zhi-liu
Zhi Liu
Professor
  • : 919-966-0788   

Microbiology and Immunology
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill School of Medicine
USA

Education

Postdoctoral Fellow Burroughs Wellcome Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Medical College of Wisconsin, 1993, Cutaneous Autoimmunity
Ph.D. Medical College of Wisconsin, 1993, Biochemistry
M.S. Nankai University, 1985, Developmental Biology
B.S. Nankai University, 1982, Genetics

 

Biography

Dr. Zhi Liu completed his PhD at the Medical College of Wisconsin in the United States and completed a post-doctoral training as a Burroughs Wellcome Postdoctoral Research Fellow in skin autoimmunity and inflammation at the same institution. His work at the Medical College of Wisconsin established him as a well-recognized expert in skin autoimmune blistering disease.
In 2000 Dr. Liu joined the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he is a Professor of Dermatology and Microbiology and Immunology.

 

Research Interest

  • Skin autoimmunity,
  • skin inflammation,
  • innate immunity,
  • cell-cell matrix adhesion

 

Professional Activities:

Professional Experience - Employment History:

07/01/2007 – present Director of Dermatology Laboratories
02/01/2007 – present Tenured Professor, Departments of Dermatology and Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine
8/1/2003 – 01/31/2007 Tenured Associate Professor, Departments of Dermatology and Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine
8/1/2002 – 01/31/2007 Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine
1/1/2000 – 01/31/2007 Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine
7/1/1999 – 12/31/1999 Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Medical College of Wisconsin
7/1/1995 – 6/30/1999 Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Medical College of Wisconsin
7/1/1994 – 6/30/1995 Instructor, Department of Dermatology, Medical College of Wisconsin

Honors and Awards:

  • Dermatology Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (1993)
  • Predoctoral Fellowship, Department of Dermatology, Medical College of Wisconsin (1989 - 1993)
  • Predoctoral Fellowship, Biochemistry Ph.D. Program, Division of Research and Graduate Studies, Medical College of Wisconsin (1988-1989)
  • Travel Award of Nankai University (the International Symposium on Genetic Manipulation in Crops) (1984)
  • Excellent Student Award of Nankai University (1981)

Professional Service:
Professional Societies:

  • American Association of Immunologists (2002-)
  • The Society for Investigative Dermatology (1993-)                                      
  • Other Administrative Activities:
  • Organizer of the Dermatology Department Research Meeting and Journal Club
  • Co-Organizer of the Duke-UNC Joint Research Seminars               
  • Member, UNC Faculty Hearing Committee, 2007 - 2009

Professional Activities:

  • Journal manuscript reviewer:
  • Archives of Dermatology, Archives of Dermatological Research, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, British J. of Dermatology, Clinical and Experimental Allergy, Clinical Immunology, Experimental Dermatology, FEBS Letters, Human Immunology, J of American Pathology, J. of Autoimmunity, J. of Biological Chemistry, J. of Clinical Investigation, J. of Dermatological Science, J. of Experimental Medicine, J. of Immunology, J. of Investigative Dermatology, PLoS ONE, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.

 

Publications

Peer-reviewed Journals:

