Zhongjian Cheng, PhD

Research Interests

The current focus of my research is to understand the underlying mechanisms of diabetes-impaired ischemic tissue injury repair using hind limb ischemia and myocardial infarction animal models. Especially, we will study therapeutic effects of ischemic tissue injury in diabetes using cell-based (e.g. bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells and human CD34⁴ stem cells) and cell-free-based (e.g. exosomes, gene, novel pharmacological compounds) therapeutic approaches. We believe our findings will open novel avenues for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular complications in diabetic patients. 

Educational Background

• PhD, Pharmacology, University of Helsinki, Finland, 2002
• MS, Quality Improvement and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Finland,1999
• BM, Medicine, China Medical University, China, 1993

Memberships

• American Heart Association, 2006-current
• Federation of European Pharmacology Society, 2004-2005
• Finnish Pharmacology Society, 2002-2005

Honors & Awards

• Outstanding Young Investigator Presentation, AHA Scientific Secession (ACRE-CNAHA Symposium), 2013
• Scientist Development Award, American Heart Association, 2013
• Postdoctoral Investigator Award, National Health Institute, 2010
• Excellent Young Investigator Award, Mid-Atlantic Pharmacology Society Annual Meeting, 2009
• Young Investigator Travel Grant, Finnish Hypertension Society, Finland, 2004
• Travel grant for Excellent Young Investigator, Helsinki University, Finland, 2003
• Travel grant for Excellent Young Investigator, Finnish Hypertension Society, Finland, 2003
• Postdoctoral Fellow Research Award, Finnish Academe, 2003
• Excellent Young Investigator Presentation, Finnish Hypertension Society Annual Meeting, 2003

