Dr. Xun Wu is a distinguished molecular and cell biologist specializing in macrophage biology and its implications in cardiovascular diseases. By employing advanced methodologies such as genome-wide CRISPR screening and base editing, Dr. Wu is dedicated to conducting groundbreaking research aimed at enhancing macrophage efferocytosis to address cardiovascular disease. The primary objective of his research is to identify novel regulatory genes in macrophages and assess their therapeutic potential in promoting cardiac repair and combatting atherosclerosis.
His expertise extends to cardio-immunology and vascular diseases, with a focus on fostering innovative approaches through advanced training and research. Driven by innovation and a steadfast commitment to scientific excellence, the laboratory continually strives to expand the frontiers of knowledge in macrophage biology and cardiovascular health.
Training Record
Ongoing Research Directions
Finding New Regulatory Genes in Driving Macrophage Efferocytosis
Efficient removal of dead cells, also known as efferocytosis, is a critical process performed by macrophages to maintain tissue health and prevent inflammation. Understanding the genetic regulation behind this process can unlock new insights into immunity and disease. By leveraging the power of a CRISPR screen, researchers can systematically identify genes that play a role in regulating the clearance of dead cells in vivo. This cutting-edge approach allows for genome-wide gene editing, enabling scientists to pinpoint previously unknown genes involved in macrophage function. These discoveries not only deepen our understanding of cellular processes but also hold the potential to improve treatments for conditions linked to impaired efferocytosis, such as autoimmunity, chronic inflammation, and atherosclerosis. The combination of CRISPR technology and macrophage research marks a pivotal step in unraveling the genetic mechanisms that sustain cellular health and immunity.
Gene Edited Macrophage in Cardiac Repair
Recent advancements in cardio-immunology have highlighted a promising new direction in cardiac repair: enhancing macrophage efferocytosis. This process, which involves macrophages efficiently clearing dead or dying cells, plays a critical role in resolving inflammation and promoting tissue healing. Current research suggests that injecting macrophages with optimized therapeutic potential could significantly improve cardiac repair after injury, such as a heart attack. By leveraging the natural ability of macrophages to orchestrate immune responses and support tissue regeneration, this innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize how we treat cardiac damage. As scientists continue to explore and refine these methods, the future of heart disease treatment looks increasingly hopeful.
Gene Edited Macrophage in Atherosclerosis
Even after effective lipid-lowering therapies, a small residual risk of cardiovascular events may persist. This residual risk is often linked to the stability of atherosclerotic plaques. Research has shown that enhancing macrophage efferocytosis—the process by which dead or dying cells are cleared by immune cells—can play a vital role in stabilizing plaques. Improved efferocytosis reduces the formation of a necrotic core, a key contributor to plaque vulnerability and rupture. By addressing this mechanism, innovative strategies can complement lipid-lowering therapies, promoting better plaque stability and reducing the overall risk of cardiovascular complications.
Honors and Awards
2025 AHA Career Development Awardee (25CDA1451366) (07/01/2025-06/30/2028)
Title: Macrophage WDFY3 enhances efferocytosis and promotes cardiac repair.
The project determines how WDFY3 promotes the efferocytosis of apoptotic cardiomyocytes, which improves inflammation resolution and cardiac repair following acute cardiac injury.
2024 Investigators in Training Award (Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology)
2022 Keystone Symposia Scholarship for Travel (Resolution of Inflammation)
2021 The Paul Dudley White International Scholar Award that recognizes the authors with the highest ranked abstract from the United States at American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2021.
Xun Wu, Ziyi Wang, Jianting Shi, Fang Li, Young Joo Yang, Rebecca M. Moore, Margot K. Chirikjian, Ira A. Tabas, Ai Yamamoto, Hanrui Zhang*. WDFY3 is Required for the Efficient Degradation of Engulfed Apoptotic Cells by Macrophages During Efferocytosis.
2021 ATVB Early Career Outstanding Research Award (Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology) at AHA Scientific Sessions 2021.
2021 AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship Awardee, Postdoctoral Fellowship (21POST829654) (04/01/2021 - 03/31/2023)
Title: Wdfy3 promotes macrophage efferocytosis via accelerating the uptake and degradation of dying cells.
The project determines how knockout of Wdfy3 impairs, while overexpression increases, macrophage efferocytosis by enhancing both the engulfment and the degradation.
Role: PI
2019 Berrie Scholar Awardee, (09/01/2019-08/31/2020) The award, at its 22nd year in 2019, supports outstanding recruitment of 1 foreign (non-US citizen) post-doctoral scientist being recruited by any lab at Columbia University to engage in clinical or laboratory research in diabetes and allied disorders. Each year the Foundation announces university-wide competition. The award values prior achievements, completed training, or special skills in novel and underrepresented research themes, and “high risk” studies designed to test or extend novel concepts.
Title: Discovery of novel regulators of macrophage efferocytosis by genome-wide CRISPR screen and investigation of their roles in diabetes-associated cardiovascular complications.
Role: Awardee
2018 Director's Award for Paper Publication. This award is for high citations. The citation of the awardee’s first author paper reached top 5% in the first year of publication compared to all the other papers in Redox Biology.
Title: Homocysteine causes vascular endothelial dysfunction by disrupting endoplasmic reticulum redox homeostasis.
2018 Merit Student, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. This award is for multi-collaborations during the Ph.D. training. The awardee has a least 3-4 collaborative projects and finally listed as a co-author in each publication.
