Xuhui Liu, MD

Xuhui Liu, MD

Xuhui Liu, MD

Professor

Basic Science

Feeley-Liu Lab for Muscle Regeneration - Basic Science

1700 Owens Street, Room 364
San Francisco CA 94158

415-575-0546
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Publications

J.H. Jay, M. Liu, X. Liu, B.T. Feeley, C.S. Sabatini. Does the Antimalarial Drug Quinine Contribute to Muscle Fibro/Adipogenic Progenitor Fibrogenesis?. Muscles Ligaments and Tendons Journal. 2021 Nov 1; 11(04):635. PMID:

G. Kaur, M.R. Davies, X. Liu, B.T. Delioglu. The Role of Fibro-Adipogenic Progenitors in Musculoskeletal Disease. Muscles Ligaments and Tendons Journal. 2021 May 1; 11(02):201. PMID:

M. Liu, Z. Wang, C.S. Lee, C. Nguyen, L. Lee, H.T. Kim, B.T. Feeley, X. Liu. Brown Beige Fat Activation after Skeletal Muscle Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury. Muscles Ligaments and Tendons Journal. 2020 Nov 1; 10(04):579. PMID:

Xuhui Liu, Mengyao Liu, Russell Turner, Urszula Iwaniec, Hubert Kim, Bernard Halloran. Dried plum mitigates spinal cord injury-induced bone loss in mice. JOR Spine. 2020 Jul 15. PMID:

Carlin Lee, Mengyao Liu, Obiajulu Agha, Hubert T. Kim, Xuhui Liu, Brian T. Feeley. Beige Fibro-Adipogenic Progenitors Reduce Muscle Degeneration in a Mouse Model of Delayed Repair for Massive Rotator Cuff Tears. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2020 Apr 1; 29(4):e153-e155. PMID:

X. Liu, S. Joshi, B. Ravishankar, D. Laron, H.T. Kim, B.T. Feeley. Bone morphogenetic protein signaling in rotator cuff muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration. Muscles Ligaments and Tendons Journal. 2019 Jan 1; 05(02):113. PMID:

X. Liu, A.Y. Ning, N. Chen Chang, H. Kim, R. Nissenson, L. Wang, B.T. Feeley. Investigating the cellular origin of rotator cuff muscle fatty infiltration and fibrosis after injury. Muscles Ligaments and Tendons Journal. 2019 Jan 1; 06(01):6. PMID:

X. Liu, B. Ravishankar, A. Ning, M. Liu, H.T. Kim, B.T. Feeley. Knocking-out matrix metalloproteinase-13 exacerbates rotator cuff muscle fatty infiltration. Muscles Ligaments and Tendons Journal. 2019 Jan 1; 07(02):202. PMID:

T Luan, X. Liu, J.T. Easley, B. Ravishankar, C. Puttlitz, B.T. Feeley. Muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration after an acute rotator cuff repair in a sheep model. Muscles Ligaments and Tendons Journal. 2019 Jan 1; 05(02):106. PMID:

Darevsky DM, Hu DA, Gomez FA, Davies MR, Liu X, Feeley BT. Algorithmic assessment of shoulder function using smartphone video capture and machine learning. Sci Rep. 2023 11 15; 13(1):19986. PMID: 37968288

Darevsky DM, Hu DA, Gomez FA, Davies MR, Liu X, Feeley BT. A Tool for Low-Cost, Quantitative Assessment of Shoulder Function Using Machine Learning. medRxiv. 2023 Apr 17. PMID: 37131827

Liu M, Feeley BT, Kim HT, Liu X. The Role of Matrix Metalloproteinase-13 (MMP13) in TGFβ/BMP Pathway Regulation of Fibro-Adipogenic Progenitor (FAP) Differentiation. Cell Physiol Biochem. 2022 Dec 20; 56(6):730-743. PMID: 36537139

Davies MR, Garcia S, Liu M, Chi H, Kim HT, Raffai RL, Liu X, Feeley BT. Muscle-Derived Beige Adipose Precursors Secrete Promyogenic Exosomes That Treat Rotator Cuff Muscle Degeneration in Mice and Are Identified in Humans by Single-Cell RNA Sequencing. Am J Sports Med. 2022 07; 50(8):2247-2257. PMID: 35604307

