Awards:

2010 HKU Outstanding Young Researcher Award (HKU OYRA)
2002 SSR Ewing Travel Award, Society for the Study of Reproduction, USA
2002 Best Oral Presentation Award, First Asia-Pacific Forum on Andrology, Shanghai
2001-2002 Hong Kong Association of University Women Thomas HC Cheung Award
2001 Predoctoral Student Travel Award, American Society for Cell Biology, USA
1999-2001 Sir Edward Youde Fellowship, Hong Kong

 

Current Research:

Molecular Endocrinology and Reproduction
Cell junction dynamics
Transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post-translational regulation of junction proteins
Role and regulation of E3 ligase (ITCH) in the testis
Ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation in the testis

 

Teaching:

BIOL2103 Biological Sciences Laboratory Course (Coordinator)
BIOL2115/3402 Cell Biology & Cell Technology
BIOL2215/3105 Animal Physiology
BIOL2218/3205 Human Physiology (Coordinator)
BIOL3219/4401 Clinical Microbiology and Applied Immunology (Coordinator)

 

Publications:

Zhang X and Lui WY* (2014) Transforming growth factor- 3-mediated regulation of junctional adhesion molecule-B (JAM-B) in testicular cells. Biochim Biophys Acta-Gene Regulation Mechanisms (pending with revision)

Zhang X and Lui WY* (2014) Dysregulation of nectin-2 in the testicular cells: an explanation of cadmium-induced male infertility. Biochim Biophys Acta-Gene Regulation Mechanisms 1839:873-884. [Pubmed abstract]

Gao Y and Lui WY* (2014) Synergistic effect of IFN-gamma and TNF alpha on coxsackievirus and advenovirus receptor (CAR) expression: an explanation of cell sloughing during testicular inflammation. Biology of Reproduction 90:1-12 [Pubmed abstract]

Gao Y and Lui WY* (2013) Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) regulates cell junction restructuring via Smad-mediated repression and clathrin-mediated endocytosis of nectin-like molecule 2 (Necl-2). PLOS One 8(5): e64316 [Pubmed abstract]

Wang Y and Lui WY* (2012) Transforming growth factor-β1 attenuates junctional adhesion molecule-A and contributes to breast cancer cell invasion. European Journal of Cancer  48(18):3475-3487 [Pubmed abstract]

Lui WY* and Cheng CY (2012) Transcriptional regulation of cell adhesion at the blood-testis barrier and spermatogenesis in the testis. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 763:281-294[Pubmed abstract]

Su WH, Mruk DD, Lie PY, Lui WY and Cheng CY (2012) Filamin A is a regulator of blood-testis barrier assembly during postnatal development in the rat testis. Endocrinology 153:5023-5035 [Pubmed abstract]

Su WH, Mruk DD, Wong EWP, Lui WY and Cheng CY (2012) Polarity Protein complex scribble/Lgl/Dlg and epithelial cell barrier. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 763:149-170 [Pubmed abstract]

Su LL, Mruk DD, Lui WY, Lee WM, Cheng CY (2011) P-glycoprotein regulates blood-testis barrier dynamics via its effects on the occludin-ZO-1 protein complex mediated by FAK.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA 108:19623-19628 [Pubmed abstract]

Li MWM, Lee WM, Lui WY* (2011) Expression of Itch in Sertoli cells is controlled via the interaction of E2F1/DP1 complex with E2F and GATA motifs. Spermatogenesis 1:123-136 [Pubmed abstract]

Cheng CY, Wong EWP, Lie PPY, Mruk DD, Xiao X, Li MWM, Lui WY, Lee WM (2011) Polarity proteins and actin regulatory proteins are unlikely that regulate cell adhesion in the seminiferous epithelium during spermatogenesis. Histol Histopathol 26:1465-1475 [Pubmed abstract]
 
Mok KW, Mruk DD, Lie PPY, Lui WY, Cheng CY (2011) Adjudin, a potential male contraceptive, exerts its effects locally in the seminiferous epithelium of mammalian testes. Reproduction 141:571-580 [Pubmed abstract]

Li MWM, Xiao X, Mruk DD, Lam YL, Lee WM, Lui WY, Bonanomi M, Silvestrini B, Cheng CY* (2011) Actin-binding protein drebrin E is involved in junction dynamics during spermatogenesis. Spermatogenesis 1:105-115 [Pubmed abstract]

Cheng CY, Wong EWP, Lie PPY, Li MWM, Mruk DD, Yan HH, Mok KW, Mannu J, Mathur PP, Lui WY, Lee WM, Bonanomi M, Silvestrini B (2011) Regulation of blood-testis barrier dynamics by desmosome, gap junction, hemidesmosome, and polarity proteins – an unexpected turn of events. Spermatogenesis 1:105-115 [Pubmed abstract]

Wang Y and Lui WY* (2009) Opposite effects of interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) induce stage-specific regulation of junctional adhesion molecule-B (JAM-B) gene in Sertoli cells. Endocrinology 150:2404-2412 [Pubmed abstract]

Lui WY and Lee WM (2009) Molecular mechanisms by which hormones and cytokines regulate male reproductive functions. Journal of Molecular Endocrinology 43:43-51. [Pubmed abstract]

Sze KL and Lui WY* (2008) Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of cell junction proteins in mammalian testis. Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 8:95-102 Invited

Sze KL, Lee WM, Lui WY* (2008) Expression of CLMP, a novel tight junction protein, is mediated via the interaction of GATA with the Kruppel Family proteins, KLF4 and Sp1, in mouse testis. Journal of Cellular Physiology 214:334-344 [Pubmed abstract]

Lui WY* and Cheng CY (2008) Transcription regulation in spermatogenesis. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 636:115-132 [Pubmed abstract]

