Ming-Lin Liu, MBBS, PhD

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Research Associate Professor of Dermatology
Department: Dermatology

Contact information
Department of Dermatology
University of Pennsylvania Health System
Perelman School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
2 East. Gates Building, #2021
3600 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Education:
MBBS
Tianjin Medical University, 1986.
PhD
University of Helsinki, 2003.
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Description of Research Expertise

1) Expertise in the function of Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) and Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) as critical mediators of cell-to-cell communication and inflammation in health and disease.
2) Mechanistic studies on programmed cell death (e.g., NETosis), regulation of EV generation and NET formation, and their roles in innate immunity and autoimmunity.
3) Pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, including SLE, Dermatomyositis, and Vasculitis, as mediated by EVs and NETs, with their modulation by UV light and tobacco smoking.
4) Studies on the role of EVs in cardiometabolic and vascular pathology, and how tobacco smoking modulates EV release and function to drive the disease progression.

Selected Publications

Zhao Y, Lyu X, Wu X, Liu Y, Zhang N, Wei W, Liu ML.: Novel perspectives on extracellular vesicles in autoimmune diseases: immunogenicity, inflammation, and immune surveillance. J Clin Invest 136: e194715, Feb 2026.

Singh J, Boettcher M, Dolling M, Jeuer A, Hohberger B, Leppkes M, Naschberger E, Schapher M, Schauer C, Schoen J, Sturzl M, Vitkov L, Wang H, Zlatar L, Schett GA, Pisetsky DS*, Liu ML*, Herrmann M*, Knopf J* (*Co-senior authors): Moonlighting chromatin: when DNA escapes nuclear control. Cell Death Differ. 30: 861-875, February 2023 Notes: doi: 10.1038/s41418-023-01124-1

Li MH, Lyu X, Liao J, Werth VP, Liu ML*: Rho Kinase regulates neutrophil NET formation that is involved in UVB-induced skin inflammation (doi: 10.7150/thno.66457). Theranostics. 12(5): 2133, Feburary 2022.

Liu ML, Lyu X, Werth VP (*Corresponding author): Recent progress in the mechanistic understanding of NET formation in neutrophils. (State-Of-The-Art Review) FEBS J. 289(14): 3954, May 2021.

Zhao Y, Wei W*, Liu ML* (*Co-corresponding Authors): Extracellular Vesicles and Lupus Nephritis - New insights into pathophysiology and clinical implications (doi: 10.1016/j.jaut.2020.102540). Journal of Autoimmunity. Elsevier, 113, September 2020

Li YB, Li MH, Weigel B, Mall M, Werth VP, Liu ML* (*Corresponding Author) : Nuclear envelope rupture and NET formation is driven by PKCα-mediated lamin B disassembly (doi: 10.15252/embr.201948779). EMBO Reports 21(8): e48779, June 2020

Liu ML* (*Corresponding Author) : Functional actin cytoskeleton is required in early stage of NETosis induction. (Letter-to-the-editor). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 117(37): 22653-22654, September 2020

Wu X, Liu Y, Wei W*, Liu ML* (* Co-corresponding Authors): Extracellular Vesicles in Autoimmune Vasculitis - Little dirts light the fire in blood vessels. Autoimmunity Reviews 18(6): 593-606, June 2019.

ML Liu*, KJ Williams, VP Werth (* Corresponding Author): Microvesicles in Autoimmune Diseases. (Invited Review Article). Advances in Clinical Chemistry 77: 125-175 Jul 2016.

Chen Y, Li G, Liu Y, Werth VP, Williams KJ, Liu ML* (*Corresponding Authors) : Translocation of Endogenous Danger Signal HMGB1 from Nucleus to Membrane Microvesicles in Macrophages. Journal of Cellular Physiology. Wiley, 231(11): 2319-26, November 2016.

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Last updated: 04/26/2026
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