Digital Bibliography

• Verma SK, Garikipati VNS, Krishnamurthy P, Schumacher SM, Grisanti LA, Cimini M, Cheng ZJ, Khan M, Yue Y, Benedict C, Truongcao MM, Rabinowitz JE, Goukassian DA, Tilley D, Koch WJ, Kishore R. Interleukin-10 Inhibitis Bone Marrow Fibroblast Progenitor Cell-Mediated Cardiac Fibrosis in Pressure-Overloaded Myocardium, Circulation. 2017 Sep 5;136(10):940-953
• Garikipati VN, Verma SK, Jolardarashi D, Cheng ZJ, Ibetti J, Cimini M, Tang Y, Khan M, Yue Y, Benedict C, Nickoloff E, Trungcao MM, Gao E, Krishnamurthy P, Goukassian DA, Koch WJ, Kishore R. Therapeutic Inhibition of miR-375 Attenuates Post-MI Inflammatory Response and Left Ventricular Dysfunction via PDK-1-AKT Signaling Axis. Cardiovasc Res. 2017 Jul 1;113(8):938-949
• Cheng ZJ, Verma SK, Losordo DW, Kishore R. Reprogrammed Human Endothelial Cells: A Novel Cell Source for Regenerative Vascular Medicine. Circulation Research. 2017 Mar 3;120(5):756-758
• Ueda Y, Mohammed I, Song D, Gullipalli D, Zhou L, Sato S, Wang Y, Gupta S, Cheng ZJ, Wang H, Bao J, Mao Y, Brass L, Zheng XL, Miwa T, Palmer M, Dunaief J, Song WC, Murine systemic thrombophilia and hemolytic uremic syndrome from a factor H point mutation. Blood. 2017 Mar 2; 129: 1184-1196
• Cheng ZJ, Garikipati V, Nickoloff E, Wang C, Polhemus DJ, Zhou J, Benedict C, Khan M, Verma SK, Rabinowitz JE, Lefer D, Kishore R. Restoration of Hydrogen Sulfide Production in Diabetic Mice Improves Reparative Function of Bone Marrow Cells. Circulation (2016) Nov 8;134(19):1467-1483
• Kishore R, Benedict C, Cheng ZJ. μ-Calpain as a Novel Target for Impairment of Nitric Oxide-Medicated Vascular Relaxation in Diabetes: A Mini Review. J Mol Genet Med (2015) Mar;64(3):947-59. [Accompanied by an Commentaries: Diabetes, 2015 Mar;64(3):693-5].
• Shao Y, Cheng ZJ, Li X, Chernaya V, Wang H, Yang X, Immunosuppressive Anti-inflammatory Cytokines Directly and Indirectly Inhibit Endothelial Dysfunction-A Novel Mechanism For Maintaining Vascular Function. Journal of Hematology & Oncology (2014)7:80.
• Fang P, Zhang DQ, Cheng ZJ, Yan CJ, Jiang XH, Warren K, Meng S, Arning E, Bottiglieri T, Choi E, Han YL, Yang XF, Wang H. Hyperhomocysteinemia Potentiates Hyperglycemia-induced Inflammatory Monocyte Differentiation and Atherosclerosis. Diabetes (2014) Dec;63(12):4275-90.
• Mancarella S, Potireddy S, Wang Y, Gao H, Gandhirajan RK, Autieri M, Scalia R, Cheng ZJ, Wang H, Madesh M, Houser SR, Gill DL. Targeted STIM deletion impairs calcium homeostasis, NFAT activation, and growth of smooth muscle. FASEB (2013) Mar;27(3):893-906 Nov 16.
• Cheng ZJ, Jiang XH, Kruger WD, Pratico D, Gupta S, Mallilankaran K, Muniswamy M, Schafer A, Durant W, Yang XF, Wang H. Hyperhomocysteinemia impaired endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor-mediated vasodilatation in transgeniv cystathionine beta-synthase deficient mice. Blood. 2011 Aug 18;118(7):1998-2006 [Accompanied by an Editorial: Blood, 118:1717-1719, 2011].
• Jauhiainen T, Pilvi T, Cheng ZJ, Kautiainen H, Muller DN, Vapaatalo H, Korpela R, Mervaala E. Milk Products Containing Bioactive Tripeptides Have an Antihypertensive Effect in Double Transgenic Rats (dTGR) Harbouring Human Renin and Human Angiotensinogen Genes. J Nutr Metab (2010). Cheng ZJ, Yang XF, Wang H, Hyperhomocysteinemia and endothelial dysfunction. Curr Hypertens Rev (2009) 5(2):158-165. Ellis A, Cheng ZJ, Li Y, Jiang YF, Yang J, Pannirselvam M, Ding H, Hollenberg MD, Triggle CR. Effects of a Western diet versus high glucose on endothelium-dependent relaxation in murine micro- and macro-vasculature. Eur J Pharmacol (2008) 28;601(1-3):111-117.
• Ng EM, Cheng ZJ, Ellis A, Jiang YF, Li Y, Hollenberg MD, Triggle CR. Nitrosothiol stores in vascular tissue: modulation by UV light and acetylcholine. BR J Pharmacol (2007) 10;560(2-3):183-92.
• Cheng ZJ, Jiang YF, Ding H, Anderson TJ, Severson D, Triggle CR. Vascular Dysfunction in type 2 diabetic TallyHo mice: role for an increase in the contribution of PGH₂/TxA₂  receptor activation and cytochrome p450 products. Can J Physiol pharmacol (2007) 85(3-4):404-12.
