Dr. Lin employs genetics as a powerful tool to investigate the intricate impacts of various stressors, including inflammation, obesity, and COVID-19, on the functionality of heart, liver and adipose tissue. He conducts tissue-specific gene gain- and loss-of-function studies, specifically focusing on unraveling the pathophysiological roles of the Hippo-YAP pathway in the heart and brown adipose tissue. Leveraging cutting-edge technology, such as Adenovirus-associated-virus (AAV) and modified messenger RNA, as gene delivery platforms, Dr. Lin's translational studies aim to develop promising drug candidates for the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
Hippo-YAP Signaling: Heart and Fat Tissue Function
The Hippo-YAP signaling is an integrative pathway that controls organ growth, metabolism, and innate/adaptive immunity. Dr. Lin uses the Hippo-YAP pathway as a probe to investigate how organs respond to developmental signals and disease stresses, with a focus on heart, liver and brown adipose tissue. His long-term goal is to seek fundamental knowledge to deepen our understanding of these organs and to inform the efforts of reducing cardiovascular diseases and obesity.
Covid-19 Spike Protein: Immunity and Heart Health
Dr. Lin had a breakthrough study indicating that the spike protein from SARS-CoV-2 causes heart muscle damage. He was the first to discover the mechanisms by which this might occur. His research indicates that the defense against the invasion of the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen is natural immunity, and heart muscle cells have their own immune machinery. However, COVID-19 infections cause an immune response that may also impair heart muscle cell function. Furthermore, Dr. Lin's ongoing investigations delve into the molecular mechanism of long COVID on a myriad of cell types, further expanding our understanding of the multifaceted impacts of this novel disease.
Metabolism: Research on Live and Brown Adipose Tissue
Brown fat, also known as brown adipose tissue, which is a special type of fat that “turns on” (becomes activated) when you get cold stress, to help maintain body temperature. Importantly, brown fat is a biological fuel that can increase the metabolic rate, decrease fat storage and thereby, lower one’s propensity for developing obesity. Dr. Lin’s research discovered that brown fat continues to grow after birth. He is working to identify the developmental signals responsible for the growth of brown fat cells and determining whether they can be manipulated through gene expression to generate more.
Dr. Lin has already been awarded a patent (Patent No. US 11,319, 354 B2). In this patent, a brown adipose tissue specific gene therapy reagent is used to reduce high fat diet induced obesity.
Dr. Lin has recently filed another patent, which uses a gene therapy approach to treat Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
Investigation of Diseases
Lab Members
Chase Kessinger, Ph.D.
Chase Kessinger, Ph.D.