Lui WY and Lee WM (2008) Mechanisms of reorganization of intercellular junctions in the testis. Frontiers in Bioscience 13:6775-6786 [Pubmed abstract]

Sze KL, Lui WY, Lee WM (2008) Post-transcriptional regulation of CLMP mRNA is controlled by Tristetraprolin in response to TNFα via c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling. Biochemical Journal 410:575-583 [Pubmed abstract]

Lui WY* and Lee WM (2008) Ubiquitin system in male reproduction and its relevance to contraception. Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 8:14-19 Invited

Lui WY* and Cheng CY (2007) Regulation of cell junction dynamics by cytokines in the testis – a molecular and biochemical perspective. Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews 18:299-311 [Pubmed abstract]

Lui WY, Wong EW, Guan Y, Lee WM (2007) Dual transcriptional control of claudin-11 via an overlapping GATA/NF-Y motif: Positive regulation through the interaction of GATA, NF-YA and CREB and negative regulation through the interaction of Smad, HDAC1 and mSin3A. Journal of Cellular Physiology 211:638-648 [Pubmed abstract]

Lui WY, Sze KL, Lee WM (2006) Nectin-2 expression in testicular cells is controlled via the functional cooperation between transcription factors of the Sp1, CREB, and AP-1 families. Journal of Cellular Physiology 207:144-157 [Pubmed abstract]

Lui WY and Lee WM (2006) Regulation of junction dynamics in the testis – Transcriptional and post-translational regulations of cell junction proteins. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 250:25-35 [Pubmed abstract]

Li MW, Xia W, Mruk D, Wang CQ, Yan HH, Siu MK, Lui WY, Lee WM, Cheng CY (2006) Tumor necrosis factor α reversibly disrupts the blood-testis barrier and impairs Sertoli-germ cell adhesion in the seminiferous epithelium of adult rat testis. Journal of Endocrinology 190:313-329 [Pubmed abstract]

Lui WY and Lee WM (2005) cAMP perturbs inter-Sertoli tight junction permeability barrier in vitro via its effect on proteasome-sensitive ubiquitination of occludin. Journal of Cellular Physiology 203:564-572 [Pubmed abstract]

Lui WY, Mruk DD, Lee WM, Cheng CY (2005) Interactions among IQGAP1, cdc42, and the cadherin/catenin protein complex regulate Sertoli-germ cell adherens junction dynamics in the testis. Journal of Cellular Physiology 202:49-66 [Pubmed abstract]

Lui WY, Cheng YH, Mruk DD, Cheng CH, Mo MY, Lee WM, Cheng CY (2005) α2-Macroglobulin expression in the liver in response to inflammation is mediated by the testis. Journal of Endocrinology 185:497-505 [Pubmed abstract]

Cheng CY, Mruk D, Silvestrini B, Bonanomi M, Wong CH, Siu MK, Lee NP, Lui WY, Mo MY (2005) AF-2364 [1-(2,4-dichlorobenzyl)-indazole-3-carbohydrazide] is a potential male contraceptive in adult rats: A review of recent data. Contraception 72:251-261 [Pubmed abstract]

Wong CH, Mruk DD, Lui WY, Cheng CY (2004) Regulation of the blood-testis barrier dynamics in the testis: an in vivo study. Journal of Cell Science 117:783-798 [Highlighted article in that issue] [Pubmed abstract]

Lui WY, Wong CH, Mruk DD, Cheng CY (2003) TGF-β3 regulates the blood-testis barrier dynamics via the p38 mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway: An in vivo study. Endocrinology 144:1139-1142 [Pubmed abstract]

Lui WY, Mruk D, Lee WM, Cheng CY (2003) Sertoli cell tight junction dynamics: Their regulation during spermatogenesis. Biology of Reproduction 68:1087-1097 [Pubmed abstract]

Lui WY, Lee WM, Cheng CY (2003) Rho GTPases and spermatogenesis. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-Molecular Cell Research 1593:121-129 [Pubmed abstract]

Lui WY, Lee WM, Cheng CY (2003) Transforming growth factor-β3 regulates the dynamics of Sertoli cell tight junctions via the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Biology of Reproduction 68:1597-1612 [Pubmed abstract]

Lui WY, Lee WM, Cheng CY* (2003) Sertoli-germ cell adherens junction dynamics in the testis are regulated by RhoB GTPase via the ROCK/LIMK signaling pathway. Biology of Reproduction 68:2189-2206 [Pubmed abstract]

Lui WY, Mruk D, Lee WM, Cheng CY* (2003) Adherens junction dynamics in the testis and spermatogenesis. Journal of Andrology 24:1-14 [Pubmed abstract]

Lui WY, Lee WM, Cheng CY* (2003) TGF-βs: Their role in testicular function and Sertoli cell tight junction dynamics. International Journal of Andrology 26:1-14 [Pubmed abstract]

Lui WY, Lee WM, Cheng CY* (2001) Transforming growth factor-β3 perturbs the inter-Sertoli tight junction permeability barrier in vitro possibly mediated via its effects on occludin, zonula occludens-1, and claudin-11. Endocrinology 142:1865-1877 [Pubmed abstract]

Wong AS, Lui WY, Hui IT, Lee WM* (2001) Rabbit sex hormone-binding globulin: Expression in the liver and testis during postnatal development and structural characterization by truncated proteins. International Journal of Andrology 24:165-174 [Pubmed abstract]

 

Lab Photos:

 

Research Opportunities:

We are recruiting 1-2 self-motivated research postgraduates to join our team. Backgrounds from Molecular Biology and Cell Biology are welcome to apply. A master degree would be a plus for PhD applicants. If you are interested, please send me an email with CV and transcript (Please remember to put “Postgraduate openings” on the subject line of your email).