Cheng Ji, PhD

Dr. Ji joined the faculty of Keck School of Medicine of USC in 2000. His research interests include cellular organelle (e.g., ER, Golgi, mitochondria, or lysosomes) stress and liver disease, alcohol-induced hyperhomocysteinemia, and hepatotoxicity of anti-HIV/SARS-CoV-2 drugs and substance use disorders (SUD). Dr. Ji’s research has been supported by NIH/NSF. He has published numerous research papers in peer-reviewed journals.
Prior to the USC faculty, he earned his M.S. in Chemistry from Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ., and obtained his PhD in Biochemistry and completed postdoctoral fellowships in Medicine/Pathology at Univ. of California and Keck School of Medicine of USC, respectively.

• Synthesis of syringolide 1 ketals and esters for receptor studies Phytochemistry43(6): 1219-1225. 1996. . View in PubMed
• Molecular Factors and Pathways of Hepatotoxicity Associated with HIV/SARS-CoV-2 Protease Inhibitors Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Apr 27; 24(9). . View in PubMed
• Molecular Factors and
  Pathways of Hepatotoxicity Associated with HIV/SARS-CoV-2 Protease
  InhibitorsInt. J. Mol. Sci. 2023; (24):7938. . View in PubMed
• Adverse Effects of Anti-Covid-19 Drug Candidates and Alcohol on Cellular Stress Responses of Hepatocytes Hepatol Commun. 2022 06; 6(6):1262-1277. . View in PubMed
• Adverse Effects of Anti-Covid-19 Drug Candidates and Alcohol on Cellular Stress Responses of Hepatocytes Hepatol Commun. 2022; 6(6):1262-1277. . View in PubMed
• Liver Injury Impaired 25-Hydroxylation of Vitamin D Suppresses Intestinal Paneth Cell defensins, leading to Gut Dysbiosis and Liver Fibrogenesis Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2020 Oct 21. . View in PubMed
• Ritonavir and Lopinavir Suppress RCE1 and CAAX Rab Proteins Sensitizing the Liver to Organelle Stress and Injury Hepatol Commun. 2020 Jun; 4(6):932-944. . View in PubMed
• Protective Effects of Facilitated Removal of Blood Alcohol and Acetaldehyde Against Liver Injury in Animal Models Fed Alcohol and Anti-HIV Drugs Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2019 06; 43(6):1091-1102. . View in PubMed
• Protective Effects of Emodin on Lung Injuries in Rat Models of Liver Fibrosis Open Life Sci. 2019 Jan; 14:611-618. . View in PubMed
• A Hepatocyte-Mimicking Antidote for Alcohol Intoxication Adv Mater. 2018 May; 30(22):e1707443. . View in PubMed
• Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Derived Exosomes Alleviate Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Reversing Peripheral Insulin Resistance and Relieving ß-Cell Destruction ACS Nano. 2018 08 28; 12(8):7613-7628. . View in PubMed
• Disrupted ER-to-Golgi trafficking underlies anti-HIV drugs and alcohol-induced cellular stress and hepatic injury Hepatology Commun. 2017; 1(2):122-139. . View in PubMed
• Expression of 78 kD glucose-regulated protein is increased in cirrhotic cardiomyopathy induced by intestinal endotoxin Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2017; 10(2):1549-1557. . View in PubMed
• Molecules, Systems and Signaling in Liver InjuryCell Death in Biology and Diseases. Nature Springer. Role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Hepatic Injury. 2017; 221-250. . View in PubMed
• Dissecting the role of disturbed ER-Golgi trafficking in antivirals and alcohol abuse-induced pathogenesis of liver disorders Journal of Drug Abuse. 2017; 3(3):14. . View in PubMed
• Effect of artesunate supplementation on bacterial translocation and dysbiosis of gut microbiota in rats with liver cirrhosis World J Gastroenterol. 2016 Mar 14; 22(10):2949-59. . View in PubMed
• Enhanced expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 correlates with malondialdehyde levels during the formation of liver cirrhosis in rats Exp Ther Med. 2015 Dec; 10(6):2119-2125. . View in PubMed
• Advances and New Concepts in Alcohol-Induced Organelle Stress, Unfolded Protein Responses and Organ Damage Biomolecules. 2015 Jun 03; 5(2):1099-121. . View in PubMed
• Prevention of hepatitis C virus infection and spread in human liver chimeric mice by an anti-CD81 monoclonal antibody Hepatology. 2015 Apr; 61(4):1136-44. . View in PubMed
