. He has published more than hundred SCI papers in prestigious international journals such as Nature Immunology, Nature Metabolism, Cell Metabolism, JCI, and PNAS.