Lichao Zhang Ph.D
	Associate professor & Master Supervisor
	Email: zlc@sxu.edu.cn

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Areas of interests

     The role and mechanisms of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and its metabolic dysregulation in tumorigenesis and progression, with a focus on the research and development of related targeted therapies and medicinal-edible natural products. Relevant research findings have been published in journals such as Cell Death & Disease, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Cellular Signalling, BMC Biotechnology, and The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology. Current research primarily focuses on:

1. The role and mechanisms of CSCs in tumorigenesis and progression

2. The relationship between dysregulated glucose/lipid metabolism and major diseases such as cancer

3. Screening of bioactive compounds from medicinal-edible natural products and investigating their disease-resistant mechanisms

Research Graduate Students

Selected Publications

1、Jinmiao Tian#, Lichao Zhang#*, Xiaoqin La, Xiaxia Fan, Zhuoyu Li*, MiR-769-5p of macrophage exosomes induced by GRP78 promotes stemness and chemoresistance in colorectal cancer, Cell Death & Disease. 2025 Mar 5;16(1):156.

2、Lichao Zhang #, Xiaoqing Lu #, Yuanzhi Xu #, Xiaoqin La, Jinmiao Tian, Aiping Li, Hanqing Li, Changxin Wu, Yanfeng Xi, Guisheng Song, Zhaocai Zhou, Wenqi Bai*, Liwei An*, Zhuoyu Li*, Tumor-associated macrophages confer colorectal cancer 5-fluorouracil resistance by promoting MRP1 membrane translocation via an intercellular CXCL17/CXCL22-CCR4-ATF6-GRP78 axis, Cell Death & Disease. 2023 Sep 1;14(9):582.

3、Lichao Zhang*, Ya-ning Liu, Xiao-qin La, Shuai-tao Li, Li-na Wen, Ting Liu, Han-qing Li, Ai-ping Li, Haitao Wu, Chang-xin Wu, Zhuo-yu Li*, The bound polyphenols of foxtail millet (Setaria italica) inner shell inhibit breast cancer by promoting lipid accumulation-induced autophagic death, Food and Chemical Toxicology, 177 (2023) 113855.

4、Yuxuan An#, Xiaoqin La#, Songtao Li, Jinmiao Tian, Xiaxia Fan, Kaili Cui, Lichao Zhang*, Zhuoyu Li*. Polyphenols from whole millet grain(Setaria italica) alleviate glucose and lipid homeostasis in diet-induced-obese mice by increasing endogenous GLP-1, Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 2023 Aug. DOI:10.1002/jsfa.12901.

5、Jinmiao Tian#, Lichao Zhang#*, Xiaoqin La, Xiaxia Fan, Aiping Li, Changxin Wu, Yuxuan An, Shuning Yan, Xiushan Dong, Haitao Wu, Zhuoyu Li*. Tumor-secreted GRP78 induces M2 polarization of macrophages by promoting lipid catabolism, Cellular Signalling. 2023 Aug:108:110719.

6、Xiaxia Fan#，Lichao Zhang#*，Xiaoqin La#，Jinmiao Tian，Ghani Israr，Aiping Li，Changxin Wu，Yuxuan An，Songtao Li，Xiushan Dong，Zhuoyu Li*，Salvianolic acid A attenuates inflammation-mediated atherosclerosis by suppressing GRP78 secretion of endothelial cells，Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2023 May 23:308:116219.

7、Aiping Li，Wenbo Cui，Yirui Zhao，Tingting Luo，Qingyu Zhang，Yuetao Liu，Ke Li，Xuemei Qin*，Lichao Zhang*，Exploration of the main effective constituent and the mechanism in Astragali Radix in the treatment for doxorubicin-induced nephropathy by integrating metabolomics and molecular docking，Journal of Ethnopharmacology，305 (2023) 116074.

8、Kaili Cui#，Lichao Zhang#，Xiaoqin La，Haili Wu，Ruipeng Yang，Hanqing Li，Zhuoyu Li*, Ferulic Acid and P-Coumaric Acid Synergistically Attenuate Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease through HDAC1/PPARG-Mediated Free Fatty Acid Uptake, International Journal Of Molecular Sciences, 2022, 23(23), 15297.

9、Lichao Zhang，Yaning Liu，Xiaoqin La，Shuning Yan，Yu Chen，Jingyi Liang，Zhuoyu Li*，The potential mechanism of Neu5Gc inducing colorectal cancer based on network pharmacology and experimental validation，Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology， (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-022-02345-w.

10、Lichao Zhang#, Xiaoqin La#, Jinmiao Tian, Hanqing Li, Aiping Li, Yizhi Liu, Changxin Wu, Zhuoyu Li*, The phytochemical vitexin and syringic acid derived from foxtail fillet bran inhibit breast cancer cells proliferation via GRP78/SREBP-1/SCD1 signaling axis, Journal of Functional Foods. 2021, 85, 104620.

11、 Xiaoqing Lu#, Rui Yang#, Lichao Zhang#, Yanfeng Xi, Jiping Zhao, Fusheng Wang, Huanhu Zhang, Zhuoyu Li*, Macrophage Colony-stimulating Factor Mediates the Recruitment of Macrophages in Triple negative Breast Cancer. International Journal of Biological Sciences. 2019; 15(13): 2859-2871.