  1. Heimbach, L., Zhao, M., Li, N., Fan, F., Fairley, J.A., Diaz, L.A., Ting, J.P-Y., Liu, Z. TNF-α is critical for the autoimmune skin blistering disease bullous pemphigoid. J. Immunol. In minor revision. 2015.
  2. Culton DA, McCray SK, Park M, Roberts JC, Li N, Zedek DC, Anhalt GJ, Cowley D, Liu Z, Diaz LA. Mucosal Pemphigus Vulgaris Anti-Dsg3 IgG are Pathogenic to the Oral Mucosa of Humanized Dsg3 Mice. J. Invest. Dermatol. 2015 Feb 19. doi: 10.1038/jid.2015.54. [Epub ahead of print]
  3. Lin, L., Betsuyaku, T., Heimbach, L., Li, N., Rubenstein, D., Shapiro, S.D., An, L., Giudice, G.J., Diaz, L.A., Senior, R.M., Liu, Z. Neutrophil elastase cleaves the murine hemidesmosomal protein BP180/type XVII collagen and generates degradation products that modulate experimental Bullous Pemphigoid. Matrix Biology. 31:38-44, 2012.
  4. Heimbach, L., Li, Z., Berkowitz, P., Zhao, M., Li, N., Rubenstein, D.S., Diaz, L.A., Liu, Z. The C5a receptor on mast cells is critical for the autoimmune skin-blistering disease bullous pemphigoid. J. Biol. Chem. 286:15003-15009, 2011.
  5. Lin, L., Bankaitis, E., Heimbach, L., Li, N., Abrink, M., Pejler, G., An, L., Diaz, L.A., Werb, Z., Liu, Z. Dual targets for mouse mast cell protease-4 in mediating tissue damage in experimental bullous pemphigoid. J. Biol. Chem. 286:37358-37367, 2011.
  6. Li, N., Park, M., Zhao, M., Hilario-Vargas, J., McInnes, D.M., Prisayanh, P.S., Liu, Z., and Diaz, L.A. The Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen-binding lectin jacalin interacts with desmoglein-1 and abrogates the pathogenicity of pemphigus foliaceus autoantibodies in vivo. J. Invest. Dermatol. 130:2773-2780, 2010.
  7. Arthur, J.C., Lich, J.D., Ye, Z., Allen, I.C., Gris, D., Wilson, J.E., Schneider, M., Roney, K.E., O'Connor, B.P., Moore, C.B., Morrison, A., Sutterwala, F.S., Bertin, J., Koller, B.H., Liu, Z., Ting, J.P. Cutting edge: NLRP12 controls dendritic and myeloid cell migration to affect contact hypersensitivity. J Immunol. 185:4515-4519, 2010.
  8. Li, N., Zhao, M., Wang, J., Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A. Involvement of the apoptotic mechanism in pemphigus foliaceus autoimmune injury of the skin. J. Immunol. 182:711-717, 2009.
  9. Li, Z., Garantziotis, S., Jia, W., Potts, E., Lalani, S., Liu, Z., He, Y-W., Foster, W.M., Hollingsworth, J.W. The extracellular matrix protein mindin regulates trafficking of murine eosinophils into the airspace. J. Leuko. Biol. 85:124-131, 2009.
  10. Li, N., Zhao, M., Wang, J., Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A. Involvement of the apoptotic mechanism in pemphigus foliaceus autoimmune injury of the skin. J. Immunol. 182:711-717, 2009.
  11. Liu, Z., Sui, W., Zhao, M., Li, Z., Li, N., Thresher, R., Giudice, G.J., Fairley, J.A., Sitaru, C., Zillikens, D., Ning, G., Marinkovich, P., and Diaz, L.A. Subepidermal Blistering Induced by Human Autoantibodies to BP180 Requires Innate Immune Players in a Humanized Bullous Pemphigoid Mouse Model. J. Autoimmune. 31:331-338, 2008.
  12. Berkowitz, P., Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A., and Rubenstein, D.S. Autoantibodies in the autoimmune disease pemphigus foliaceus induce blistering via p38MAPK dependent signaling in the skin. Am. J. Pathol. 173:1628-1636, 2008.
  13. Chen, M., Doostan, A., Bandyopadhyay, P., Remington, J., Wang, X., Hou, Y., Liu, Z., and Woodley, D.T. The Cartilage Matrix Protein Subdomain of Type VII Collagen Is Pathogenic for Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita. Am. J. Pathol. 170:2009-2018, 2007.
  14. Kaufmann, W.K., Nevis, K.R., Qu, P., Ibrahim, J.G., Zhou, T., Zhou, Y., Simpson, D.A., Helms-Deaton, J., Cordeiro-Stone, M., Moore, D.T., Thomas, N.E., Hao, H., Liu, Z., Shields, J.M., Scott, G.A., and Sharpless, N.E.  Defective Cell Cycle Checkpoint Functions in Melanoma Are Associated with Altered Patterns of Gene Expression. J. Invest. Dermatol. 128:175-187, 2007.
  15. Nelson K.C., Zhao, M., Schroeder P.R., Li, N., Westel, R.A., Diaz, L.A., and Liu, Z. Role of different pathways of the complement cascade in experimental bullous pemphigoid.  J. Clin. Invest. 116:2892-2900, 2006.
  16. Zhao, M., Trimbeger, M.E., Li, N., Diaz, L.A., Shapiro, S.D., and Liu, Z. Role of Fc receptors in autoimmune bullous pemphigoid. J. Immunol. 177:3398-3405, 2006.
  17. Liu, Z., Zhao, M., Li, N., Diaz, L.A., and Mayadas, T.N. Differential roles of b2 integrins in experimental autoimmune bullous pemphigoid. Blood. 107:1063-1069, 2006.
  18. Woodley, D.T., Ram, R., Doostan, A., Bandyopadhyay, P., Huang, Y., Remington, J., Hou, Y., Keene, D.R., Liu, Z., and Chen, M. Induction of epidermolysis bullosa acquisita in mice by passive transfer of autoantibodies from patients. J. Invest. Dermatol. 126:1323-1330, 2006.
  19. Berkowitz, P., Hu, P., Warren, S., Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A., and Rubenstein, D.S. p38MAPK inhibition prevents disease in pemphigus vulgaris mice. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 103:12855-12860, 2006.
  20. Liu, Z., Li, N., Diaz, L.A., Shipley, J.M., Senior, R.M., and Werb, Z. Synergy between a Plasminogen Cascade and MMP-9 in Autoimmune Disease. J. Clin. Invest. 115:879-887, 2005.
  21. Woodley, D.T., Chang, C., Saadat, P., Ram, R., Liu, Z., and Chen, M. Evidence that Anti-Type VII Collagen Antibodies Are Pathogenic and Responsible for the Clinical, Histological, and Immunological Features of Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita. J. Invest. Dermatol. 124:958-964, 2005.
  22. Berkowitz, P., Hu, P., Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A., Enghild, J.J., Chua, M.P., and Rubenstein, D.S. Desmosome signaling. Inhibition of p38MAPK prevents pemphigus vulgaris IgG-induced cytoskeleton reorganization. J Biol Chem. 280:23778-23784, 2005.
  23. Xiao H, Heeringa P, Liu Z, Huugen D, Hu P, Maeda N, Falk RJ, Jennette JC. The role of neutrophils in the induction of glomerulonephritis by anti-myeloperoxidase antibodies. Am. J. Pathol. 167:39-45, 2005.
  24. Xiao, H., Heeringa, P., Liu, Z., Huugen, D., Hu, P., Maeda, N., Falk, R.J., and Jennette, J.C. Aggravation of anti-myeloperoxidase antibody-induced glomerulonephritis by bacterial lipopolysaccharide: role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Am. J. Pathol. 167:47-58, 2005.