• Effects of combined alcohol and anti-HIV drugs on cellular stress responses in primary hepatocytes and hepatic stellate and kupffer cells Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2015 Jan; 39(1):11-20. . View in PubMed
• Increased expression of 78 kD glucose-regulated protein promotes cardiomyocyte apoptosis in a rat model of liver cirrhosis Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2015; 8(8):9256-63. . View in PubMed
• Glucose-regulated protein 78 may play a crucial role in promoting the pulmonary microvascular remodeling in a rat model of hepatopulmonary syndrome Gene. 2014 Jul 15; 545(1):156-62. . View in PubMed
• Expression of the 78 kD glucose-regulated protein is induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress in the development of hepatopulmonary syndrome Gene. 2014 Mar 01; 537(1):115-9. . View in PubMed
• New Insights into the Pathogenesis of Alcohol-Induced ER Stress and Liver Diseases Int J Hepatol. 2014; 2014:513787. . View in PubMed
• CD133 positive cells isolated from A549 cell line exhibited high liver metastatic potential Neoplasma. 2014; 61(2):153-60. . View in PubMed
• Restoration of intrahepatic regulatory T cells through MMP-9/13-dependent activation of TGF-ß is critical for immune homeostasis following acute liver injury J Mol Cell Biol. 2013 Dec; 5(6):369-79. . View in PubMed
• Evaluation of protein extraction protocols for 2DE in marine ecotoxicoproteomics Proteomics. 2013 Nov; 13(21):3205-10. . View in PubMed
• Effects of Bacillus subtilis ANSB060 on growth performance, meat quality and aflatoxin residues in broilers fed moldy peanut meal naturally contaminated with aflatoxins Food Chem Toxicol. 2013 Sep; 59:748-53. . View in PubMed
• Association of cyclin D and estrogen receptor a36 with hepatocellular adenomas of female mice under chronic endoplasmic reticulum stress J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013 Mar; 28(3):576-83. . View in PubMed
• Biomimetic enzyme nanocomplexes and their use as antidotes and preventive measures for alcohol intoxication Nat Nanotechnol. 2013 Mar; 8(3):187-92. . View in PubMed
• Altered methylation and expression of ER-associated degradation factors in long-term alcohol and constitutive ER stress-induced murine hepatic tumors Front Genet. 2013; 4:224. . View in PubMed
• Detection of transgenic and endogenous plant DNA fragments and proteins in the digesta, blood, tissues, and eggs of laying hens fed with phytase transgenic corn PLoS One. 2013; 8(4):e61138. . View in PubMed
• Investigation of chronic alcohol consumption in rodents via ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry based metabolite profiling J Chromatogr A. 2012 Oct 12; 1259:128-37. . View in PubMed
• The effects of dietary fatty acid composition in the post-sucking period on metabolic alterations in adulthood: can? J Endocrinol. 2012 Oct; 215(1):119-27.. View in PubMed
• Human immunodeficiency virus protease inhibitors modulate Ca2+ homeostasis and potentiate alcoholic stress and injury in mice and primary mouse and human hepatocytes Hepatology. 2012 Aug; 56(2):594-604. . View in PubMed
• Interstrain differences in liver injury and one-carbon metabolism in alcohol-fed mice Hepatology. 2012 Jul; 56(1):130-9. . View in PubMed
• Development of a multiplex UPLC-MRM MS method for quantification of human membrane transport proteins OATP1B1, OATP1B3 and OATP2B1 in in vitro systems and tissues Anal Chim Acta. 2012 Mar 02; 717:67-76. . View in PubMed
• Experimental SSM-CVB3 infection in macaques Exp Mol Pathol. 2012 Feb; 92(1):131-9. . View in PubMed
• Facilitated Removal of Blood Alcohol From Alcohol-Fed Animals by Nanocapsules of Alcohol Metabolizing Enzymes Gastroenterology 142 (5): S-544. 2012. . View in PubMed
• Mechanisms of alcohol-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and organ injuries Biochem Res Int. 2012; 2012:216450. . View in PubMed
• Synergistic steatohepatitis by moderate obesity and alcohol in mice despite increased adiponectin and p-AMPK J Hepatol. 2011 Sep; 55(3):673-682. . View in PubMed
• Liver-specific loss of glucose-regulated protein 78 perturbs the unfolded protein response and exacerbates a spectrum of liver diseases in mice Hepatology. 2011 Jul; 54(1):229-39. . View in PubMed
