Division of Cardiovascular Medicine

Qianhong Li, M.D.,Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Tel.: (502) 852-2463

E-mail: qhli0001@gwise.louisville.edu   

Dr. Li has extensive knowledge and experiences in studies of gene therapy, virology, cytology, and molecular biology as well as physiology applied to cardiovascular disease. Dr. Li's research focuses on developing the multiple approaches of gene therapy to protect the heart from the ravages of ischemia/reperfusion and on investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying cardioprotection afforded by gene therapy and ischemic preconditioning. Dr. Li has established and developed a novel recombinant adeno-associated viral vector (rAAV) system which is currently accepted as the most encouraged viral vector among all viral vectors for clinical gene therapy because of its capacities to express functional genes steadily in a relatively longer period such as 1-year and to specifically integrate into one spot in the genome of its host cell without inducing pathogenic and immunogenic reactions in the host. Besides carrying therapeutic genes, the rAAV vector also can deliver negative sense nuclear acids, ribozymes, or interfering RNAs (iRNA) and be applied in a broad field. Additionally, Dr. Li has also established and developed a non-invasive, cardiac-specific biomarker system to monitor the extent of cardiac damage in vivo in three different animal models of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (pigs, rabbits, and mice). Since 2006, Dr. Li’s research has further extended to the area of cardiac regeneration. Combining the powers of molecular biology and gene transfer with the regenerative capacity of stem cells, Dr. Li and her associates are exploring the potentiation and mechanisms of adult cardiac progenitor cells to repair damaged myocardium.

Techniques in Use:

Molecular Biology - DNA cloning and gene expression, RT-PCR, microRNA profiles, real-time PCR, Western immunoblotting, ELISA, Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis on gene promoter.

Cell Biology - Cell line culture (293, H9C2, COS7, and smooth muscle cells); primary isolation and culture of neonatal cardiac myocytes from rat; isolation, sorting, expansion, and analysis of adult cardiac stem cells.

Virology and Gene Transfer - Design, construction, propagation, and analysis of rAd5 and rAAV vectors. Gene delivery mediated by rAd5 or rAAV in vivo (rabbits and mice), or by lipofectamine in vitro.  

Pathology - Preparation and section of frozen OCT blocks and paraffin blocks, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescent staining, trichrome staining, and microscope image analysis.

Selected Publications:

·         Li Q, Guo Y, Tan W, Ou Q, Wu WJ, Sturza D, Dawn B, Hunt G, Cui C, Bolli R. Cardioprotection afforded by inducible nitric oxide synthase gene therapy is mediated by cyclooxygenase-2 via a nuclear factor-kappaB dependent pathway. Circulation. 116(14):1577-1584, 2007.

·         Li Q, Guo Y, Tan W, Stein AB, Dawn B, Wu WJ, Zhu X, Lu X, Xu X, Siddiqui T, Tiwari S, Bolli R. Gene therapy with inducible nitric oxide synthase provides long-term protection against myocardial infarction without adverse functional consequences. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 290(2): H584-H589, 2006.

·         Li Q, Guo Y, Xuan YT, Lowenstein CJ, Stevenson SC, Prabhu SD, Wu WJ, Zhu Y, Bolli R. Gene therapy with inducible nitric oxide synthase protects against myocardial infarction via a cyclooxygenase-2-dependent mechanism. Circ Res. 92(7): 741-748, 2003.

·         Li Q, Bolli R, Qiu Y, Tang XL, Guo YR, French BA. Gene therapy with extracellular superoxide dismutase protects conscious rabbits against myocardial infarction. Circulation.103:1893-1898, 2001.

·         Li Q, Bolli R, Qiu Y, Tang XL, Murphree SS, French BA. Gene therapy with extracellular superoxide dismutase alleviates myocardial stunning in conscious rabbits. Circulation. 98: 1438-1448, 1998.

·         Li Q, Murphree SS, Willer SS, Bolli R, French BA. Gene therapy with bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyl-transferase in the Gunn rat model of Crigler-Najjar syndrome type I. Human Gene Therapy. 9(3): 497-505, 1998.