  25. Li, N., Zhao, M., Hilario-Vargas, J., Prisayanh, P., Warren, S., Diaz, L.A., Roopenian, D.C., and Liu, Z. Complete FcRn Dependence for IVIG Therapy in Autoimmune Skin Blistering Diseases.  J. Clin. Invest. 115:3440-3450, 2005.
  26. Xiao, H., Heeringa, P., Hu, P., Liu, Z., Zhao, M., Aratami, Y., Maeda, N.N., Falk, R.J., Jennette, J.C. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies specific for myeloperoxidase cause glomerulonephritis and vesculitis in mice. J. Clin. Invest. 110: 955-963 2002.
  27. Arteaga, L.A., Prisayanh, Warren, S.J.P., Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A., Lin, M., and The Cooperative Group of Fogo Selvagem Research.  A subset of pemphigus foliaceus patients exhibits pathogenic autoantibodies against both desmoglein-1 and desmoglein-3. J. Invest. Dermatol. 118: 806-811, 2002.
  28. Chen, R., Fairley, A.J., Zhao, M-L., Giudice, G.J., Zillikens, D., Diaz, L.A., and Liu, Z. Macrophages, but not T and B lymphocytes are critical for subepidermal blister formation in experimental bullous pemphigoid: macrophage-mediated neutrophil infiltration depends on mast cell activation. J. Immunol. 169:3987-3992, 2002.
  29. Chen, R., Zhou, X., Diaz, L.A., Werb, Z., and Liu, Z.  Mast cells play a key role in neutrophil recruitment in experimental bullous pemphigoid. J. Clin. Invest. 108: 1151-1158, 2001.
  30. Liu, Z., Shapiro, S.D., Zhou, X., Twining, S., Senior, R.M., Giudice, G.J., Fairley, J.A., and Diaz, L,A.  Neutrophil elastase plays a critical role in experimental bullous pemphigoid. J. Clin. Invest. 105: 113-123, 2000.
  31. Liu, Z., Zhou, X., Shapiro, S.D., Shipley, J.M., Twining, S.S., Diaz, L.A., Senior, R.M., and Werb, Z.  The serpin a1-proteinase inhibitor is a critical substrate for gelatinase B/MMP-9 in vivo.  Cell 102: 647-655, 2000.
  32. Betsuyaku, T., Shipley, J.M., Liu, Z., and Senior, R.M.  Neutrophil emigration in the lungs, peritoneum, and skin does nor require gelatinase B.  Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 20: 1303-1309, 1999.
  33. Betsuyaku, T., Shipley, J.M., Liu, Z., and Senior, R.M.  Gelatinase B deficiency does not protect against lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury. Chest 116:17-18, 1999.
  34. Ding, X., Diaz, L.A., Fairley, J.A., Giudice, G.J., and Liu, Z. The anti-desmoglein 1 autoantibodies in pemphigus vulgaris sera are pathogenic.  J. Invest. Dermatol. 112: 739-743, 1999.
  35. Liu, Z., Shipley, J.M., Vu, T.H., Zhou, X., Diaz, L.A., Werb, Z., and Senior, R.M.  Gelatinase B-deficient mice are resistant to experimental BP. J. Exp. Med. 188: 475-482, 1998.
  36. Liu, Z., Giudice, G.J., Zhou, X., Swartz, S.J., Troy, J.L., Fairley, J.A., Till, G.O., and Diaz, L.A.  A major role for neutrophils in experimental bullous pemphigoid.  J. Clin. Invest. 100: 1256-1263, 1997.
  37. Zillikens, D., Rose, P.A., Balding, S.D., Olague-Marchan, M., Mascaro, J.M. Jr, Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A., and Giudice, G.J.  Tight clustering of extracellular BP180 epitopes recognized by bullous pemphigoid autoantibodies.  J. Invest. Derm. 109: 573-579, 1997.
  38. Zillikens, D., Mascaro, J.M., Rose, P.A., Liu, Z., Ewing, S.M., Caux, F., Hoffmann, R.G., Diaz, L.A, and Giudice, G.J. A highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of circulating anti-BP180 autoantibodies associated with bullous pemphigoid. J. Invest. Dermatol. 109: 679-683, 1997.
  39. España, A., Diaz, L.A., Giudice, G.J., Fairley, J.A., Till, G.O., and Liu, Z.  Mechanisms of acantholysis in pemphigus foliaceus. The role of complement.  Clin. Immunol. Immunopath. 85: 83-89, 1997.
  40. Mascaró, J.M., España, A., Liu ,Z., Ding, X., Swartz, S.J., Fairley, J.A., and Diaz, L.A.  Mechanisms of acantholysis in pemphigus vulgaris: role of IgG valence.  Clin. Immunol. Immunopath. 85: 90-96, 1997.
  41. Liu, Z., Roopenian, D.C., Zhou, X., Diaz, L.A., Sedmak, D.D., and Anderson, C.L.   b2 microglobulin-deficient mice are resistant to bullous pemphigoid. J. Exp. Med. 186: 777-783,1997.
  42. Liu, Z., Haas, A.L., Diaz, L.A., Conrad, C.A., and Giudice, G.J.  Characterization of a novel human ubiquitin carrier protein. J. Biol. Chem. 271: 2817-2822, 1996.
  43. Zillikens, D., Kawahara, Y., Mayer, J., Ishiko, A., Liu, Z., Shimizu, H., Diaz, L.A., and Hashimoto, T. A novel IgG-mediated subepidermal blistering disease with autoantibodies against a 200-kD antigen of the basement membrane zone.  J. Invest. Dermatol. 106: 1333-1338, 1996.
  44. Liu, Z., Giudice, G.J., Swartz, S.J., Fairley, J.A., Till, G.O., Troy, J.L., and Diaz, L.A.  The role of complement in experimental bullous pemphigoid.  J. Clin. Invest.  95: 1539-1544, 1995.
  45. Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A., Swartz, S.J., Fairley, J.A., Troy, J.L., and Giudice, G.J.  Molecular mapping of a pathogenically relevant BP180 epitope associated with experimentally induced murine bullous pemphigoid.  J. Immunol. 155: 5449-5454, 1995.
  46. Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A., and Giudice, G.J.  Autoimmune response against the bullous pemphigoid 180 autoantigen.  Dermatology 189: 34-37, 1994.
  47. Giudice, G.J., Emery, D.J., Zelickson, B., Anhalt, G.J., Liu, Z., and Diaz, L.A.  Bullous pemphigoid and herpes gestationis autoantibodies recognize a common antigenic region within a non-collagenous, extracellular domain of the BP180 hemidesmosomal protein.  J. Immunol. 151:5742-5750, 1993.
  48. Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A., Troy, J.L., Taylor, A.F., Emery, D.E., Fairley, J.A., and Giudice, G.J.   A passive transfer model of the organ-specific autoimmune disease, bullous pemphigoid, using antibodies generated against the hemidesmosomal antigen, BP180. J. Clin. Invest. 92: 2480-2488, 1993.
  49. Liu, Z., Diaz. L.A., Haas. A.L., and Giudice,G.J.  cDNA cloning of a novel human ubiquitin carrier  protein: An antigenic domain specifically recognized by endemic pemphigus foliaceus autoantibodies is  encoded in a second reading frame of this human epidermal transcript.  J. Biol. Chem. 267: 5829-5835, 1992.
  50. Liu, Z., Fan, M-K., and Tsui, C.   In Vitro transformation of cultured cells of Daucus Carota by Agrobacterium Tumefaciens strain C58.  Science (China), 37: 1013-1018, 1987.