Moore LK, Lee CS, Agha O, Liu M, Zhang H, Dang ABC, Dang A, Liu X, Feeley BT. A novel mouse model of hindlimb joint contracture with 3D-printed casts. J Orthop Res. 2022 12; 40(12):2865-2872. PMID: 35266583

Davies MR, Chi H, Kaur G, Liu M, Ma CB, Kim HT, Liu X, Feeley BT. Rotator Cuff Tear Size Regulates Fibroadipogenic Progenitor Number and Gene Expression Profile in the Supraspinatus Independent of Patient Age. Am J Sports Med. 2022 01; 50(1):208-215. PMID: 34779676

Zhang H, Kim HT, Feeley BT, Lin G, Lue TF, Liu M, Banie L, Liu X. Microenergy acoustic pulses promotes muscle regeneration through in situ activation of muscle stem cells. J Orthop Res. 2022 07; 40(7):1621-1631. PMID: 34657315

Davies MR, Kaur G, Liu X, Alvarado FG, Nuthalapati P, Liu M, Diaz A, Lotz JC, Bailey JF, Feeley BT. Paraspinal muscle degeneration and regenerative potential in a Murine model of Lumbar Disc Injury. N Am Spine Soc J. 2021 Jun; 6:100061. PMID: 35141626

Zhang H, Liu M, Kim HT, Feeley BT, Liu X. Preconditioning improves muscle regeneration after ischemia-reperfusion injury. J Orthop Res. 2021 09; 39(9):1889-1897. PMID: 33232533

Liu X, Liu M, Lee L, Davies M, Wang Z, Kim H, Feeley BT. Trichostatin A regulates fibro/adipogenic progenitor adipogenesis epigenetically and reduces rotator cuff muscle fatty infiltration. J Orthop Res. 2021 07; 39(7):1452-1462. PMID: 32970360

Feeley BT, Liu M, Ma CB, Agha O, Aung M, Lee C, Liu X. Human Rotator Cuff Tears Have an Endogenous, Inducible Stem Cell Source Capable of Improving Muscle Quality and Function After Rotator Cuff Repair. Am J Sports Med. 2020 09; 48(11):2660-2668. PMID: 32730704

Agha O, Diaz A, Davies M, Kim HT, Liu X, Feeley BT. Rotator cuff tear degeneration and the role of fibro-adipogenic progenitors. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2021 04; 1490(1):13-28. PMID: 32725671

Wang Z, Liu X, Liu M, Jiang K, Kajimura S, Kim H, Feeley BT. β3-Adrenergic receptor agonist treats rotator cuff fatty infiltration by activating beige fat in mice. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2021 Feb; 30(2):373-386. PMID: 32599287

Agha O, Mueller-Immergluck A, Liu M, Zhang H, Theologis AA, Clark A, Kim HT, Liu X, Feeley BT, Bailey JF. Intervertebral disc herniation effects on multifidus muscle composition and resident stem cell populations. JOR Spine. 2020 Jun; 3(2):e1091. PMID: 32613166

Wang Z, Liu X, Jiang K, Kim H, Kajimura S, Feeley BT. Intramuscular Brown Fat Activation Decreases Muscle Atrophy and Fatty Infiltration and Improves Gait After Delayed Rotator Cuff Repair in Mice. Am J Sports Med. 2020 06; 48(7):1590-1600. PMID: 32282238

Lee C, Liu M, Agha O, Kim HT, Feeley BT, Liu X. Beige FAPs Transplantation Improves Muscle Quality and Shoulder Function After Massive Rotator Cuff Tears. J Orthop Res. 2020 05; 38(5):1159-1166. PMID: 31808573

Lee C, Agha O, Liu M, Davies M, Bertoy L, Kim HT, Liu X, Feeley BT. Rotator Cuff Fibro-Adipogenic Progenitors Demonstrate Highest Concentration, Proliferative Capacity, and Adipogenic Potential Across Muscle Groups. J Orthop Res. 2020 05; 38(5):1113-1121. PMID: 31799698

Lee C, Liu M, Agha O, Kim HT, Liu X, Feeley BT. Beige fibro-adipogenic progenitor transplantation reduces muscle degeneration and improves function in a mouse model of delayed repair of rotator cuff tears. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2020 Apr; 29(4):719-727. PMID: 31784382