• Role of cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB)-regulated transcription coactivator 3 (CRTC3) in the initiation of mitochondrial biogenesis and stress response in liver cells J Biol Chem. 2011 Jun 24; 286(25):22047-54. . View in PubMed
• The contribution of endoplasmic reticulum stress to liver diseases Hepatology. 2011 May; 53(5):1752-63. . View in PubMed
• Clinical evaluation of targeted arterial infusion of verapamil in the interventional chemotherapy of primary hepatocellular carcinoma Cell Biochem Biophys. 2011 Mar; 59(2):127-32. . View in PubMed
• Metabonomic investigation of liver profiles of nonpolar metabolites obtained from alcohol-dosed rats and mice using high mass accuracy MSn analysis J Proteome Res. 2011 Feb 04; 10(2):705-13. . View in PubMed
• The Role of Altered SAME Metabolism in Alcohol-induced ER Stress and Liver Injury ALCOHOL and ALCOHOLOISM46(s1):i22-i23. 2011. . View in PubMed
• Angiosarcoma of the lung: 2 cases report and literature reviewed Lung Cancer. 2010 Dec; 70(3):352-6. . View in PubMed
• Differences in betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase expression, endoplasmic reticulum stress response, and liver injury between alcohol-fed mice and rats Hepatology. 2010 Mar; 51(3):796-805. . View in PubMed
• “ER Stress Signaling in Hepatic Injury” Signaling Pathways in Liver Diseases. 2010; SpringerNew York 287-303. . View in PubMed
• A Small-Molecule Compound That Inhibits Homodimerization of Oncogenic NAC1 Protein and Sensitizes Cancer Cells to Anticancer Agents J Biol Chem. 2009; 234(25):986-997. . View in PubMed
• ER stress signaling in hepatic injury Signaling Pathways in Liver Diseases. 2009; 19(5):287-304. . View in PubMed
• Effect of transgenic extrahepatic expression of betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase on alcohol or homocysteine-induced fatty liver Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2008 Jun; 32(6):1049-58. . View in PubMed
• Cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein-like (CRALBPL), a novel human Sec14p-like gene that is upregulated in human hepatocellular carcinomas, may be used as a marker for human hepatocellular carcinomas DNA Cell Biol. 2008 Mar; 27(3):159-63. . View in PubMed
• Dissection of endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling in alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver injury J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 Mar; 23 Suppl 1:S16-24. . View in PubMed
• Intestinal endotoxemia plays a central role in development of hepatopulmonary syndrome in a cirrhotic rat model induced by multiple pathogenic factors World J Gastroenterol. 2007 Dec 21; 13(47):6385-95. . View in PubMed
• Endoplasmic reticulum stress and liver injury Semin Liver Dis. 2007 Nov; 27(4):367-77. . View in PubMed
• Mechanisms of protection by the betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase/betaine system in HepG2 cells and primary mouse hepatocytes Hepatology. 2007 Nov; 46(5):1586-96. . View in PubMed
• Multiple pathogenic factor-induced complications of cirrhosis in rats: a new model of hepatopulmonary syndrome with intestinal endotoxemia World J Gastroenterol. 2007 Jul 07; 13(25):3500-7. . View in PubMed
• Predominant role of sterol response element binding proteins (SREBP) lipogenic pathways in hepatic steatosis in the murine intragastric ethanol feeding model J Hepatol. 2006 Nov; 45(5):717-24. . View in PubMed
• Unfolding new mechanisms of alcoholic liver disease in the endoplasmic reticulum J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2006 Oct; 21 Suppl 3:S7-9. . View in PubMed
• ER stress: can the liver cope? J Hepatol. 2006 Aug; 45(2):321-33.. View in PubMed
• Role of CHOP in hepatic apoptosis in the murine model of intragastric ethanol feeding Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2005 Aug; 29(8):1496-503. . View in PubMed
• [The software design of an ultrasonic hyperthermia instrument based on an ARM embedded system] Zhongguo Yi Liao Qi Xie Za Zhi. 2005 Mar; 29(2):96-100. . View in PubMed
• [Combined effects of endostatin gene transfer and ionizing radiation on lung adenocarcinoma model of A549-cells] Zhonghua Jie He He Hu Xi Za Zhi. 2004 Oct; 27(10):683-6. . View in PubMed