Contributions to Text Books:

  1. Culton, D.A., Liu, Z., and Diaz, L.A. ‘Bullous Pemphigoid’ in Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine, 8th Edition. L.A. Goldsmith, S.I. Katz, B.A. Gilchrest, A.S. Paller, D.J. Leffell, and K. Wolff, eds. McGraw-Hill. 608-616, 2012.
  2. Li, N., Rubenstein, D.S., Liu, Z., and Diaz, L.A. “Pemphigus Foliaceus, Pemphigus Vulgaris, Paraneoplastic Pemphigus, Bullous Pemphigoid Herpes Gestationis and Cicatricial Pemphigoid” in Principles of Molecular Medicine, 2nd Edition. M.S. Runge and W.C. Patterson, eds. Humana Press. 959-969, 2006.
  3. Li, N., Liu, Z., Hilario-Vargas, J., and Diaz, L.A.  Skin diseases – bullous. In The Autoimmune Diseases, 4th Edition.  N.R. Rose and I.R. Mackay, eds. Academic Press. 789-806, 2006.
  4. Liu, Z., Zhao, M-L., and Diaz, L.A. Passive transfer and active induction of autoimmune diseases. In Animal Models of Human Inflammatory Skin Diseases. L.S. Chan, ed. CRC Press, 169-177, 2004.
  5. Liu, Z., and Diaz, L.A. Experimental mouse model of bullous pemphigoid: passive transfer of anti-BP180 type XVII collagen, antibodies. In Animal Models of Human Inflammatory Skin Diseases. L.S. Chan, ed. CRC Press, 213-223, 2004.
  6. Mascaro, J.M. Jr, Gharia, M., Lin, M-S., Liu, Z., and Diaz, L.A. Pemphigus foliaceus.  In Atlas of Bullous Diseases. R.E. Jordon, ed. Churchill Livingstone/W.B. Saunders. 17-27, 2000.
  7. Gharia, M.J., Fairley, J.A., Lin, M., Liu, Z., Giudice, J.G., and Diaz, L.A. Autoimmune diseases of the skin. In Textbook of the Autoimmune Diseases. R.G. Lahita, N. Chiorazzi, and W.H. Reeves, eds. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadephia. 407-428, 2000.
  8. Lin, M.S., Liu, Z., Drolet, B., and Diaz, L.A. Cutaneous autoimmune diseases. In The Autoimune Diseases.  3rd Edition, N.R. Rose, and I.R. Mackay, eds.  Academic Press.  545-570. 1998.
  9. Diaz, L.A., España, A., Fairley, J.A., Giudice, G.J., Mascaró, J.M., and Liu, Z. Autoantibodies in Skin Diseases. In Autoantibodies.  J.B. Peter, and Y. Shoenfeld, eds.  Elsevier Science, New York, 1996.

Editorials:

  1. Liu, Z., Li, N., and Diaz, L.A. Inhibition of pemphigus vulgaris by targeting CD40-CD154 co-stimulatory pathway: a step toward antigen-specific therapy? J. Invest. Dermatol.  126:11, 2006.
  2. Liu, Z., Li, N., and Diaz, L.A. Immunopathological Mechanisms of Acantholysis in Pemphigus Vulguris: An Explanation by Ultrastructural Observations. J. Invest. Dermatol. 122:XIII-XIV, 2004.
  3. Liu, Z. Are anti-BP180 IgG or IgG4 autoantibodies pathogenic? J. Invest. Dermatol. 119:989-990, 2002.

