Mingyu Li, Ph.D.Professor

Experience:

Dr. Mingyu Li got his bachelor degree and Ph.D. degree from Ocean University of China in 2003 and 2010. In 2011, he moved to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and began his postdoctoral research training until 2016. He joined the School of Pharmaceutical Science of Xiamen University as an associate professor in 2016, and promoted to full professor in 2024. He has published high-quality papers in Cell Metabolism, Nature Communications, Science Advances, Diabetes, British Journal Pharmacology and so on. He is the associated editor of Frontiers in Endocrinology. He is also the peer reviewer of several journals, including eLife and Phytomedicine.

Research Interests:

The pancreatic alpha cells and beta cells secrete glucagon and insulin respectively, which are counter-regulatory hormones to balance the glucose levels and ensure euglycemia. Abnormal secretion of glucagon and insulin hormones is a hallmark of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and so both cell types play a significant role in diabetes. In combination with zebrafish and mouse models, our research focus on: 1) The physiological and pathophysiological functions of pancreatic alpha cell; 2) The role of glucagon-glucagon receptor pathway in the regulation of metabolism. 3) Screening and identification of led-drugs for induction of pancreatic beta cell regeneration.

Selected Publications:(last 5 years):

1. Z. Li, X. Wu, S. Ma, Q. Zeng, X. Wang, Q. Xi, Q. W. Jin, Z. Jie, F. S. Wong, M. Li^*, Pancreatic alpha cells function as MHC class II-dependent antigen-presenting cells in type 1 diabetes. Sci Adv 12, eaei0410 (2026).

2. L. Deng, T. Deng, Y. Deng, T. Zhang, J. Guo, X. Wang, X. Wu, M. Li^*, Mosloflavone induces pancreatic alpha cells transdifferentiation into beta cells through PDX1. J Nat Med 80, 156-171 (2026).

3. X. Bai, T. Zhang, C. Zhang, M. Li^*, Glucagon receptor deficiency is associated with glucocorticoid receptor activation and proteolytic remodeling in gastrocnemius of male mice. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 331, E425-E438 (2026).

4. J. Jia, Z. Li, L. Zhao, M. Li^*, Glucagon receptor antagonism requires further mechanistic attention on alpha-cell physiology. Trends Endocrinol Metab 36, 785-788, (2025).

5. J. Jia, X. Bai, Q. Kang, F. Jiang, F. S. Wong, Q. Jin, M. Li^*, Blockade of glucagon receptor induces alpha-cell hypersecretion by hyperaminoacidemia in mice. Nat Commun 16, 2473 (2025).

6. Z. Li, X. Wu, Q. Kang, Q. Ren, Y. Zhang, Y. Zhang, Q. Jin, F. S. Wong, M. Li^*, Alpha cells transdifferentiate into delta cells during the progression of autoimmunity in nondiabetic NOD mice. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 329, E692-E706 (2025).

7. Q. Kang, J. Jia, E. D. Dean, H. Yuan, C. Dai, Z. Li, F. Jiang, X. K. Zhang, A. C. Powers, W. Chen, M. Li^*, ErbB3 is required for hyperaminoacidemia-induced pancreatic alpha cell hyperplasia. J Biol Chem 300, 107499 (2024).

8. H. Yuan, Q. Kang, Z. Li, X. Bai, J. Jia, D. Han, X. Wu, M. Li^*, Crispr-Cas9 mediated complete deletion of glucagon receptor in mice display hyperglucagonemia and alpha-cell hyperplasia. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 643, 121-128 (2023).

9. Q. Kang, J. Zheng, J. Jia, Y. Xu, X. Bai, X. Chen, X. K. Zhang, F. S. Wong, C. Zhang, M. Li^*, Disruption of the glucagon receptor increases glucagon expression beyond alpha-cell hyperplasia in zebrafish. J Biol Chem, 102665 (2022).

10. J. Jia, Q. Kang, S. Liu, Y. Song, F. S. Wong, Y. Qiu, M. Li^*, Artemether and aspterric acid induce pancreatic alpha cells to transdifferentiate into beta cells in zebrafish. Br J Pharmacol 179, 1962-1977 (2022).

The full publication please see the link below：

Pubmed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/mingyu.li.1/bibliography/public/

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=PJwD5TwAAAAJ

Email:  limingyu@xmu.edu.cn