• Pilvi T, Jauhiainen T, Cheng ZJ, Mervaala E, Vapaatalo H, Korpela R. Lupin protein attenuates the development of hypertension and normalizes the vascular function of NaCI-loaded Goto-Kakizaki rats. J Physiol Pharmacol. (2006) 24(5):947-56.
• Louhelainen M, Merasto S, Finckenberg P, Lapatto R, Cheng ZJ, Mervaala EM. Lipoic acid supplementation prevents cyclosporine-induced hypertension and nephrotoxicity in spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Hypertens (2006) 24(5):947-56.
• Jauhiainen T, Collin M, Narva M, Cheng ZJ, Poussa T, Vapaatalo H, Korpela R. Effect of long-term intake of milk peptides and minerals on blood pressure and arterial function in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Milchwissenschaft (2005) 60(4): 353-472.
• Triggle CR, Howarth A, Cheng ZJ, Ding H. Twenty-five years since the discovery of EDRF: Does a dysfunctional endothelium contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes? Can J Physiol Pharmacol (2005) 83(8-9):681-700.
• Gronholm T, Cheng ZJ, Palojoki E, Eriksson A, Nacklun T, Vuolteenaho O. Finckenberg P, Laine M, Mervaala E, Tikkanen I. Vasopeptidase inhibition has beneficial cardiac effects in spontaneously diabetics Goto-Kakizaki rats, Eur J Pharmacol (2005) 20;519 (3):267-76.
• Cheng ZJ, Gronbolm T, Louhelainen M, Finckenberg P, Merasto S, Tikkanen I, Mervaala E. Vascular and renal effect of vasopeptidase inhibition and ACE blockade in spontaneously diabetic Goto Kakizaki rats. J Hypertens (2005) 23(9):1757-70.
• Cheng ZJ, Vapaatalo H, Mervaala E. Angiotensin II and vascular inflammation. Med Sci Monit (2005) 21(12):RA194-205.
• Helkamaa T, Finckenberg P, Louhelainen M, Merasto S, Rauhala P, Lapatto R, Cheng ZJ, Reenila I, Mannisto P, Muller DN, Luft FC, Mervaala EMA. Entacapone protects from angiotension II-induced inflammation and renal injury. J Hypertens (2003) 21(12):2353-2363.
• Cheng ZJ, Angiotension II induced inflammation and vascular dysfunction: role of oxidative stress and cyclooxygenase. University of Helsinki (2002) ISBN 952-91-5118-7 (print), ISBN 952-10-0722-2 (pdf). http://ethesis.helsinki.fi
• Helkamaa T, Mannisto PT, Rauhala P, Cheng ZJ, Finckenberg P, Huotari M, Gotos JA, Karayiorgou M, Mervaala EMA. Resistance to salt-induced hypertension in catechol-O-methyltransferase-gene-disrupted mice. J Hypertens (2003) 21(12): 2365-2374.
• Cheng ZJ, Finckenberg P, Louhelainen M, Merasto S, Tikkanen I, Vapaatalo H, Mervaala EMA. Cardiovascular and renal effects of COX inhibition in transgenic rats harboring mouse renin-2 gene (TGR(mREN2)rats). Eur J Pharmacol (2003) 461:159-169.
• Vapaatalo H, Cheng ZJ, Mervaala E. Function and dysfunction of vascular endothelium. Scand J Clin Lab Invest (2002) 62:Supplement 236
• Cheng ZJ, Tikkanen I, Vapaatalo H, Mervaala EMA. Vascular effects of COX inhibition and aT receptor blockade in transgenic rats harboring mouse renin-2 gene. J Physiol Pharmacol (2002) 53 (4 Pt 1):597-613.
• Cheng ZJ, Tikkanen I, Nurminen K, Ruskoaho H, Vapaatalo H, Muller DN, Park-J-K, Luft FC. Mervaala EMA. Endothelial dysfunction and salt-sensitive hypertension in spontaneously diabetic Goto Kakizaki rats. Hypertension (2001) 37:433-439.
• Mervaala EM, Cheng ZJ, Tikkanen I, Nurminen K, Lapatto R, Nurminen K, Vapaatalo H, Muller DN, Fiebeler A, Ganten U, Ganten D, Luft FC. Endothelial dysfunction and xanthine oxidoreductase activity in rats with human renin and angiotensinogen genes. Hypertension (2001) 37:414-418 (*shared first authorship with Mervaala EM).

Additional Publications

• Cheng ZJ, Angiotensin II induced inflammation and vascular dysfunction: role of oxidative stress and cyclooxygenase. University of Helsinki (2002) ISBN 952-91-5118-7 (print), ISBN 952-10-0722 (pdf). http://ethesis.helsinki.fi
• Vapaatalo H, Cheng ZJ, Mervaala E. Function and dysfunction of vascular endothelium. Scand J Clin Lab Invest (2002) 62:Supplement 236
• Jauhiainen T, Collin M, Narva M, Cheng ZJ, Poussa T, Vapaatalo H, Korpela R. Effect of long-term intake of milk peptides and minerals on blood pressure and arterial function in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Milchwissenschaft (2005) 60(4): 353-472.