Reviews:

  1. Heimbach, L., Li, N., Diaz, L.A., and Liu, Z. Experimental animal models of bullous pemphigoid. G. Ital. Dermatol. Venereol. 144:423-431, 2009.
  2. Lessey, E., Li, N., Diaz, L., Liu, Z. Complement and cutaneous autoimmune blistering diseases. Immunol. Res. 41:223-232, 2008.
  3. Leighty, L., Li, N., Diaz, L.A., and Liu, Z. Experimental Models for the Autoimmune and Inflammatory Blistering disease, Bullous Pemphigoid. Arch. Dermatol. Res. 299:417-422, 2007.
  4. Liu, Z. Bullous pemphigoid: using animal models to study the immunopathology. J. Invest. Dermatol. Sym. Proc. 9:41-46, 2004.
  5. Liu, Z. Immunopathology of bullous pemphigoid, an autoimmune and inflammatory skin 
  6. blistering disease. Keio J. of Med. 52:128-133, 2003.
  7. Liu, Z., and Diaz, L.A. Bullous pemphigoid: End of the century overview. J. Dermatol. 28:647-650, 2001.

Abstracts:

  1. Geng P, Lin L, Park M, Li N, Shumate K, Marinkovich MP, Hall R, Diaz LA, and Liu Z. Development of a mouse model for linear IgA bullous dermatosis. Submitted to 2013 International Investigative Dermatology Meeting, May 8-11, 2013.
  2. Evangelista F, Roth AJ, Shumate K, Liu Z, Aoki V, and Diaz LA. A short peptide overlapping the RAL motif of desmoglein 1 contains the conformational epitope for pathogenic IgG4 autoantibodies in Fogo Selvagem. Submitted to 2013 International Investigative Dermatology Meeting, May 8-11, 2013.
  3. Li N, Park M, Liu Z, and Diaz LA. Disassembly of desmosomes by an E-cadherin function-blocking antibody. Submitted to 2013 International Investigative Dermatology Meeting, May 8-11, 2013.
  4. Heinbach L, Zhao M, Li N, Fan J, Fairley J, Diaz LA, and Liu Z. Functional interaction between complement and the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α in experimental pemphigoid. J. Invest.  Dermatol.  132:S32, 2012.
  5. Li N, Park P, Liu Z, and Diaz LA. Disruption of adherens junctions by non-IgG factor(s) present in a PF serum. J. Invest.  Dermatol., 132:S32, 2012.
  6. Lin L, Bankaitis E, Li N, Abrink M, Pejler G, Diaz LA, Werb Z, and Liu Z. Mast cell chymase plays a critical role in bullous pemphigoid in mice. J. Invest.  Dermatol. 131, S6, (Abst. 035)
  7. Li N, Liu Z, Heinbach L, Park M, Senior R, and Diaz LA. MMP2-null mice are less susceptible to pemphigus foliaceus induction. J. Invest.  Dermatol. 131:S33, 2012.
  8. Lin, L., Betsuyaku, T., Heimbach, L., Li, N., Rubenstein, D., Shapiro, S., An, L., Diaz, L., Senior, R., and Liu, Z. Neutrophil elastase cleaves BP180 and its degradation products are chemotactic and therapeutic in skin autoimmune blistering disease in mice. J. Invest. Dermatol. 130:S19, 2010.
  9. Li, N., Park, M., Liu, Z., and Diaz, L.A. In vitro cleavage of desmoglein 1 by matrix metalloproteinase-2. J. Invest. Dermatol. 130:S39, 2010.
  10. Heimbach, L., Li, N., Huang, W., Giudice, G.J., Fairley, J.A., Marinkovich, P., Diaz, L.a., and Liu, Z. Mapping pathogenic epitopes recognized by herpes gestationis autoantibosies using humanized BP180NC16A mice. J. Invest. Dermatol. 129:S17, 2009.
  11. Li, N., Liu, Z., Park, M., and Werb, Z., Diaz, L.A. MMP-2, but not MMP-9 is required for pemphigus foliaceus induction in mice. J. Invest. Dermatol. 129:S38, 2009.
  12. Li, N., Liu, Z., Park, M., and Diaz, L.A. p53-knockout mice are resistant to the induction of skin blisters and acantholysis by pemphigus autoantibodies. J. Invest. Dermatol. 128:S45, 2008.
  13. Leighty, L., Li, Z., Berkowitz, P., Zhao, M., Li, N., Rubenstein, D., Diaz, L.A., and Liu, Z. C5a-C5a receptor signaling pathway is critical for experimental bullous pemphigoid. J. Invest. Dermatol. 128:S45, 2008.
  14. Berkowitz, P., Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A., and Rubenstein, D.S. Autoantibodies in the autoimmune disease pemphigus foliaceus induce blistering in vivo via p38MAPK dependent signaling. J. Invest. Dermatol. 127:S134 2007.
  15. Li, N., Liu, Z., Wang, J., Warren, S.J.P., and Diaz, L.A. Inhibition of experimental pemphigus in vivo by the p53 inhibitor pifithrin-alpha. J. Invest. Dermatol. 127:S11, 2007.
  16. Liu, Z., Leighty, L., Zhao, M., Li, N., Fu, C., Giudice, G.J., Fairley, J.A., Sitaru, C., Zillikens, D., Marinkovich, P., Diaz, L.A. Identification of BP180 Pathogenic Epitope Using Humanized BP180NC16A Mice.  J. Invest. Dermatol. 127:S12, 2007.