• Role of TNF-alpha in ethanol-induced hyperhomocysteinemia and murine alcoholic liver injury Hepatology. 2004 Aug; 40(2):442-51. . View in PubMed
• Hyperhomocysteinemia, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and alcoholic liver injury World J Gastroenterol. 2004 Jun 15; 10(12):1699-708. . View in PubMed
• [Diagnosis and treatment of vasoactive intestinal peptide-secreting-tumors: one case report and 15 years review in China] Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi. 2004 May 07; 42(9):524-7. . View in PubMed
• Mechanisms for sensitization to TNF-induced apoptosis by acute glutathione depletion in murine hepatocytes Hepatology. 2003 Jun; 37(6):1425-34. . View in PubMed
• Intravesical administration of doxorubicin to swine bladder using magnetically targeted carriers Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2003 Jun; 51(6):445-50. . View in PubMed
• Betaine decreases hyperhomocysteinemia, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and liver injury in alcohol-fed mice Gastroenterology. 2003 May; 124(5):1488-99. . View in PubMed
• Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel human kinase gene, PDIK1L J Genet. 2003 Apr-Aug; 82(1-2):27-32. . View in PubMed
• Isoform patterns of chitinase and beta-1,3-glucanase in maturing corn kernels (Zea mays L) associated with Aspergillus flavus milk stage infection. J Agric Food Chem. 2000 Feb; 48(2):507-11. . View in PubMed
• Genetics of plant-pathogen interactions Curr Opin Biotechnol 1998 Apr 01; 9(2):202-7. . View in PubMed
• Characterization of a 34-kDa soybean binding protein for the syringolide elicitors Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998 Mar 17; 95(6):3306-11. . View in PubMed
• Characterization of a soybean binding protein for the syringolide elicitors Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1998; 6(95):3306-11. . View in PubMed
• Syringolide Derivatives for Receptor StudiesMolecular Genetics of Host-Specific Toxins. 13:139-140. 1998. . View in PubMed
• Specific Binding of the Syringolide Elicitors to a Soluble Protein Fraction from Soybean Leaves Plant Cell. 1997 Aug; 9(8):1425-1433. . View in PubMed
• Non-host resistance to Colletotrichum lagenarium in pumpkin and squash is not primarily associated with beta-1, 3-glucanase and chitinase activities Physiological and Molecular Pathology. 1997; 50:361-370. . View in PubMed
• Antifungal activity of cucumber ß 1-3 glucanase and chitinasePhysiol. Mol. Plant Pathol. 49: 257-265. 1996. . View in PubMed
• Induction of systemic acquired resistance in cucumber by Pseudomonas syringae pvsyringae 61 HrpZPss protein. Plant J 9:431-439. 1996. . View in PubMed
• Purification and characterization of an acidic beta-1,3-glucanase from cucumber and its relationship to systemic disease resistance induced by Colletotrichum lagenarium and tobacco necrosis virus Mol Plant Microbe Interact. 1995 Nov-Dec; 8(6):899-905. . View in PubMed
• Phospholipid peroxidation in tumor promoter-exposed mouse skin Carcinogenesis. 1994 Dec; 15(12):2937-44. . View in PubMed
• Experimental saccular aneurysmsI. Review of surgically-constructed models and their laboratory applications. Neuroradiology. 1994 Oct; 36(7):537-46. . View in PubMed
• An experimental arteriovenous malformation model in swine: anatomic basis and construction technique AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1994 Sep; 15(8):1537-45. . View in PubMed
• Acetylation of human prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) by aspirin J Biol Chem. 1994 May 06; 269(18):13207-15. . View in PubMed
• Biosynthesis of 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid by B16 amelanotic melanoma cells is a determinant of their metastatic potential Lab Invest. 1994 Mar; 70(3):314-23. . View in PubMed
• Secretory product expression during Clara cell differentiation in the rabbit and rat Am J Physiol. 1993 Jun; 264(6 Pt 1):L543-52. . View in PubMed
• [The effect of stimulating the auricular liver-gall point on the size of gallbladder of the rabbit] Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 1993; 18(1):73-4. . View in PubMed
• [Rapid detection of bacteroides gingivalis with indirect immunofluorescence in periodontal pocket] Zhonghua Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 1991 Nov; 26(6):354-6. . View in PubMed
