Dr. Liu, Fu-Tong 劉扶東 博士
Our research is focused on the investigation of the functions of a family of animal lectins, galectins, in inflammation, innate immunity, and cancer. In the area of inflammation, we are studying the roles of galectin -7 and -8 in skin inflammatory diseases, by focusing on their regulation of proliferation of keratinocytes, as well as cytokine and chemokine production by these cells. We are also investigating the role of galectin-12 in skin inflammation through its function in sebaceous glands. In the area of innate immunity, we are focusing on the roles of galectin-4 and -9 in host-pathogen interactions in the gastrointestinal tract. Intracellular galectins are now known to bind to glycans exposed to the cytosol when intracellular organelles are damaged. We are studying this process in relationship to the role of galectins in innate immunity, inflammation, and cancer.
我們的研究著重於探究動物凝集素成員之一的半乳糖凝集素，在炎症、先天免疫、癌症與肥胖方面的功能。在炎症的領域，我們正在研究的半乳糖凝集素-3、-7和-8在皮膚炎症所扮演的角色，研究重點是角質細胞如何調控細胞因子和趨化因子的生合成。在先天免疫方面，我們正在研究（一）半乳糖凝集素-3對逆轉錄病毒的傳輸和流感病毒的感染和（二）在胃腸道的半乳糖凝集素-8和-9於宿主和病原體之間相互作用所扮演的角色。在癌症方面，我們的研究重點是半乳糖凝集素-3和-7在皮膚癌的角色。在肥胖的領域，我們專注於半乳糖凝集素-12的研究。此外，我們致力於透過研究細胞質內的半乳糖凝集素與暴露在細胞內損壞的胞器上之的糖基結合，來研究半乳糖凝集素的細胞內功能。我們也致力於開發半乳糖凝集素-3的抑製劑，用於炎性疾病和癌症的治療，以及半乳糖凝集素-12的抑製劑，用於針對脂肪組織來達到降低肥胖的目的。