  17. Zhao, M., Xu, W., Abrink, M., Sui, W., Li, Z., Rice, S., Diaz, L.A., Pejler, G., Werb, Z., and Liu, Z. Role of the chymase, mouse mast cell proteinases 4 in experimental bullous pemphigoid. J. Invest. Dermatol. 126:A11, 2006.
  18. Li, Z., Zhao, M., Rubenstein, D.S., Diaz, L.A., and Liu, Z. Activation of p38 MAPK is required for experimental bullous pemphigoid.  J. Invest. Dermatol. 126:A11, 2006.
  19. Berkowitz, P., Hu, P., Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A., and Rubenstein, D.S. p38 MAPK inhibition blocks disease in pemphigus vulgaris mice. J. Invest. Dermatol. 126:A9, 2006.
  20. Li, N., Zhao, M., Liu, Z., and Diaz, L.A. Pathogenic role of apoptosis in experimental pemphigus. J. Invest. Dermatol. 126:A29, 2006.
  21. Feng, J., Zhao, M., Wright, C., Rubenstein, D.S., Diaz, L.A. and Liu, Z. Synergy between L-1 and IL-6 in experimental autoimmune bullous pemphigoid. J. Invest. Dermatol. 124:A11, 2005.
  22. Liu, Z., Zhao, M., Li, N., Diaz, L.A., and Mayadas, T.N. Role of b2 integrins in experimental autoimmune bullous pemphigoid. J. Invest. Dermatol. 124:A12, 2005.
  23. Zhao, M., Warren, S., Diaz, L.A., and Liu, Z. Fcg receptors on both neutrophils and mast cells mediate tissue injury in autoimmune bullous pemphigoid. J. Invest. Dermatol. 124:A12, 2005.
  24. Rubenstein, D.S., Berkowitz, P., Hu, P., Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A., Enghild, J., and Chua, M. Inhibition of p38MAPK prevents pemphigus vulgaris IgG-induced cytoskeleton reorganization. J. Invest. Dermatol. 124:A28, 2005.
  25. Li, N., Liu, Z., Zhao, M., Hilario-Vargas, J., and Diaz, L.A. Two galactose-specific lectins block experimental pemphigus in mice. J. Invest. Dermatol. 124:A31, 2005.
  26. Zhao, M., Carter, K.E., Diaz, L.A., and Liu, Z. Role of TNF-a, IL-1, and IL-6 in experimental autoimmune bullous pemphigoid. J. Invest. Dermatol. 122:A13, 2004.
  27. Rubenstein, D.R., Berkowitz, P., Hu, P., Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A., and Enghild, J. Pemphigus vulgaris IgG induces desmosomal transmembrane signaling. J. Invest. Dermatol. 122:A34, 2004.
  28. Liu, Z., Zhao, M., Diaz, L.A., and Mayadas, T.N. The b2 integrin CD11b/CD18 plays a critical role in neutrophil infiltration and elimination in the skin in experimental autoimmune bullous pemphigoid. J. Invest. Dermatol. 122:A35, 2004.
  29. Liu, J., Zhao, M., Hilario-Vargas, J., Li, N., Prisayanh, P., Warren, S., Diaz, L.A., Roopenian, D.C., and Liu, Z. Universal mechanism of IVIG action in pemphigus and pemphigoid. J. Invest. Dermatol. 122:A49, 2004.
  30. Jennette, J.C., Xiao, H., Heeringa, P., Hu, P., Liu, Z., and Falk, R. Tumor necrosis factor a enhances induction of glomerulonephritis in mice by myeloperoxidase-specific anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (MPO-ANCA) IgG. Laboratory Investigation. 2003.
  31. Trimberger, M.E., Diaz, L.A., and Liu, Z. Role of Fc receptors in autoimmune bullous pemphigoid. J. Invest. Dermatol. 121:0069A, 2003.
  32. Rubenstein, D.S., Berkowitz, P., Hu, P., Liu, Z., and Diaz, L.A. Cellular phosphorylation initiated by pemphigus vulgaris IgG binding to the desmosomal cadherin desmoglein 3. J. Invest. Dermatol. 121:0242A, 2003.
  33. Li, N., Diaz, L.A., Roopenian, D.C., and Liu, Z. Mice deficient in neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) are  resistant to pemphigus foliaceus. J. Invest. Dermatol. 121:0292A, 2003.
  34. Zhao, M., Diaz, L.A., and Liu, Z. Antigen-specific modulation of experimental bullous pemphigoid induced by active immunization. J. Invest. Dermatol. 121:0991A, 2003.
  35. Liu, Z., Zhao, M., Anderson, C.L., Diaz, L.a., and Roopenian, D.C. Protection of experimental bullous pemphigoid by IVIG is mediated through the IgG protection receptor FcRn. J. Invest. Dermatol. 121:1242A, 2003.
  36. Zhao, M., Diaz, L.A., and Liu, Z. Experimental bullous pemphigoid induced by active immunization is dependent on both T and B cells and medicated by MHC class II-restricted responses. J. Invest. Dermatol. 118:302A, 2002.
  37. Carter, K.E., Rose, P.A., Diaz, L.A., and Liu, Z.      The classical pathway of the complement cascade plays a major role in subepidermal blistering in experimental bullous pemphigoid. Soluble complement receptor 1 inhibits the development of the disease. J. Invest. Dermatol. 118:316A, 2002.
  38. Liu, Z., Zhao, M., Carter, K., and Diaz, L. Role of IgE in subepidermal blistering in experimental bullous pemphigoid. J. Invest. Dermatol. 118:319A, 2002.
