Nan Tang, Ph.D.

Investigator, NIBS, Beijing，China

Phone：86-10-80726688

Fax： 86-10-80726689

E-mail：tangnan@nibs.ac.cn

Education

2005 Ph. D., University of California, San Diego, CA, USA

1993 M.D., Xi’An JiaoTong University, Xi’An, P. R. China

Professional Experience

2025- Investigator, National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China

2019-2025 Associate Investigator, National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China

2012-2019 Assistant Investigator, National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China

2006-2012 Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Anatomy and Program in Developmental Biology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA

2000-2005 Graduate Research Assistant in Molecular Pathology, Universityof California, San Diego, CA, USA

1998-2000 Postdoctoral Researcher, Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of BiologicalSciences, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA

Dr. Nan Tang’s laboratory is aimed to understand the intricated mechanisms governing lung development, and adult lung regeneration, and the pathogenesis of lung diseases.

The lungs are constantly exposed to environmental agents and the lung epithelium plays a pivotal role in maintaining a critical barrier to protect our body from the outside world. Beginning with prenatal development, the lungs are injured and repaired throughout life as a consequence of aging as well as in response to infection and other harmful stimuli. With the increasing prevalence of smoking in developing countries and aging populations in high-income countries, chronic lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive lung diseases and pulmonary fibrosis, are increasing in prevalence and have a significant impact on public health.

Our research is centered on two primary areas:

1. Mechanism of lung Regeneration: We have established multiple models for post-lung injury regeneration. By employing a convergence of mouse genetics, in vivo live imaging, organoid culture, and single cell sequencing, we aim to uncover the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling lung regeneration and post-injury repair. Additionally, we have also conducted in-depth research on relatively unexplored alveolar type 1 cells.  

2. Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Targets of Lung Diseases: Our laboratory has developed various mouse models of lung diseases. With an extensive collection of both normal and patient lung tissue samples, we will employ cutting-edge techniques and primary stem cell screening systems to identify relevant mutations, delve into pathogenesis, and pinpoint therapeutic targets for lung diseases. 

Publications

1. Wang P, Tang N*. (2024) Decoding lung complexity: single-cell sequencing in lung diseases, regeneration, and drug discovery. Front. Drug Discov. 4: 1495208.

2. Zhao R, Wang Z, Wang GW, Geng J, Wu HJ, Liu XM, Bin EN, Sui JH, Dai HP, Tang N*. (2024) Sustained Amphiregulin Expression in Intermediate Alveolar Stem Cells Drives Progressive Fibrosis. Cell Stem Cell. 31(9):1344-1358.e6.

3. Wang YX, Bin EN, Yuan J, Huang M, Chen JY, Tang N*. (2023) Aberrant differentiation of epithelial progenitors is accompanied by a hypoxic microenvironment in the paraquat-injured human lung. Cell Discov. 9(1):98.

4. Wang Z, Wei DD, Bin EN, Li J, Jiang KW, Lv TT, Mao XX, Wang FC, Dai HP, Tang N*. (2023) Enhanced glycolysis-mediated energy production in alveolar stem cells is required for alveolar regeneration. Cell Stem Cell. 30(8):1028-1042.e7.

5. Fu SL, Wang YX, Bin EN, Huang HW, Wang FC, Tang N*. (2023) c-JUN-mediated transcriptional responses in lymphatic endothelial cells are required for lung fluid clearance at birth. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 120(2): e2215449120.

6. Li J, Tang N*. (2023) Empowering human lung development. Cell Stem Cell. 30(1): 5-6.

7. Shen HY, Huang X, Zhao YH, Wu DM, Xue KL, Yao JF, Wang YS, Tang N, Qiu YF (2022) The Hippo pathway links adipocyte plasticity to adipose tissue fibrosis. Nat Commun. 13(1): 6030.

8. Wang YX, Tang N*. (2021) The diversity of adult lung epithelial stem cells and their niche in homeostasis and regeneration. Sci China Life Sci. 64(12):2045-2059.

9. Li J, Tang N*. (2021) Alveolar stem cell in lung development and regrowth. ERS Monograph on Lung Stem Cells in Development, Health and Disease. 91:17-30.

10. Wu HJ, Tang N*. (2021) Stem cells in pulmonary alveolar regeneration. Development. 148(2): Dev193458.

11. Li H, Liu L, Zhang DY, Xu JY, Dai HP, Tang N, Su X, Cao B. (2020) SARS-CoV-2 and viral sepsis: observations and hypotheses. Lancet. 395(10235): 1517-1520.

12. Chen JY, Wu HJ, Yu YY, Tang N*. (2020) Pulmonary alveolar regeneration in adult COVID-19 patients. Cell Res. 30:708-710.

