Yunmeng Liu

Federal Grant PI

Assistant Professor

Last publication 2025 Last refreshed 2026-05-22

faculty

Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Medicine

7 h-index 30 pubs 241 cited

Biography and Research Information

OverviewAI-generated summary

Yunmeng Liu, an Assistant Professor in Pharmacology & Toxicology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, leads a research group focused on understanding the immune system's role in metabolic disorders and cardiovascular disease. Her work investigates how immune dysregulation connects conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes with cardiovascular complications.

Liu's research has explored the intricate mechanisms underlying hypertension, including the activation of CD8+ T cells and the establishment of kidney-resident memory T cells in driving chronic high blood pressure. Her federally funded research, supported by a $717,457 grant from the NIH/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, specifically examines the metabolic rewiring of T cells as a bridge between diabetes and hypertension. She collaborates with researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, including Katherine Deck and Christoph Mora, with whom she has co-authored multiple publications.

Her scholarly contributions include a h-index of 4 and 15 total publications, with 146 citations. Recent publications address topics such as P2X7-mediated T cell activation in salt-sensitive hypertension, IL-10's role in cardiac fibrosis, and immune pathways for therapeutic targeting of hypertension.

Metrics

  • h-index: 7
  • Publications: 30
  • Citations: 241

Selected Publications

  • IL-10 Drives Macrophage to Myofibroblast Transition Promoting Chronic Fibrosis in the Failing Heart 9287 (2025)
  • Kidney resident-memory CD8+ T cells drive chronic high blood pressure 9288 (2025)
  • Kidney Memory for Salt Sensitivity Resides in T Cells Driving Chronic Hypertension (2025)
  • Uncovering immune pathways for therapeutic targeting of hypertension (2025)
  • Immune Dysregulation Connecting Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Complications (2025)
  • Cytokine-induced Macrophage Transition Drives Cardiac Fibrosis and Diastolic Dysfunction (2025)
  • Establishment of resident memory T cells anchors hypertension in the kidney (2025)
  • T Cells Drive Kidney Memory for Hypertension (2024)
  • Abstract P200: Immune memory contributes to chronic hypertension recurrence (2024)
  • Abstract P335: An innate immune component in hypertension-induced cardiac dysfunction Christoph Mora, Katherine Deck, Yunmeng Liu, Lance Benson, Tonya Rafferty, & Shengyu Mu (2024)
  • Abstract MP36: Excessive ATP Promotes Hypertension Via Stimulating T cells (2024)
  • P227 MACROPHAGE TO MYOFIBROBLAST TRANSITION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIASTOLIC DYSFUNCTION (2024)
  • O14 KIDNEY RESIDENT MEMORY T CELLS MEDIATE THE CHRONIC PROGRESSION OF HYPERTENSION (2024)
  • Immune Disorders Connecting Type2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Complications (2024)
    1 citation DOI OpenAlex
  • Kidney resident memory CD8 T cells mediate recurrence of salt-sensitive hypertension (2024)

View all publications on OpenAlex →

Federal Grants 1 $717,457 total

NIH/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Contact PI Feb 2026 - Nov 2030

Metabolic Rewiring of T Cells Bridges Diabetes to Hypertension

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases $717,457 R01

Research Interests

Metabolic syndrome persists as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among adults in the United States. Specifically, the co-existence of diabetes and hypertension, hallmark components of metabolic syndrome, stand as primary contributors to cardiovascular disease and subsequent mortality. Thus, it is important to identify the pathogenic connection between diabetes and hypertension. Ample evidence suggested the involvement of immune cells, particularly T cells, in the pathogenesis of diabetes and hypertension. However, the precise mechanisms by which immune dysregulation associated with diabetes contributes to hypertension are not fully understood. Our research centers on investigating new intrinsic cellular mechanisms existing in diabetic conditions, which sustain chronic T cell activation and accentuate the progression of cardiovascular complications.

Grants & Funding

  • T cell homing to the kidney contributes to salt retention and blood pressure regulation - Continuation NIH/Nat. Heart, Lung & Blood Institute Co-Investigator
  • Role of Immune Cells in kidney in the Development of Salt-Sensitive Hypertension American Heart Association (SouthWest Affiliate) Other Key Personnel
  • ATP and insulin contribute to chronic inflammation via promoting T-cell activation and memory formation NIH/Nat. Inst. of General Medical Sciences Principal Investigator
  • ATP and insulin contribute to chronic inflammation via promoting T-cell activation and memory formation NIH/Nat. Inst. of General Medical Sciences Principal Investigator
  • ATP and insulin contribute to chronic inflammation via promoting T-cell activation and memory formation NIH/Nat. Inst. of General Medical Sciences Principal Investigator
  • ATP and insulin contribute to chronic inflammation via promoting T-cell activation and memory formation NIH/Nat. Inst. of General Medical Sciences Principal Investigator
  • ATP and insulin contribute to chronic inflammation via promoting T-cell activation and memory formation NIH/Nat. Inst. of General Medical Sciences Principal Investigator
  • Formation of CD8Trms in the kidney contributes to salt-memory of hypertension American Heart Association Co-Investigator

Collaboration Network

20 Collaborators 3 Institutions 1 Country

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