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SoJin Lee, PhD

  • Research Scientist

SoJin Lee, PhD joined the Dong Lab in 2011, after she received her PhD from Cornell University. At Cornell, she studied on discovering mechanisms by which specific lipid metabolites activate signaling pathways and transcriptional networks in yeast, correlating changes in signaling and lipid metabolism.

Since 2011, she has researched on type 2 diabetes research linking lipid-induced inflammation to insulin resistance using mouse model and cell culture. To better understand, at the molecular level, she focuses on how FoxO1 links insulin resistance to abnormal macrophage activation and polarization, contributing to proinflammatory cytokine production and low-grade inflammation in obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Education & Training

  • BS, Food and Microbial Technology, Seoul Women's University, 1997
  • MS, Food Science and Technology, Seoul National University, 1999
  • PhD, Food Science and Technology, Cornell University, 2002
  • Postdoctoral Associate, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, 2009-2011
  • Postdoctoral Associate, Type 2 Diabetes, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 2011-2018

Selected Publications

Yun-Zi Liu, Xiaoyun Cheng, Ting Zhang, Sojin Lee, Jun Yamauchi, Xiangwei Xiao, George Gittes, Shen Qu, Chun-Lei Jiang and H. Henry Dong, Effect of hyperglyceridemia on beta-cell mass and function in ApoC3 transgenic mice, J. Biol. Chem 291(28):14695-14705 (2016)

Ting Zhang, Dae Hyun Kim, Xiangwei Xiao, Sojin Lee, Virtu Calabuig-Navarro, Jun Yamauchi, Hideyoshi Harashima, Rennian Wang, Rita Bottino, Juan Carlos Alvarez-Perez, Adolfo Garcia-Ocana, George Gittes and H. Henry Dong, FoxO1 plays an important role in regulating beta-cell compensation for insulin resistance in male mice. Endocrinology 157(3):1055-1070 (2016)

Virtu Calabuig-Navarro, Jun Yamauchi, Sojin Lee, Ting Zhang, Yun-zi Liu, Kelsey Sadlek, Gina Coudriet, Jon Piganelli, Chun Fei Jiang, Rita Miller, Mark Lowe, Hideyoshi Harashima and H. Henry Dong, FoxO6 depletion attenuates hepatic gluconeogenesis and protects against fat-induced glucose disorder in mice. J. Biol. Chem 290(25):15581-15594 (2015)

Dae Hyun Kim, Ting Zhang, Sojin Lee, Virtu Calabuig-Navarro, Jun Yamauchi, Ann Piccirillo, Yong Fan, Radha Uppala, Eric Goetzman and H. Henry Dong, FoxO6 regulates insulin signaling with MTP for regulating VLDL production in the liver. Endocrinology 155(4):1255-67 (2014)

Sojin Lee, Laura M. Gaspar, Manuel A. Aregullin, Stephen A. Jesch and Susan Henry, Activation of PKC-MAPK signaling in respone to inositol starvation triggers Sir2p-dependent telomeric silencing in yeast. J. Biol. Chem 288(39):27861-27871 (2013)

Guozhi Xiao, Ting Zhang, Shibing Yu, Sojin Lee, Virtu Calabuig-Navarro, Jun Yamauchi, Steven Ringquist and H. Henry Dong, ATF4 deficiency protects against high fructose-induced hypertriglyceridemia in mice. J. Biol. Chem 288(35):25350-25361 (2013)

Vinceza Cifareli, Sojin Lee, Dae Hyun Kim, Ting Zhang, Adama kamgate, Sandra Slusher, Suzame Bertera, Patrizia Luppi, Massimo Trucco and H. Henry Dong, FoxO1 mediates the autocrine effect of endothelin-1 on endothelial cell survival. Molecular Endocrinology, me. 2011-1276; doi:10.1210/me.2011-1276 (2012)

Dae Hyun Kim, German Perdomo, Ting Zhang, Sandra Slusher, Sojin Lee, Brett E. Philips, Yong Fan, Nick Giannoukakis, Roberto Gramignoli, Stephen Strom, Steven Ringquist and H. Henry Dong, FoxO6 intergrates insulin signaling with gluconeogenesis in the liver. Diabetes, 60(11), 2763-2774 (2011)

Young Hae Choi, Inkyum Kim, Kee Dong Yoon, So Jin Lee, Chul Young Kim, Ki-Pung Yoo, Young-Hee Choi and Jinwoong Kim, Supercritical fluid extraction and liquid chromatographic electrospray mass spectrometric analysis of stevioside from Stevia rebaudiana leaves. Chromatographia, 55(10), 617-620 (2002)

Jeong-Weon Kim, So Jin Lee and Kwan Hwa Park, Antimicrobial effect of Bifidobacterium breve and Bifidobacterium infantis against Salmonella typhimurium KCTC 1925 and E. Coli O157:H7 ATCC 43895, Food Science and Biotechnology, 11(1), 89-92 (2002)

So Jin Lee, Jae-cherl Kim, Myo Jung Kim, Motomitsu Kitaoka, Cheon Seok Park, Su Yong Lee, Moon-Jin Ra, Tae Wha Moon, John F, Robyt and K. H. Park, Transglycosylation of naringin by Baciluus stearothermophilus maltogenic amylase to give glycosylated naringin, J. Agric. & Food Chem., 47(9), 3669-3674 (1999)

Academic and Research Interests

  • Role of FoxO1 in myeloid cells on low-grade inflammation linking to insulin resistance
  • Role of FoxO1 in myeloid cells on the progression of hepatic fibrosis from hepatic steatosis
  • Development of small molecular drug, Foxo1 antagonist, for diabetic dyslipidemia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obesity and type 2 diabetes

CV

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