13. Wu HJ, Yu YY, Huang HW, Hu YC, Fu SL, Wang Z, Shi MT, Zhao X, Yuan J, Li J, Yang XY, Bin EN, Wei D, Zhang HB, Zhang J, Yang C, Cai T, Dai HP, Chen JY, Tang N*. (2020) Progressive pulmonary fibrosis is caused by sustained elevated mechanical tension on alveolar stem cells. Cell. 180(1):107-121. e17.

14. Chu QQ, Yao CF, Qi XB, Stripp BR, Tang N*. (2019) STK11 is required for the normal program of ciliated cell differentiation in airways. Cell Discov. 5:36.

15. Van Soldt BJ, Qian J, Li J, Tang N, Lu J, Cardoso WV. (2019) Yap and its subcellular localization have distinct compartment-specific roles in the developing lung. Development. 146(9).

16. Li J, Tang N*. (2018) May the force be with you. Dev Cell. 47(6):673-674.

17. Jiang K, Tang Z, Li J, Wang F, Tang N*. (2018) Anxa4 mediated airway progenitor cell migration promotes distal epithelial cell fate specification. Sci Rep. 8(1):14344.

18. Liu L, Lu J, Li X, Wu A, Wu Q, Zhao M, Tang N, Song H. (2018) The LIS1/NDE1 complex is essential for FGF signaling by regulating FGF receptor intracellular trafficking. Cell Rep. 22(12):3277-3291.

19. Lin R, Feng Q, Li P, Zhou P, Wang R, Liu Z, Wang Z, Qi XB, Tang N, Shao F, Luo MM. (2018) A hybridization-chain-reaction-based method for amplifying immunosignals. Nat Methods. 15(4):275-278.

20. Wang Y, Tang Z, Huang H, Li J, Wang Z, Yu Y, Zhang C, Li J, Dai H, Wang F, Cai T, Tang N*. (2018) Pulmonary alveolar type I cell population consists of two distinct subtypes that differ in cell fate. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 115(10):2407-2412.

21. Li J, Wang Z, Chu QQ, Jiang KW, Li J, Tang N*. (2018) The strength of mechanical forces determines the differentiation of alveolar epithelial cells. Dev Cell. 44(3):297-312.

22. Tang Z, Hu YC, Wang Z, Jiang KW, Zhan C, Marshall WF, Tang N*. (2018) Mechanical forces program the orientation of cell division during airway tube morphogenesis. Dev Cell. 44(3):313-325.

23. Wang Z, Tang N*. (2017) The LUNGe to model alveolar lung diseases in a dish. Cell Stem Cell. 21(4): 413-414.

24. Liu Z, Fu SL, Tang N*. (2017) A standardized method for measuring internal lung surface area via mouse pneumonectomy and prosthesis implantation. J Vis Exp. (125):56114.

25. Liu Z, Wu HJ, Jiang KW, Wang YJ, Zhang WJ, Chu QQ, Li J, Huang HW, Cai T, Ji HB, Yang C, Tang N*. (2016) MAPK-mediated YAP activation controls mechanical-tension-induced pulmonary alveolar regeneration. Cell Rep. 16(7):1810-9.

26. Tang N, and Marshall WF. (2013) Computational analysis of the spatial distribution of mitotic spindle angles in mouse developing airway. Proc. SPIE. 8593.

27. Tang N, and Marshall WF. (2012) Centrosome positioning in vertebrate development. J Cell Sci. 125:4951-4961.

28. Tang N, Marshall WF, McMahon M, Metzger RJ, Martin GR. (2011) Control of mitotic spindle angle by the RAS-regulated ERK1/2 Pathway determines lung tube shape. Science. 333:342-5.

29. Zheng B, Tang T, Tang N, Kudlicka K, Ohtsubo K, Ma P, Marth JD, Farquhar MG, Lehtonen E. (2006) Essential role of RGF-PX1/sorting nexin 13 in mouse development and regulation of endocytosis dynamics. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 103(45):16776-81.

30. Tang N, Mack F, Haase VH, Simon MC and Johnson RS. (2006) pVHL function is essential for endothelial extracellular matrix deposition. Mol Cell Biol. 26(7):2519-30.

31. Mendoza MC, Du F, Iranfar N, Tang N, Ma H, Loomis WF, Firtel RA. (2005) Loss of SMEK, a novel, conserved protein, suppresses mek1 null cell polarity, chemotaxis and gene expression defects. Mol Cell Biol. 25(17):7839-53.

32. Tang N, Wang LC, Esko J, Giodano F, Huang Y, Gerber HP, Ferrara N and Johnson RS. (2004) Loss of HIF-1alpha in endothelial cells disrupts a hypoxia-driven VEGF autocrine loop necessary for tumorigenesis. Cancer Cell. 6(5):485-95.