2018 Poster presentation award for 2th Chenglu Zou Youth Academic Forum
2018 Poster presentation award for Institute of Biophysics PI Annual Conference
2017 Poster presentation award for Chinese Association for Physiological Sciences: Endocrine Metabolism, Comparative Physiology and Stress Physiology Meeting
Fellowship and Grant Support
PENDING SUPPORT
Career Development Award (25CDA1451366) 07/01/2025-06/30/2028
The American Heart Association
Title: Macrophage WDFY3 enhances efferocytosis and promotes cardiac repair.
The project determines how WDFY3 promotes the efferocytosis of apoptotic cardiomyocytes, which improves inflammation resolution and cardiac repair following acute cardiac injury.
Role: PI
PAST SUPPORT
Postdoctoral Fellowship (21POST829654) 04/01/2021-03/31/2023
The American Heart Association
Title: Wdfy3 promotes macrophage efferocytosis via accelerating the uptake and degradation of dying cells.
The project determines how knockout of Wdfy3 impairs, while overexpression increases, macrophage efferocytosis by enhancing both the engulfment and the degradation.
Role: PI
Berrie Scholar Award 09/01/2019-08/31/2020
The Russell Berrie Foundation Diabetes Scholars Program
The award, at its 22nd year in 2019, supports outstanding recruitment of 1 foreign (non-US citizen) post-doctoral scientist being recruited by any lab at Columbia University to engage in clinical or laboratory research in diabetes and allied disorders. Each year the Foundation announces university-wide competition. The award values prior achievements, completed training, or special skills in novel and underrepresented research themes, and “high risk” studies designed to test or extend novel concepts.
Title: Discovery of novel regulators of macrophage efferocytosis by genome-wide CRISPR screen and
investigation of their roles in diabetes-associated cardiovascular complications.
Role: PI
Publications and Patents
The complete list of 10 peer-reviewed highlighted publications and 1 patent in processing:
- Wu X, Wang Z, Croce K.R., Li F, Cui J, D’Agati V.C., Soni R, Khalid S, Saleheen D, Tabas I, Yamamoto A, Zhang H. Macrophage WDFY3, a protector against autoimmunity. Nature Communications, under revision, 2025. Original research.
- Patent: Croce K.R., Wu X, Zhang H, Yamamoto A. Increasing Alfy levels protects against CNS changes in a mouse model of autoimmunity. CU23287.
- Wu X, Wang Z, Shern T, Zhang H. Efferocytosis assay to quantify the engulfment and acidification of apoptotic cells by macrophages using flow cytometry. STAR protocols, 2024 Sep; 5(3): 103215. PMID: 39068649 PMCID: PMC11338188. Protocols.
- Wu X, Zhang H. Omics Approaches Unveiling the Biology of Human Atherosclerotic Plaques. The American Journal of Pathology. 2024. Review.
- Shi J, Wu X (co-first author), Wang Z, Li F, Meng Y, Moore R.M., Cui J, Xue C, Croce K.R., Jr A, Doench J, Li W, Zarbalis K, Tabas I, Yamamoto A, Zhang H. A Genome-wide CRISPR Screen Identifies WDFY3 as a Novel Regulator of Macrophage Efferocytosis. Nature Communications. 2022, 13, 7929. PMID: 36566259 PMCID: PMC9789999, Original research.
- Bi X, Stankov S, Lee P.C., Wang Z, Wu X, Li L, Ko Y, Cheng L, Zhang H, Hand N.J., Rader D.J. ILRUN Promotes Atherosclerosis through Lipid-dependent and Lipid-independent Factors. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2022, 2022;42:1139–1151. PMID: 35861973 PMCID: PMC9420832, Original research.
- Qiao X, Zhang Y, Ye A, Zhang Y, Xie T, Lv Z, Shi C, Wu D, Chu B, Wu X, Zhang W, Wang P, Liu G, Wang C, Wang L, Chen C. ER reductive stress caused by Ero1α S-nitrosation accelerates senescence. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. 2022;180: 165-178. PMID: 35033630, Original research.
- Yan Y, Wu X, Wang P, Zhang S, Sun L, Zhao Y, Zeng G, Liu B, Xu G, Liu H, Wang L, Wang X and Jiang C. Homocysteine promotes hepatic steatosis by activating the adipocyte lipolysis in a HIF1α-ERO1α-dependent oxidative stress manner. Redox Biology 2020 Oct 1; 37:101742. PMID: 33045621 PMCID: PMC7559542, Original research.
- Wu X, Zhang L, Miao Y, Yang J, Wang X, Wang C, Feng J & Wang L. Homocysteine causes vascular endothelial dysfunction by disrupting endoplasmic reticulum redox homeostasis. Redox Biology, 2019 Jan; 20: 46–59. PMID:30292945. PMID:30292945 PMCID: PMC6174864, Original research.
- Zhang Y, Li T, Zhang L, Shangguan F, Shi G, Wu X, Cui Y, Wang X, Wang X, Lu B, Wei T, Wang C, Wang L. Targeting the functional interplay between endoplasmic reticulum oxidoreductin-1α and protein disulfide isomerase suppresses cervical cancer progression. EBioMedicine, 2019 Mar; 41: 408-19 PMID: 30826359 PMCID: PMC6443025. Original research.
- Fang J*, Yang J*, Wu X* (co-first author), Zhang G, Li T, Wang X, Zhang H, Wang C, Liu G & Wang L. Metformin alleviates human cellular aging by upregulating the ER peroxidase GPx7. Aging Cell. 2018 Aug; 17(4): e12765. PMID: 29659168 PMCID: PMC6052468, Original research.
Contact
About us
Xun Wu Ph.D is specializing in cardio-immunology and vascular diseases. Our team of dedicated scientists and researchers is committed to pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge and innovation in this field.
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