Biographical Info

Biographical Info

Dr. Grace L. Guo is a Professor at the Department Pharmacology and Toxicology in the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy of Rutgers University. Dr. Guo obtained her MBBS degree from the West China University of Medical Sciences in 1993 and a PhD degree in Toxicology from the University of Kansas Medical Center in 2001, as well as post-doctoral training at the NCI, NIH in 2004. From 2004-2012, Dr. Guo has been a faculty at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Research Areas

The Guo lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying intestine-liver crosstalk through nuclear receptor signaling pathways, which are pivotal for regulating bile acids, lipid homeostasis, and chemical disposition. A significant area of study is the bile acids-farnesoid X receptor (FXR)-fibroblast growth factor 15/19 (FGF15/19) axis, a critical regulator of hepatic functions and associated pathologies.

Dr. Guo and her research team have pioneered insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which FXR operates in a tissue-specific manner to maintain bile acid homeostasis, particularly in the context of gut-liver interactions. Their work has implications for understanding and addressing non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), now called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), as well as the pathogenesis of liver and colon cancers and liver regeneration processes.

Dr. Guo’s research background is extensive, focusing on the functional characterization of bile acid signaling in hepatic diseases using animal models. Her expertise also covers lipid regulation, drug and toxin metabolism and transport, and their modulation by nuclear hormone receptors and cell signaling pathways. This comprehensive research contributes to a nuanced understanding of liver disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic avenues.

Scholarly Activities

2024                          ASPET Division of Toxicology Career Award

2023                          James R. Gillette Drug Metabolism and Disposition Best Paper of 2022 in the Drug Metabolism category, ASPET

2021                          Inaugural Presidential Outstanding Faculty Scholar Award, Rutgers University

2021                          Expertscape World Expert in Hepatocytes

2020                          Fellow of AASLD

Dr. Guo’s Google Scholar Citations

Recent Publications

1. Yang, Z, Zarbl, H, Kong, B, Taylor, R, Black, K, Kipen, H, Basaly, V, Fang, M, Guo, GL. Liver-gut axis signaling regulates circadian energy metabolism in shift workers. FASEB J. 2024;38 (22):e70203. doi: 10.1096/fj.202402102R. PubMed PMID:39588921 PubMed Central PMC11590413
2. Taylor, R, Basaly, V, Kong, B, Yang, I, Brinker, AM, Capece, G, Bhattacharya, A, Henry, ZR, Otersen, K, Yang, Z et al.. Effects of therapeutically approved individual bile acids on the development of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis a low bile acid mouse model. Toxicol Sci. 2024;202 (2):179-195. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfae110. PubMed PMID:39302723
3. Burchat, N, Vidola, J, Pfreundschuh, S, Sharma, P, Rizzolo, D, Guo, GL, Sampath, H. Intestinal Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase-1 Regulates Energy Balance via Alterations in Bile Acid Homeostasis. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2024;18 (6):101403. doi: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2024.101403. PubMed PMID:39278403 PubMed Central PMC11546130
4. Jin, J, Nguyen, LTG, Wassef, A, Sadek, R, Schmitt, TM, Guo, GL, Rasmussen, TP, Zhong, XB. Correlations of Long Noncoding RNA HNF4A-AS1 Alternative Transcripts with Liver Diseases and Drug Metabolism. Drug Metab Dispos. 2024;52 (11):1345-1355. doi: 10.1124/dmd.124.001873. PubMed PMID:39168525
5. Chow, MD, Otersen, K, Wassef, A, Kong, B, Yamarthy, S, Rizzolo, D, Yang, I, Buckley, B, Lu, A, Crook, N et al.. Effects of intestine-specific deletion of FGF15 on the development of fatty liver disease with vertical sleeve gastrectomy. Hepatol Commun. 2024;8 (6):. doi: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000444. PubMed PMID:38780301 PubMed Central PMC11124683
6. Jin, J, Nguyen, LTG, Wassef, A, Sadek, R, Schmitt, TM, Guo, GL, Rasmussen, TP, Zhong, XB. Identification and Functional Characterization of Alternative Transcripts of LncRNA HNF1A-AS1 and Their Impacts on Cell Growth, Differentiation, Liver Diseases, and in Response to Drug Induction. Noncoding RNA. 2024;10 (2):. doi: 10.3390/ncrna10020028. PubMed PMID:38668386 PubMed Central PMC11053763
7. Taylor, R, Yang, Z, Henry, Z, Capece, G, Meadows, V, Otersen, K, Basaly, V, Bhattacharya, A, Mera, S, Zhou, P et al.. Characterization of individual bile acids in vivo utilizing a novel low bile acid mouse model. Toxicol Sci. 2024;199 (2):316-331. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfae029. PubMed PMID:38526215
8. Yang, X, Wang, J, Chang, CY, Zhou, F, Liu, J, Xu, H, Ibrahim, M, Gomez, M, Guo, GL, Liu, H et al.. Leukemia inhibitory factor suppresses hepatic de novo lipogenesis and induces cachexia in mice. Nat Commun. 2024;15 (1):627. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-44924-w. PubMed PMID:38245529 PubMed Central PMC10799847
9. Yang, Z, Zarbl, H, Guo, GL. Circadian Regulation of Endocrine Fibroblast Growth Factors on Systemic Energy Metabolism. Mol Pharmacol. 2024;105 (3):179-193. doi: 10.1124/molpharm.123.000831. PubMed PMID:38238100 PubMed Central PMC10877735
10. Bhattacharya, A, Taylor, RE, Guo, GL. In vivo mouse models to study bile acid synthesis and signaling. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int. 2023;22 (5):466-473. doi: 10.1016/j.hbpd.2023.08.009. PubMed PMID:37620226 PubMed Central PMC10790561