12、Xiaoqin La#, Lichao Zhang#, Zhuoyu Li*, Hanqing Li, Yufei Yang.(-)-Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) Enhances the Sensitivity of Colorectal Cancer Cells to 5-FU by Inhibiting GRP78/NF-κB/miR-155-5p/MDR1 Pathway. J Agric Food Chem. 2019; 67 (9), 2510-2518.

13、Yufei Yang#, Lichao Zhang#, Xiaoqin La# , Zhuoyu Li*, Hanqing Li, Songjia Guo. Salvianolic acid A inhibits tumor-associated angiogenesis by blocking GRP78 secretion. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology. 2019; 392 (4), 467-480.

14、Lichao Zhang, Zongwei Li, Guobin Ding, Xiaoqin La, Peng Yang, Zhuoyu Li*. GRP78 plays an integral role in tumor cell inflammation-related migration induced by M2 macrophages. Cellular Signalling. 2017；37：136-48.

15、Lichao Zhang, Zongwei Li, Tongli Shi, Xiaoqin La, Hanqing Li, Zhuoyu Li*. Design, purification and assessment of GRP78 binding peptide-linked Subunit A of Subtilase cytotoxic for targeting cancer cells. BMC biotechnology. 2016; 16:1-13.

16、Lichao Zhang, Zongwei Li, Yongsheng Fan, Hanqing Li, Zhuoyu Li*, Yaoping Li. Overexpressed GRP78 affects EMT and cell-matrix adhesion via autocrine TGF-beta/Smad2/3 signaling. The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology. 2015; 64:202-11.

17、Zongwei Li#,Lichao Zhang#, Hanqin Li, Shuhua Shan, Zhuoyu Li*. Glucose regulated protein 78 promotes cell invasion via regulation of uPA production and secretion in colon cancer cells. BMB Reports. 2014; 47:445-50.

18、Zongwei Li, Lichao Zhang, Yarui Zhao, Hanqing Li, Hong Xiao, Rong Fu, et al. Cell-surface GRP78 facilitates colorectal cancer cell migration and invasion. The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology. 2013; 45:987-94.

19、Zongwei Li, Ming Zhuang, Lichao Zhang, Xingnan Zheng, Peng Yang, Zhuoyu Li*. Acetylation modification regulates GRP78 secretion in colon cancer cells. Scientific reports. 2016; 6:30406.

20、Zongwei Li, Yingying Wang, Haili Wu, Lichao Zhang, Peng Yang. GRP78 enhances the glutamine metabolism to support cell survival from glucose deficiency by modulating the β-catenin signaling. Oncotarget. 2014.

21、Zongwei Li, Yingying Wang, Ian P. Newton, Lichao Zhang, Penyu Ji, Zhuoyu Li*. GRP78 is implicated in the modulation of tumor aerobic glycolysis by promoting autophagic degradation of IKKbeta. Cellular signalling. 2015; 27:1237-45.

Authorized Patents

A targeted anti-cancer bioactive protein and its preparation and purification, Zhuoyu Li, Lichao Zhang, Zongwei Li, Tonglin Shi, Peng Yang, Hanqin Li, China Invention Patent, Patent No. ZL 2021 1 1668292.2

Fundings

1、Shanxi Provincial Basic Research Program (General Project), 202403021211054, Mechanistic Study on Selenium-Containing Peptides from Millet Targeting ROS Microenvironment to Suppress Macrophage Phenotypic Modulation and Regulate Intestinal Functional Homeostasis, 2024/07-2027/07, 70,000 CNY, Ongoing, Principal Investigato.

2、Central Government's Guidance on Local Science and Technology Development Fund Project, YDZJSX2022A006, Mechanism study on how Salvianolic acid A enhances chemotherapy efficacy by promoting tumor vessel normalization through regulating nucleotide metabolism, 2022/11-2026/11, 350,000 CNY, Ongoing, Principal Investigator.  

3、Shanxi Provincial International Cooperation Project, Grant No. 201903D421055, "Mechanistic Study on GRP78 Promoting Tumor Progression via Regulation of Fatty Acid Oxidation Metabolism", 2019/12—2022/12, 100,000 CNY, Ongoing, Principal Investigator.

4、National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Youth Program, Grant No. 81803791, "Molecular Mechanisms of Salvianolic Acid A in Reversing Tumor Drug Resistance by Inhibiting GRP78 Secretion and Modulating the Tumor Microenvironment", 2019/1 –2021/12, 200,000 CNY, Completed, Principal Investigator.

5、Shanxi Provincial Applied Basic Research General Youth Program, Grant No. 201801D221249, "Mechanisms of Tumor-Secreted GRP78 in Promoting Macrophage M2 Polarization through Lipid Metabolic Reprogramming", 2018/12-2020/12, 30,000 CNY, Completed, Principal Investigator.

6、Shanxi Provincial Higher Education Institutions Science and Technology Innovation Project, Grant No. 2019L0032, "Mechanistic Study on Bound Polyphenols from Rice Bran Inducing Saturated Fatty Acid Accumulation to Promote Autophagic Cell Death in Breast Cancer", 2019/6-2021/6, 30,000 CNY, Completed, Principal Investigator.

7、Shanxi Provincial Education Department Teaching Reform Project, Teaching Innovation and Practical Exploration in Developmental Genetics, 2019/6-2022/6, 10,000 CNY, Completed, Principal Investigator.