2003.08 - 2007.06  B.Sc., Shandong University

2007.08 - 2009.06  M.Sc., Uppsala University

2009.11 - 2013.11  Dr. sc., Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich

2013.12 - 2014.03  Postdoc, Institute of Immunobiology, Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen

2014.06 - 2023.11  Associate Professor, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Mainly focus on the role of stromal cells in secondary lymphoid organ (SLO) development and their roles in the regulation of the immune system and immune cell homeostasis and function in na?ve state and under infection. Recent studies have been focused on；

1. Delineating the role of alternative NF-κB signaling on stromal cells in SLO development and function.

2. Exploring the biological consequences of alternative NF-κB pathway on stromal cells in the homeostasis of intestinal immunity.

3. Determining the role of LT R signaling on stromal cells in tumor metastasis.

4. Investigating the role of stromal cell microenvironment on innate lymphoid cell and T cell homeostasis and function.

2020 - 2024  National Natural Science Foundation of China, Major Program

2020 - 2023  National Natural Science Foundation of China, General Program

2017 - 2020  National Natural Science Foundation of China, General Program

2015 - 2019  National Program on Key Basic Research Project (973 Program) for young scientists

2015 - 2017  National Natural Science Foundation of China, Youth Fund Program

1. Pian YY^#, Chai Q^#*, Ren BY, Wang Y, Lv MJ, Qiu J, Zhu MZ*. Type 3 Innate Lymphoid Cells Direct Goblet Cell Differentiation via the LT-LTβR Pathway during Listeria Infection. J Immunol. 2020 Aug 1, 205 (3) 853-863

2. Wang WJ, Zhou XX, Bian YJ, Wang S, Chai Q, Guo ZQ, Wang ZN, Zhu P, Peng H, Yan XY, Li WB, Fu YX, Zhu MZ*. Dual-targeting nanoparticle vaccine elicits a therapeutic antibody response against chronic hepatitis B. Nature Nanotechnology. 2020, 15, 406-416

3. Wang Z, Wang W, Chai Q, Zhu M. Langerhans Cells Control Lymphatic Vessel Function during Inflammation via LIGHT-LTβR Signaling. J Immunol. 2019 May 15; 202 (10):2999-3007.

4. Wang ZN^#, Chai Q^#*, Zhu MZ*. Differential Roles of LTβR in Endothelial Cell Subsets for Lymph Node Organogenesis and Maturation. J Immunol. 2018 July 1; 201 (1):69-76.

5. Chung J, Ebens CL, Perkey E, Radojcic V, Koch U, Scarpellino L, Tong A, Allen F, Wood S, Feng J, Friedman A, Granadier D, Tran IT, Chai Q, Onder L, Yan M, Reddy P, Blazar BR, Huang AY, Brennan TV, Bishop DK, Ludewig B, Siebel CW, Radtke F, Luther SA, Maillard I. Fibroblastic niches prime T cell alloimmunity through Delta-like Notch ligands. J Clin Invest. 2017 Apr 3;127(4):1574-1588.

6. Wu W, Shi Y, Xia H, Chai Q, Jin C, Ren B, Zhu M. Epithelial LTβR signaling controls the population size of the progenitors of medullary thymic epithelial cells in neonatal mice. Sci Rep. 2017 Mar 14;7:44481.

7. Gil-Cruz C, Perez-Shibayama C, Onder L, Chai Q, Cupovic J, Cheng HW, Novkovic M, Lang P, Geuking M, McCoy K, Abe S, Cui GW, Ikuta K, Scandella E, Ludewig B. Fibroblastic reticular cells regulate intestinal inflammation via IL-15-mediated control of group 1 ILCs. Nat Immunol. 2016 Oct.

8. Shi YY, Wu WW, Chai Q, Li QQ, Hou Y, Xia H, Ren BY, Xu HR, Guo XH, Jin CW, Lv MJ, Wang ZN, Fu YX& Zhu MZ. LTβR controls thymic portal endothelial cells for haematopoietic progenitor cell homing and T-cell regeneration. Nat Commun. 2016 Aug.

9. Onder L, Nindl V, Scandella E, Chai Q, Cheng HW, Caviezel-Firner S, Novkovic M, Bomze D, Maier R, Mair F, Ledermann B, Becher B, Waisman A, Ludewig B. Alternative NF-κB signaling regulates mTEC differentiation from podoplanin-expressing presursors in the cortico-medullary junction. Eur J Immunol. 2015 Aug; 45(8):2218-31.

10. Fasnacht N, Huang HY, Koch U, Favre S, Auderset F, Chai Q, Onder L, Kallert S, Pinschewer DD, MacDonald HR, Tacchini-Cottier F, Ludewig B, Luther SA, Radtke F. Specific fibroblastic niches in secondary lymphoid organs orchestrate distinct Notch-regulated immune responses. J Exp Med. 2014 Oct 20; 211(11):2265-79.

11. Perez-Shibayama C, Gil-Cruz C, Pastelin-Palacios R, Cervantes-Barragan L, Hisaki E, Chai Q, Onder L, Scandella E, Regen T, Waisman A, Isibasi A, Lopez-Macias C, Ludewig B. IFN-γ-producing CD4+ T cells promote generation of protective germinal center-derived IgM+ B cell memory against Salmonella Typhi. J Immunol. 2014 Jun 1; 192(11):5192-200.

12. Chai Q, Onder L, Scandella E, Gil-Cruz C, Perez-Shibayama C, Cupovic J, Danuser R, Sparwasser T, Luther SA, Thiel V, Rülicke T, Stein JV, Hehlgans T, Ludewig B. Maturation of lymph node fibroblastic reticular cells from myofibroblastic precursors is critical for antiviral immunity. Immunity. 2013 May 23; 38(5):1013-24.

13. Chai Q, Singh B, Peisker K, Metzendorf N, Ge X, Dasgupta S, Sanyal S. Organization of ribosomes and nucleoids in Escherichia coli cells during growth and in quiescence.J Biol Chem. 2014 Apr 18; 289(16):11342-52.

14. Onder L, Danuser R, Scandella E, Firner S, Chai Q, Hehlgans T, Stein J V, Ludewig B. Endothelial cell-specific lymphotoxin-β receptor signaling is critical for lymph node and high endothelial venule formation. J Exp Med. 2013 Mar 11; 210(3):465-73.

15. Onder L, Narang P, Scandella E, Chai Q, Iolyeva M, Hoorweg K, Halin C, Richie E, Kaye P,Westermann J, Cupedo T, Coles M, Ludewig B. IL-7-producing stromal cells are critical for lymph node remodeling. Blood. 2012 Dec 6; 120(24):4675-83.

16. Onder L, Scandella E, Chai Q, Firner S, Mayer C T, Sparwasser T, Thiel V, Rülicke T, Ludewig B. A novel bacterial artificial chromosome-transgenic podoplanin-cre mouse targets lymphoid organ stromal cells in vivo. Front Immunol. 2011; 2:50.

(From Qian Chai, December 28, 2020)