Dr KWAN Hiu Yee

Dr. Hiu Yee KWAN is currently a Research Assistant Professor in the School of Chinese Medicine. After obtaining a B.Sc. (Hons.) degree in Biology from the Hong Kong University in 1995, she started her research work in the Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She undertook her Ph.D. study in 2001 and obtained the degree in Physiology in 2006. She received her postdoctoral training at the University of California, Berkeley before joining the School in 2010. Her current research focus is on the relationship between inflammation and cancer. She applies metabolomics to the research aiming to define the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer actions of Chinese herbs. She is also interested in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine by various molecular techniques.

Selected Publications

  1. Shen B, Kwan HY, Ma X, Wong CO, Du J, Huang Y, Yao X. 2011 cAMP activates TRPC6 channels via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (PKB)-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)-ERK1/2 signaling pathway. J Biol Chem 286(22): 19439-45
  2. Kwan HY, Cheng KT, Ma Y, Huang Y, Tang NL, Yu S, Yao X. 2010 CNGA2 contributes to ATP-induced noncapacitative Ca2+ influx in vascular endothelial cells. J Vasc Res 47(2): 148-156.
  3. Wong RH, Chang I, Hudak CS, Hyun S, Kwan HY, Sul HS. 2009 A role of DNA-PK for the metabolic gene regulation in response to insulin. Cell 136(6):1056-1072.
  4. Kwan HY, Shen B, Ma X, Kwok YC,  Huang Y, Man YB, Yu S, Yao S. 2009 TRPC1 associates with BKca channel to form a signal complex in vascular smooth muscle cells. Circ Res. 104(5): 670-678. Erratum in: Circ Res. 2009 105(6):e6.
  5. Hiu-Yee Kwan (corresponding author), Ching-On Wong, Zhen-Yu Chen, Tak-Wah Dominic Chan, Yu Huang, Xiaoqiang Yao. 2009. Stimulation of histamine H2 receptor activates TRPC3 channels through both phospholipase C and phospholipase D. Eur J Pharmacol 602(2-3):181-187.
  6.  Shen B, Cheng KT, Leung YK, Kwok YC, Kwan HY, Wong CO, Chen ZY, Huang Y, Yao X. 2008. Epinephrine-induced Ca2+ influx in vascular endothelial cells is mediated by CNGA2 channels. J Mol Cell Cardiol 45(3): 437-445.
  7. Cheng KT, Leung YK, Shen B, Kwok YC, Kwan HY, Wong CO, Ma X, Huang Y, Yao X. 2008. CNGA2 channels mediate adenosine-induced Ca2+ influx in vascular endothelial cells. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 28(5):913-918.
  8. Kwan HY, Huang Y and Yao X. 2007. Cyclic nucleotides and Ca2+ influx pathways in vascular endothelial cells. Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. 37(1-2): 63-70. Review.
  9. Kwan HY, Huang Y and Yao X. 2007. TRP channels in endothelial function and dysfunction. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1772(8): 907-914. Review.
  10. Leung PC, Cheng KT, Liu C, Cheng WT, Kwan HY, Lau KL, Huang Y, Yao X. 2006. Mechanism of non-capacitative Ca2+ influx in response to bradykinin in vascular endothelial cells. J Vasc Res. 43(4):367-376.
  11. Kwan HY, Huang Y, Yao X. 2006. Protein kinase C can inhibit TRPC3 channels indirectly via stimulating protein kinase G. J Cell Physiol. 207(2):315-21.
  12. Yao X, Kwan HY, Huang Y. 2005. Regulation of TRP channels by phosphorylation. Neurosignals. 14(6):273-280. Review.
  13. Yip H, Chan WY, Leung PC, Kwan HY, Liu CL, Huang Y, Michel V, Yew TW, Yao X. 2004. The expression of TRPC homologs in endothelial cells and smooth muscle layers of human arteries. Histochem Cell Biol. 122(6):553-61.
  14. Kwan HY, Huang Y, Yao X. 2004. Regulation of canonical transient receptor potential isoform 3 (TRPC3) channel by protein kinase G. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 101(8):625-30.
  15. Lau KL, Kong SK, Ko WH, Kwan HY, Huang Y, Yao X. 2003. cGMP stimulates endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase in vascular endothelial cells. Life Sci. 73(16):2019-28.
  16. Kwan HY, Leung PC, Huang Y, Yao X. 2003. Depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores sensitizes the flow-induced Ca2+ influx in rat endothelial cells. Circ Res. 21; 92(3):286-92.
  17. Yao X, Kwan HY, Huang Y. 2002. A mechanosensitive cation channel in endothelial cells. J Cardiovasc Surg. 17(4):340-1. Review.
  18. Zhou Q, Kwan HY, Chan HC, Jiang JL, Tam SC, Yao X. 2003. Blockage of voltage-gated K+ channels inhibits adhesion and proliferation of hepatocarcinoma cells. Int J Mol Med. 11(2):261-6.
  19. Yao X, Kwan HY, Dora KA, Garland CJ, Huang Y. 2003. A mechanosensitive cation channel in endothelial cells and its role in vasoregulation. Biorheology. 40(1-3):23-30. Review.
  20. Cheng CH, Yew DT, Kwan HY, Zhou Q, Huang Y, Liu Y, Chan WY, Yao X. 2002. An endogenous RNA transcript antisense to CNGα1 cation channel mRNA. Mol Biol Cell. 13(10):3696-705.
  21. Kwan HY, Huang Y, Kong SK, Yao X. . 2001. cGMP abolishes agonist-induced [Ca2+]i oscillations in human bladder epithelial cells. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 281(6):F1067-74.
  22. Dora KA, Garland CJ, Kwan HY, Yao X. 2001. Endothelial cell protein kinase G inhibits release of EDHF through a PKG-sensitive cation channel. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 280(3):H1272-7.
  23. Yao X, Kwan HY, Chan FL, Chan NW, Huang Y. 2000. A protein kinase G-sensitive channel mediates flow-induced Ca2+ entry into vascular endothelial cells. FASEB J. 14(7):932-8.
  24. Kwan HY, Huang Y, Yao X. 2000. Store-operated calcium entry in vascular endothelial cells is inhibited by cGMP via a protein kinase G-dependent mechanism. J Biol Chem. 275(10):6758-63.
  25. Yao X, Kwan HY. 1999. Activity of voltage-gated K+ channels is associated with cell proliferation and Ca2+ influx in carcinoma cells of colon cancer. Life Sci. 65(1):55-62.
  26. Yao X, Leung PS, Kwan HY, Wong TP, Fong MW. 1999. Rod-type cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channel is expressed in vascular endothelium and vascular smooth muscle cells. Cardiovasc Res. 41(1):282-90.
  27. Yao X, Huang Y, Kwan HY, Chan P, Segal AS and Desir G. 1998. Characterization of a regulatory region in the N-terminus of rabbit kv1.3. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 249(2):492-8. Erratum in: Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1998 252(1):284.