{"id":6290,"date":"2026-10-19T09:48:44","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T09:48:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phd.hi.is\/doktorsvorn\/doktorsvorn-i-lif-og-laeknavisindum-qiong-wang\/"},"modified":"2026-10-19T09:48:44","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T09:48:44","slug":"doktorsvorn-i-lif-og-laeknavisindum-qiong-wang","status":"publish","type":"phd_defence","link":"https:\/\/phd.hi.is\/en\/doktorsvorn\/doktorsvorn-i-lif-og-laeknavisindum-qiong-wang\/","title":{"rendered":"Doktorsv\u00f6rn \u00ed l\u00edf- og l\u00e6knav\u00edsindum – Qiong Wang"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u00deri\u00f0judaginn 24. ma\u00ed ver Qiong Wang doktorsritger\u00f0 s\u00edna \u00ed l\u00edf- og l\u00e6knav\u00edsindum vi\u00f0 L\u00e6knadeild H\u00e1sk\u00f3la \u00cdslands. Ritger\u00f0in ber heiti\u00f0: Au\u00f0kenning efnaskiptabreytinga samfara EMT \u00ed brj\u00f3sta\u00feekjuvef. Defining the metabolic phenotype of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast epith<\/strong><\/p>\n

Andm\u00e6lendur eru dr. Sarah-Maria Fendt, pr\u00f3fessor vi\u00f0 VIB Center for Cancer Biology, KU Leuven \u00ed Belg\u00edu og dr. Paolo Ceppi, d\u00f3sent vi\u00f0 Syddansk Universitet \u00ed Danm\u00f6rku.<\/p>\n

Umsj\u00f3narkennari og lei\u00f0beinandi var dr. \u00d3ttar Rolfsson, pr\u00f3fessor. Auk hans s\u00e1tu \u00ed doktorsnefnd\u00a0 Margr\u00e9t \u00deorsteinsd\u00f3ttir, pr\u00f3fessor, Skarph\u00e9\u00f0inn Halld\u00f3rsson, pr\u00f3fessor og S\u00e6var Ing\u00fe\u00f3rsson, d\u00f3sent.<\/p>\n

\u00de\u00f3rarinn Gu\u00f0j\u00f3nsson, pr\u00f3fessor og deildarforseti L\u00e6knadeildar, stj\u00f3rnar ath\u00f6fninni sem fer fram \u00ed H\u00e1t\u00ed\u00f0asal H\u00e1sk\u00f3la \u00cdslands og hefst kl. 14:00.<\/p>\n

V\u00f6rninni ver\u00f0ur streymt:\u00a0<\/p>\n

https:\/\/livestream.com\/hi\/doktorsvornqiongwang<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00c1grip<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brj\u00f3stakrabbamein er ein helsta ors\u00f6k krabbameinsdau\u00f0a me\u00f0al kvenna \u00e1 \u00cdslandi og um heim allan. Ein forsenda meinvarpsmyndunar er talin vera s\u00fa a\u00f0 \u00e6xlisfrumur virki \u00feroskunarferli sem kallast bandvefsumbreyting (EMT). Bandvefsumbreyting (EMT) er frumu\u00feroskunarferli \u00fear sem \u00feekjufrumur umbreytast \u00ed bandvefsfrumur me\u00f0 minni vi\u00f0lo\u00f0un og aukna skri\u00f0getu. Tali\u00f0 er a\u00f0 \u00e6xlisfrumur geti virkja\u00f0 EMT, sem auki \u00fe\u00e1 dreifingu \u00e6xlisfrumna milli vefja. EMT einkennist \u00fe\u00f3 af fj\u00f6lda frumusvipger\u00f0a (EMP) sem hafa mismunandi getu til meinvarpsmyndunar. Efnaskiptabreytingar sem eiga s\u00e9r sta\u00f0 samfara EMT og EMP eru illskilgreindar. \u00deetta grunnranns\u00f3knarverkefni mi\u00f0a\u00f0i a\u00f0 \u00fev\u00ed a\u00f0 einkenna efnaskiptasvipger\u00f0ir EMT og EMP \u00ed \u00feeim tilgangi a\u00f0 auka skilning \u00e1 framgangi brj\u00f3stakrabbameins, stu\u00f0la a\u00f0 framt\u00ed\u00f0arlyfja\u00fer\u00f3un og greina hugsanleg l\u00edfm\u00f6rk fyrir illkynja \u00e6xli \u00ed brj\u00f3stum.<\/p>\n