Wang Z, Liu X, Davies MR, Horne D, Kim H, Feeley BT. A Mouse Model of Delayed Rotator Cuff Repair Results in Persistent Muscle Atrophy and Fatty Infiltration. Am J Sports Med. 2018 10; 46(12):2981-2989. PMID: 30198747

Wang Z, Feeley BT, Kim HT, Liu X. Reversal of Fatty Infiltration After Suprascapular Nerve Compression Release Is Dependent on UCP1 Expression in Mice. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2018 08; 476(8):1665-1679. PMID: 30020151

Davies MR, Garcia S, Tamaki S, Liu X, Lee S, Jose A, Pomerantz JH, Feeley BT. Muscle stem cell activation in a mouse model of rotator cuff injury. J Orthop Res. 2018 05; 36(5):1370-1376. PMID: 28786534

Liu X, Ravishankar B, Ning A, Liu M, Kim HT, Feeley BT. Knocking-out matrix metalloproteinase-13 exacerbates rotator cuff muscle fatty infiltration. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2017 Apr-Jun; 7(2):202-207. PMID: 29264329

Liu M, Lee C, Laron D, Zhang N, Waldorff EI, Ryaby JT, Feeley B, Liu X. Role of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) on tenocytes and myoblasts-potential application for treating rotator cuff tears. J Orthop Res. 2017 05; 35(5):956-964. PMID: 27138553

Davies MR, Lee L, Feeley BT, Kim HT, Liu X. Lysophosphatidic acid-induced RhoA signaling and prolonged macrophage infiltration worsens fibrosis and fatty infiltration following rotator cuff tears. J Orthop Res. 2017 07; 35(7):1539-1547. PMID: 27505847

Liu X, Ning AY, Chang NC, Kim H, Nissenson R, Wang L, Feeley BT. Investigating the cellular origin of rotator cuff muscle fatty infiltration and fibrosis after injury. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2016 Jan-Mar; 6(1):6-15. PMID: 27331027

Davies MR, Liu X, Lee L, Laron D, Ning AY, Kim HT, Feeley BT. TGF-β Small Molecule Inhibitor SB431542 Reduces Rotator Cuff Muscle Fibrosis and Fatty Infiltration By Promoting Fibro/Adipogenic Progenitor Apoptosis. PLoS One. 2016; 11(5):e0155486. PMID: 27186977

Liu X, Joshi S, Ravishankar B, Laron D, Kim HT, Feeley BT. Bone morphogenetic protein signaling in rotator cuff muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2015 Apr-Jun; 5(2):113-9. PMID: 26261790

Luan T, Liu X, Easley JT, Ravishankar B, Puttlitz C, Feeley BT. Muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration after an acute rotator cuff repair in a sheep model. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2015 Apr-Jun; 5(2):106-12. PMID: 26261789

Davies MR, Ravishankar B, Laron D, Kim HT, Liu X, Feeley BT. Rat rotator cuff muscle responds differently from hindlimb muscle to a combined tendon-nerve injury. J Orthop Res. 2015 Jul; 33(7):1046-53. PMID: 25974842

Liu X, Joshi SK, Ravishankar B, Laron D, Kim HT, Feeley BT. Upregulation of transforming growth factor-β signaling in a rat model of rotator cuff tears. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2014 Nov; 23(11):1709-16. PMID: 24875732

Joshi SK, Kim HT, Feeley BT, Liu X. Differential ubiquitin-proteasome and autophagy signaling following rotator cuff tears and suprascapular nerve injury. J Orthop Res. 2014 Jan; 32(1):138-44. PMID: 24018537

Kramer EJ, Bodendorfer BM, Laron D, Wong J, Kim HT, Liu X, Feeley BT. Evaluation of cartilage degeneration in a rat model of rotator cuff tear arthropathy. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2013 Dec; 22(12):1702-9. PMID: 23664745

Joshi SK, Liu X, Samagh SP, Lovett DH, Bodine SC, Kim HT, Feeley BT. mTOR regulates fatty infiltration through SREBP-1 and PPARγ after a combined massive rotator cuff tear and suprascapular nerve injury in rats. J Orthop Res. 2013 May; 31(5):724-30. PMID: 23239524

Samagh SP, Kramer EJ, Melkus G, Laron D, Bodendorfer BM, Natsuhara K, Kim HT, Liu X, Feeley BT. MRI quantification of fatty infiltration and muscle atrophy in a mouse model of rotator cuff tears. J Orthop Res. 2013 Mar; 31(3):421-6. PMID: 22991068