• Positional specificity for methyl-n-amylnitrosamine hydroxylation by cytochrome P-450 isozymes determined with monoclonal antibodies Cancer Res. 1991 Feb 15; 51(4):1059-64. . View in PubMed
• Treatment of organic wastewater with Anaerobic Buffled Reactor (ABR)J. of Shanghai Jiao Tong University25(5): 101-105. 1991. . View in PubMed
• Use of monoclonal antibodies to identify cytochrome P450 isozymes in rat liver microsomes that hydroxylate N-nitrosomethylamylamine at each of six positions IARC Sci Publ. 1991; (105):392-7. . View in PubMed
• Measurement of Cold Resistance of Aquatic Plants and Study on Its Characteristics Acta Ecologica Sinica 10(3): 249-254. 1990. . View in PubMed
• Effects of intermittent cycle (IC) system on phosphor removal in wastewater Shanghai Environmental Sciences12: 1-6. 1990. . View in PubMed
• Oxidation of polycyclic hydrocarbons by oxygen radicals Princess Takamatsu Symp. 1990; 21:63-73. . View in PubMed
• On water treatment strategies in China Shanghai Environmental Sciences11: 1-10. 1990. . View in PubMed
• Formation of hydroxy derivatives, aldehydes, and nitrite from N-nitrosomethyl-n-amylamine by rat liver microsomes and by purified cytochrome P-450 IIB1 Cancer Res. 1989 Oct 01; 49(19):5299-304. . View in PubMed
• Role of Reactive Oxygen Species in Cold Resistance of Water Hyacinth Pl Physiology Sinica 41(5): 112-118. 1989. . View in PubMed
• The Correlation between Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) Activity and Cold Resistance of Water Hyacinth Pl Physiology Sinica 41(2): 133-137. 1989. . View in PubMed
• [Determination of chlorogenic acid in various processed samples of Lonicera japonica Thunb] Zhong Yao Tong Bao. 1987 Nov; 12(11):18-962. . View in PubMed
• J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1987 May; 69(3):391-4. . View in PubMed
• Metabolism of the oesophageal carcinogen N-nitrosomethylamylamine: changes with age, clearance from blood and DNA alkylation IARC Sci Publ. 1987; (84):144-7. . View in PubMed
• [Induction of papilloma and carcinoma in the forestomach of mice by in vivo formation of N-3-methylbutyl-N-1-methylacetonylnitrosamine (MAMBNA)] Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi. 1986 Jul; 8(4):245-6. . View in PubMed
• Synthesis of nitrosomethylisoamylamine from isoamylamine and sodium nitrite by fungi Carcinogenesis. 1986 Feb; 7(2):301-3. . View in PubMed
• Occurrence of nitroso compounds in fungi-contaminated foods: a review Nutr Cancer. 1986; 8(1):63-9. . View in PubMed
• Evidence of synthesizing secondary amines from primary amines by fungi–microbiological production of methylisoamylamine and piperidine Wei Sheng Wu Xue Bao 26(4): 341-5 (in Chinese). 1986. . View in PubMed
• [N-nitrosoproline ethylester in moldy millet] Zhongguo Yi Xue Ke Xue Yuan Xue Bao. 1985 Apr; 7(2):130-2. . View in PubMed
• A new N-nitroso compound, N-2-methylpropyl-N-1-methylacetonyl-nitrosamine, in moldy millet and wheat flour Sci Sin B. 1984 Jun; 27(6):601-9. . View in PubMed
• STUDIES ON THE PROCESS OF INCREASE OF GRAIN WEIGHT IN BARLEY Acta Agron Sin. 1983; 9(3):181-188. . View in PubMed
• [Synthesis of a new nitrosamine, N-1′-methylacetonyl-N-3-methylbutyl nitrosamine] Zhongguo Yi Xue Ke Xue Yuan Xue Bao. 1982 Oct; 4(5):266-70. . View in PubMed
• [Factors determining the formation of nitroso compounds in moldy cornbread] Zhongguo Yi Xue Ke Xue Yuan Xue Bao. 1982 Aug; 4(4):224-8. . View in PubMed
• Malignant transformation of baby hamster lung fibroblasts induced in vitro by a new nitrosamine compound Sci Sin B. 1982 Jul; 25(7):738-44. . View in PubMed
• Mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium of N-3-methylbutyl-N-1-methyl-acetonyl-nitrosamine and N-methyl-N-benzylnitrosamine, N-nitrosation products isolated from corn-bread contaminated with commonly occurring moulds in linshien county, a high incidence area for oesophageal cancer in Northern China Carcinogenesis. 1980; 1(10):867-70. . View in PubMed
• Formation of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds in corn-bread inoculated with fungi Sci Sin. 1979 Apr; 22(4):471-7. . View in PubMed

• Lee, Amy
• Kaplowitz, Neil
• Tsukamoto, Hidekazu
• Terrault, Norah
• Lee, Brian