Proteingreining \u00e1 EMT og EMP frumul\u00edk\u00f6num leiddu \u00ed lj\u00f3s breytingar \u00ed efnaskiptaferlum sykrunga. Ens\u00edmin UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (UGDH) og glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate transaminase 2 (GFPT2) s\u00fdndu mikinn breytileika \u00ed tj\u00e1ningu samfara EMT annars vegar og EMP hins vegar. UGDH breytir UDP-gl\u00fak\u00f3sa \u00ed UDP-gl\u00fak\u00far\u00f3ns\u00fdru og tekur \u00fe\u00e1tt \u00ed myndun h\u00fdal\u00far\u00f3nans \u00ed utanfrumuefni. GFPT2 er hra\u00f0atakmarkandi ens\u00edmi\u00f0 \u00ed n\u00fdmyndun sykrunga og hvatar myndun UDP-N-aset\u00fdlgl\u00fak\u00f3sam\u00edns (UDP-GlcNAc) og O-GlycNAcylation proteina. Fylgni var \u00e1 milli tj\u00e1ningar UGDH og l\u00edfsl\u00edkum sj\u00faklinga. B\u00e6ling \u00e1 tj\u00e1ningu UGDH haf\u00f0i \u00e1hrif \u00e1 frumufj\u00f6lgun, frumuinnr\u00e1s, og tj\u00e1ningu EMT merksins SNAI1 og myndun glycerophosphocholines og n-acetylaspartats. Tj\u00e1ning GFPT2 haf\u00f0i einnig \u00e1hrif \u00e1 frumufj\u00f6lgun, frumuinnr\u00e1s og stj\u00f3rnun \u00e1 EMT merkinu vimentin. Tj\u00e1ning \u00e1 GFPT2 s\u00fdndi fylgni vi\u00f0 illkynja \u00e6xli \u00ed brj\u00f3stum me\u00f0 claudin-l\u00e1g einkenni s\u00e9rstaklega. GFPT2 tj\u00e1ning eykst vi\u00f0 oxunar\u00e1lag og b\u00e6ling \u00e1 GFPT2 haf\u00f0i \u00e1hrif \u00e1 innanfrumumagn cystathionines og \u00e1 hvatberaens\u00edmi\u00f0 SQOR. Tj\u00e1ningu \u00e1 GFPT2 var st\u00fdrt af EGF og ins\u00fal\u00edni bo\u00f0skiptaferli, hugsanlega \u00ed gegnum GSK-3\u03b2. A\u00f0 lokum voru bo\u00f0skiptaferli sko\u00f0u\u00f0 s\u00e9rstaklega me\u00f0 skimun \u00e1 fosf\u00f3ryleringu pr\u00f3teina. Breytileiki \u00ed fosf\u00f3ryleringu pr\u00f3teina samfara EMT og EMP var mestur vegna mismunandi virkni PDHKs og PAK1 pr\u00f3tein k\u00ednasa. \u00c1 heildina liti\u00f0 hefur verkefni\u00f0 s\u00fdnt fram \u00e1 a\u00f0 UGDH og GFPT2 eru veigamikil \u00ed efnaskiptum sykra samfara EMT og \u00ed EMP, \u00ed framgangi brj\u00f3stakrabbameins og a\u00f0 \u00feessar breytingar eru mismunandi eftir undirflokkum brj\u00f3stakrabbameins.<\/p>\n

English abstract<\/strong><\/p>\n

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in Iceland and worldwide. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular developmental process where epithelial cells assume mesenchymal-like phenotypes through degradation of the extracellular matrix, loss of adhesions, and increased mobility. It is believed that dissemination of cancer cells occurs partly following EMT. EMT contains a spectrum of epithelial-mesenchymal intermediate cell states that impart different degrees of malignancy. The ability of cells to assume these states is termed epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP). This project aimed at characterizing the metabolic phenotypes of EMT and EMP to obtain knowledge of breast cancer progression and to identify biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for breast cancer treatment.<\/p>\n