Liu X, Laron D, Natsuhara K, Manzano G, Kim HT, Feeley BT. A mouse model of massive rotator cuff tears. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2012 Apr 04; 94(7):e41. PMID: 22488625

Liu X, Joshi SK, Samagh SP, Dang YX, Laron D, Lovett DH, Bodine SC, Kim HT, Feeley BT. Evaluation of Akt/mTOR activity in muscle atrophy after rotator cuff tears in a rat model. J Orthop Res. 2012 Sep; 30(9):1440-6. PMID: 22378614

Laron D, Samagh SP, Liu X, Kim HT, Feeley BT. Muscle degeneration in rotator cuff tears. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2012 Feb; 21(2):164-74. PMID: 22244059

Liu X, Manzano G, Kim HT, Feeley BT. A rat model of massive rotator cuff tears. J Orthop Res. 2011 Apr; 29(4):588-95. PMID: 20949443

Weick JW, Kang H, Lee L, Kuether J, Liu X, Hansen EN, Kandemir U, Rollins MD, Mok JM. Direct Measurement of Tissue Oxygenation as a Method of Diagnosis of Acute Compartment Syndrome. J Orthop Trauma. 2016 Nov; 30(11):585-591. PMID: 27392158

Wang L, Carroll DO, Liu X, Roth T, Kim H, Halloran B, Nissenson RA. Effects of blockade of endogenous Gi signaling in Tie2-expressing cells on bone formation in a mouse model of heterotopic ossification. J Orthop Res. 2015 Aug; 33(8):1212-7. PMID: 25773760

Kang H, Dang AB, Joshi SK, Halloran B, Nissenson R, Zhang X, Li J, Kim HT, Liu X. Novel mouse model of spinal cord injury-induced heterotopic ossification. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2014; 51(7):1109-18. PMID: 25436890

Liu X, Kang H, Shahnazari M, Kim H, Wang L, Larm O, Adolfsson L, Nissenson R, Halloran B. A novel mouse model of trauma induced heterotopic ossification. J Orthop Res. 2014 Feb; 32(2):183-8. PMID: 24136593

Zhang Q, Joshi SK, Manzano G, Lovett DH, Kim HT, Liu X. Original article Muscle extracellular matrix degradation and contractibility following tendon rupture and disuse. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2013 Jan; 3(1):35-41. PMID: 23885343

Piper SL, Laron D, Manzano G, Pattnaik T, Liu X, Kim HT, Feeley BT. A comparison of lidocaine, ropivacaine and dexamethasone toxicity on bovine tenocytes in culture. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2012 Jun; 94(6):856-62. PMID: 22628605

Liu X. Emerging ideas: matrix metalloproteinase-2 in muscle atrophy. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2011 Jun; 469(6):1797-9. PMID: 21132408

Liu X, Manzano G, Lovett DH, Kim HT. Role of AP-1 and RE-1 binding sites in matrix metalloproteinase-2 transcriptional regulation in skeletal muscle atrophy. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2010 May 28; 396(2):219-23. PMID: 20398633

Liu X, Lee DJ, Skittone LK, Natsuhara K, Kim HT. Role of gelatinases in disuse-induced skeletal muscle atrophy. Muscle Nerve. 2010 Feb; 41(2):174-8. PMID: 19790245

Chen CH, Liu X, Yeh ML, Huang MH, Zhai Q, Lowe WR, Lintner DM, Luo ZP. Pathological changes of human ligament after complete mechanical unloading. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2007 Apr; 86(4):282-9. PMID: 17303960

Chen CH, Marymont JV, Huang MH, Geyer M, Luo ZP, Liu X. Mechanical strain promotes fibroblast gene expression in presence of corticosteroid. Connect Tissue Res. 2007; 48(2):65-9. PMID: 17453907

Liu X, Sun JQ, Heggeness MH, Yeh ML, Luo ZP. Force-mediated dissociation of proteoglycan aggregate in articular cartilage. Biorheology. 2006; 43(3,4):183-90. PMID: 16912392

Liu X, Zhang X, Luo ZP. Strain-related collagen gene expression in human osteoblast-like cells. Cell Tissue Res. 2005 Nov; 322(2):331-4. PMID: 16133149