  39. Olivry, T., Dunston, S., Warren, S., Li, N., and Liu, Z. Canine pemphigus IgG autoantibodies cause epidermal blistering when passively transferred into neonatal mice. J. Invest. Dermatol. 118:301A, 2002.
  40. Li, N., Liu, Z., and Diaz, L.A. Pemphigus foliaceus autoantibodies recognize two dominant pathogenic epitopes located in EC1 and EC2 domains of desmoglein-1. J. Invest. Dermatol. 118:305A, 2002.
  41. Hu, P., Xiao, H., Lin, M., Rubenstein, D., O’Keefe, E., Jennette, J., Diaz, L., and Liu, Z. Myeloperoxidase-deficient mice are resistant to experimental bullous pemphigoid. J. Invest. Dermatol. 117:442A, 2001.
  42. Liu, Z., Betsuyaku, T., Rubenstein, D., Diaz, L., and Senior, R. BP180 (BPAG2) is a neutrophil chemoattractant in vitro and in vivo after proteolysis by neutrophil elastase. J. Invest. Dermatol. 117:442A, 2001.
  43. Lin, M., Arteaga, L., Prisayanh, P., Warren, S., Liu, Z., and Diaz, L. Isotype and epitope profiles of anti-desmoglein-1 autoantibodies in patients and normal subjects in an endemic focus of fogo selvagem. J. Invest. Dermatol. 117:460A, 2001.
  44. Arteaga, L., Warren, S., Prisayanh, P., Liu, Z., Diaz, L., and Lin, M. A subset of pemphigous foliaceus patients possess both pathogenic anti-desmoglein-1 and anti-desmoglein-3 antibodies. J. Invest. Dermatol. 117:460A, 2001.
  45. Zhao, M., Lin, M., Fritz, R., Diaz, L., and Liu, Z. Development of an active autoimmune disease model for bullous pemphigoid. J. Invest. Dermatol. 117:461A, 2001.
  46. Rubenstein, D., Lin, M., Berkowitz, P., Arteaga, L., Hu, P., Liu, Z., Diaz, L., and O’Keefe. Pemphigus foliaceus IgG activates transmembrane desmosomal signaling. J. Invest. Dermatol. 117:473A, 2001.
  47. Chen, R., Diaz, L.A., Giudice, G.J., and Liu, Z. The role of C5a in mast cell activation during subepidermal blistering in experimental bullous pemphigoid. J. Invest. Dermatol. 114:762A, 2000.
  48. Gleason, D., Chen, R., Fairley, J., and Liu, Z. Tumor necrosis factor and TNF receptor-1, but not TNF receptor-2-defiicent mice are resistant to experimental bullous pemphigoid. J. Invest. Dermatol. 114:769A, 2000.
  49. Liu, Z., Chen, R., Senior, R., and Werb, Z. Plasminogen/plasmin system in experimental bullous pemphigoid. J. Invest. Dermatol. 114:778A, 2000.
  50. Arteaga, L., Warren, S., Liu, Z., Lin, M., and Diaz, L.A. Desmoglein-1 epitopes recognized by autoantibodies from patients with fogo selvagem. J. Invest. Dermatol. 114:804A, 2000.
  51. Rose, P.A., Giudice, G.J. Diaz, L.A., and Liu, Z.  The classical complement pathway is required for subepidermal blistering in experimental bullous pemphigoid. The Fifth Asian Dermatological Congress. Beijing, China, 1999.
  52. Liu, Z., Zhou, X., Chen, R., Shapiro, S.D., Senior, R.M., and Diaz, L.A.  Proteinase/proteinase inhibitor imbalance in experimental bullous pemphigoid. J. Invest. Dermatol. 112:533A, 1999.
  53. Liu, Z., Zhou, X., Fleming, M., Giudice, G.J., and Diaz, L.A.  Cellular events in experimental bullous pemphigoid: mast cells, but not T or B lymphocytes, natural killer cells, or macrophages, play a major role in the early stage of subepidermal blistering. J. Invest. Dermatol. 112:556A, 1999.
  54. Liu, Z., Zhou, X., Chen, R., and Diaz, L.A.  Transmission of experimental bullous pemphigoid/herpes gestationis from mother to neonates.  J. Invest. Dermatol. 112:532A,  1999.
  55. Liu, Z., Zhou, X., Ding, X., Chen, R., Shapiro, S.D., Senior, R.M., Giudice, G.J., Fairley, J.A., and Diaz, L.A.  The role of neutrophil elastase, gelatinase B, and plasmin/plasminogen activators in pemphigus foliaceus and pemphigus vulgaris in mice. J. Invest. Dermatol. 112:616A, 1999.
  56. Rose, P.A., Giudice, G.J., Diaz, L.A., and Liu, Z.  Experimental bullous pemphigoid: Pathogenic  and non-pathogenic anti-BP180 antibodies differ in effector functions. FASEB      J. 12:291A, 1998.
  57. Liu, Z., Zhou, X., Giudice, G.J., and Diaz, L.A.  The role of mast cells in experimental bullous pemphigoid. J. Invest. Dermatol. 110:483A, 1998.
  58. Liu, Z., Shipley, J.M., Zhou, X., Diaz, L.A., and Senior, R.M.  Metalloproteinase-9-deficient mice are resistant to bullous pemphigoid. J. Invest. Dermatol. 110:486A, 1998.
  59. Ding, X., Diaz, L.A., Fairley, J.A., Giudice, G.J., and Liu, Z.  The anti-desmoglein 1 autoantibodies in PV sera are pathogenic. J. Invest. Dermatol. 110:507A, 1998.