Proteomics analysis of cell models of EMT and EMP revealed changes to enzymes involved in glycan metabolism. UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (UGDH) and glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate transaminase 2 (GFPT2) were identified as the topmost altered glycan metabolic enzymes in EMT and EMP, respectively. UGDH converts UDP-glucose into UDP-glucuronic acid and is involved in the formation of hyaluronan in the extracellular matrix. GFPT2 influences the downstream formation of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) and protein O-GlycNAcylation. UGDH was associated with patient survival, affected cell proliferation, cell invasion, and the expression of the EMT marker SNAI1. siRNA-mediated knockdown of UGDH influenced glycerophosphocholine (GPC) and increased N-acetylaspartate (NAA) levels. GFPT2 similiarly influenced cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and expression of the EMT marker vimentin and was associated with claudin-low breast cancer. GFPT2 was shown to be a marker of oxidative stress, and knockdown of GFPT2 affected cystathionine levels and the mitochondrial enzyme sulfide quinone oxidoreductase (SQOR). Phosphoproteomics analysis indicated distinct phosphorylation profiles of epithelial versus mesenchymal cells. Specifically, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinases (PDHKs), serine\/threonine-protein kinase (PAK1), and protein kinase A catalytic subunit \u03b1 (PKACA) were differentially regulated across the mesenchymal cell lines tested.<\/p>\n

In conclusion, these results suggest that UGDH and GFPT2 are central to changes that occur within glycan metabolism following EMT and EMP, respectively. Both enzymes were associated with cancer progression and GFPT2, specifically, may serve as a biomarker for cellular oxidative stress and claudin-low breast cancer. The work furthermore implicates UGDH in GPC and NAA metabolism.<\/p>\n

Um doktorsefni\u00f0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Qiong Wang f\u00e6ddist \u00ed Hebei-h\u00e9ra\u00f0i \u00ed K\u00edna 9. ma\u00ed 1988. \u00c1ri\u00f0 2011 lauk h\u00fan BS-pr\u00f3fi \u00ed l\u00edft\u00e6kni fr\u00e1 JiLin Agricultural University \u00ed K\u00edna og vann eftir \u00fea\u00f0 \u00ed \u00ferj\u00fa \u00e1r hj\u00e1 lyfjafyrirt\u00e6kjum \u00ed Peking sem rannsakandi vi\u00f0 forkl\u00edn\u00edskar og kl\u00edn\u00edskar ranns\u00f3knir. \u00c1ri\u00f0 2014 innrita\u00f0ist h\u00fan \u00ed meistaran\u00e1m \u00ed l\u00edfv\u00edsindum vi\u00f0 Link\u00f6pings Universitet \u00ed Sv\u00ed\u00fej\u00f3\u00f0 en eyddi \u00f6\u00f0ru \u00e1rinu \u00ed meistaran\u00e1mi \u00ed FH TECHNIKUM WIEN, V\u00edn \u00ed l\u00edfverkfr\u00e6\u00f0i og \u00fatskrifa\u00f0ist me\u00f0 tv\u00f6falda meistaragr\u00e1\u00f0u \u00e1ri\u00f0 2016. Qiong h\u00f3f s\u00ed\u00f0an doktorsn\u00e1m \u00ed l\u00edfv\u00edsindum vi\u00f0 H\u00e1sk\u00f3la \u00cdslands \u00e1ri\u00f0 2017 undir lei\u00f0s\u00f6gn \u00d3ttars Rolfssonar. \u00deessa stundina er Qiong skr\u00e1\u00f0 \u00ed \u00fej\u00e1lfunar\u00e1\u00e6tlun hj\u00e1 pr\u00f3fessor Alexandre Gaspar Maia \u00ed Mayo Clinic, Bandar\u00edkjunum.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"featured_media":5150,"template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_phd_date_start":"2022-05-24T14:00:00+00:00","_phd_date_end":"2022-05-24T17:00:00+00:00","_phd_location":"A\u00f0albygging H\u00e1t\u00ed\u00f0asalur","_phd_admission":"A\u00f0gangur \u00f3keypis","_phd_thesis_title":"Au\u00f0kenning efnaskiptabreytinga samfara EMT \u00ed brj\u00f3sta\u00feekjuvef. 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