Liu X, Yeh ML, Lewis JL, Luo ZP. Direct measurement of the rupture force of single pair of decorin interactions. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005 Dec 23; 338(3):1342-5. PMID: 16263082

Liu X, Luo ZP. Combined effects of estrogen and mechanical loading on anterior cruciate ligament fibroblast biosynthesis. ScientificWorldJournal. 2005 Jan 14; 5:5-8. PMID: 15674443

Lee CY, Liu X, Hsu HC, Wang DY, Luo ZP. A modified cell culture method for autologous chondrocyte transplantation. Connect Tissue Res. 2005; 46(2):93-9. PMID: 16019419

Lee CY, Liu X, Smith CL, Zhang X, Hsu HC, Wang DY, Luo ZP. The combined regulation of estrogen and cyclic tension on fibroblast biosynthesis derived from anterior cruciate ligament. Matrix Biol. 2004 Aug; 23(5):323-9. PMID: 15464364

Liu X, Sun JQ, Heggeness MH, Yeh ML, Luo ZP. Direct quantification of the rupture force of single hyaluronan/hyaluronan binding protein bonds. FEBS Lett. 2004 Apr 09; 563(1-3):23-7. PMID: 15063717

Liu X, Noble PC, Luo ZP. Direct measurements of the compressive properties of single proteoglycan aggregates. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2004 Apr 02; 316(2):313-6. PMID: 15020219

Liu X, Noble PC, Luo ZP. A method for testing compressive properties of single proteoglycan aggregates. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2003 Jul 25; 307(2):338-41. PMID: 12859961

Liu M, Ng M, Phu T, Bouchareychas L, Feeley BT, Kim HT, Raffai RL, Liu X. Polarized macrophages regulate fibro/adipogenic progenitor (FAP) adipogenesis through exosomes. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2023 11 07; 14(1):321. PMID: 37936229

Chi HM, Davies MR, Garcia SM, Montenegro C, Sharma S, Lizarraga M, Wang Z, Nuthalapati P, Kim HT, Liu X, Feeley BT. Defining Endogenous Mitochondrial Transfer in Muscle After Rotator Cuff Injury. Am J Sports Med. 2024 02; 52(2):451-460. PMID: 38174367

Grants & Awards

Mitochondrial biogenesis and transfer to promote muscle regeneration
2023-10-01 - 2027-09-30
VA-ORO BLR&D 1 I01 BX006098-01
Role: Co-investigator

Endogenous Stem Cells Promote Regeneration of Muscle in Rotator Cuff Repair
2022-01-01 - 2026-12-31
VA-ORO CSR&D I01 CX002200-01A2
Role: Co-Investigator

Mirabegron in Treating Muscle Dystrophy
2022-09-01 - 2025-08-31
Muscular Dystrophy Association MDA 957140
Role: PI

Matrix-Assisted Cell Transplantation of Promyogenic Fibroadipogenic Progenitor (FAP) Stem Cells
2022-04-01 - 2024-09-30
California Institute of Regenerative Medicine DISC2-13201
Role: Co-investigator

Utilizing beige fat to improve muscle function after rotator cuff repair
2018-09-01 - 2023-06-30
NIH R01AR072669
Role: Co-Investigator

Education

	Postdoc	Baylor College of Medicine	01/2006
	MD	Peking Union Medical College	07/2001

About Xuhui Liu, MD

Xuhui Liu, M.D. was trained as a physician and a research scientist in the field of orthopedic surgery. He graduated from Peking Union Medical College in 2021 and received extensive research training as a postdoc at Baylor College of Medicine before he joined UCSF. In the past fifteen years, his research has been focused on translational biomedical researches that lead to new treatments to benefit orthopedic patients. His main research interests include stem cells and key molecular pathways that are involved in skeletal muscle atrophy, fibrosis and fat infiltration. Specifically, Dr. Liu's research focused on a muscle stem cell populations, including satellite cells (SCs) and fibro/adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) in various muscle disorders. We discovered a novel brown/beige fat (BAT) differentiation of FAP in both mouse and human muscles. Inducing FAP BAT differentiation with beta adrenergic receptor agonists improves muscle regeneration after direct and indirect injuries. His most recent research involves in FAP in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and ALS. His lab research is committed to discover novel mechanisms of muscle regeneration thus to develop new treatments to improve muscle function and the quality of life of the patients.