  60. Liu, Z., Giudice, G.J., Zhou, X., Fairley, J.A. and Diaz, L.A.  Interleukin-1 and -6 are require for subepidermal blistering in experimental bullous pemphigoid.  J. Invest. Dermatol. 108:538A, 1997.
  61. Liu, Z., Twining, S.S., Giudice, G.J., Zhou, X., Fairley, J.A., Troy, J.L., and Diaz, L.A.  Neutrophil elastase is essential for subepidermal blistering in experimental bullous pemphigoid J. Invest. Dermatol. 108:556A, 1997.
  62. Zillikens, D., Rose, P.A., Balding, S.D., Olague-Marchan, M., Mascaro, J.M. Jr, Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A., and Giudice, G.J.  Tight clustering of extracellular BP180 epitopes recognized by bullous pemphigoid autoantibodies.  J. Invest. Dermatol. 180:622A, 1997.
  63. Rose, P.A., Giudice, G.J., Diaz, L.A., and Liu, Z.   Functional differences between pathogenic and non-pathogenic anti-BP180 antibodies in experimental BP. Mol. Biol. Cell 85:419A, 1997.
  64. Liu, Z., Giudice, G.J., Swartz, S.J., Zillikens, D., Troy, J.L., Fairley, J.A., and Diaz, L.A.  Bullous pemphigoid mouse model: Dermal-epidermal separation induced by anti-BP180 antibodies is dependent on neutrophil Fc receptor activity. J. Invest. Dermatol. 106:811A, 1996.
  65. Mascaró, J.M., España-Alonso, A., Liu, Z., Swartz, S.J., Fleming, M.G., Giudice, G.J., Fairley, J.A., and Diaz, L.A.  Monovalent Fab fragments from pemphigus vulgaris IgG are pathogenic in neonatal BALB/c mouse model. J. Invest. Dermatol. 106:812A, 1996.
  66. Zillikens, D., Diaz, L.A., Rose, P.A., Emery, D.J., Liu, Z., and Giudice, G.J.  Identification of new autoantibody-reactive sites on the 180-kD bullous pemphigoid ectodomain. J. Invest. Dermatol. 106:850A, 1996.
  67. Liu, Z., Twining, S.S., Giudice, G.J., Zhou, X., Fairley, J.A., Troy, J.L., and Diaz, L.A.  Elastase plays a direct role in blister formation in experimental bullous pemphigoid.  FASEB J.  10:A1407, 1996.
  68. Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A., Swartz, S.J., Zillikens, D., Troy, J.L., Fairley, J.A., and Giudice, G.J.  Bullous pemphigoid mouse model:  dissection of the inflammatory response.   J. Invest. Dermatol. 104:558A, 1995.
  69. Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A., Swartz, S.J., Fairley, J.A., and Giudice, G.J.  Molecular mapping of a BP180 peptide that can block subepidermal blistering in experimental bullous pemphigoid.  J. Invest. Dermatol. 104:559A, 1995.
  70. Zillikens, D., Kawahara, Y., Mayer, J., Ishiko, A., Liu, Z., Shimizu, H., Diaz, L.A., and Hashimoto, T. A novel IgG-mediated subepidermal blistering disease with autoantibodies against a 200-kD antigen of the basement membrane zone.  J. Invest. Dermatol. 104:603A, 1995.
  71. Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A., Swartz, S.J., Taylor, A.F., Emery, D.J., Troy, J.L., Fairley, J.A., and Giudice, G.J.  Defining the animal model of bullous pemphigoid and herpes gestationis by passive transfer of anti-BP180 antibodies. J. Invest. Dermatol.  102:558A, 1994.
  72. Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A., Haas, A.L., and Giudice, G.J.  A novel epidermal E2 enzyme is a late differentiation marker and functions in targeting proteins for selective degradation.  J. Invest. Dermatol.  100:523A, 1993. 
  73. Giudice, G.J., Emery, D.J., Liu, Z., Fairley, J.A., and Diaz, L.A.  A bullous pemphigoid and herpes gestationis autoantibody-reactive site on the ectodomain of the human BP180 autoantigen is not present on the murine BP180 homologue.  J. Invest. Dermatol. 100:531A, 1993.
  74. Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A., Haas, A.L., and Giudice, G.J.  Enzymatic characterization of a novel human epidermal ubiquitin carrier protein.  Annual Meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1993.
  75. Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A., Haas, A.L., and Giudice, G.J.  A novel ubiquitin carrier protein is a marker for keratinocyte terminal differentiation.  Clin. Res. 40:516A, 1992.
  76. Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A., Haas, A.L., and Giudice, G.J.  Pemphigus foliaceus autoantibodies recognize an ubiquitin carrier protein. Clin. Res. 39:480A, 1991.
  77. Liu, Z., Diaz, L.A., Haas, A.L., and Giudice, G.J.  Cloning and sequence analysis of an antigen recognized by pemphigus foliaceus autoantibodies.  Clin. Res. 39:740A, 1991.

 

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