Ling Liu

Photo of Ling Liu
Title(s)Associate Adjunct Professor, Neurology
SchoolMedicine
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    Dr. Ling Liu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology at UCLA. Her research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of aging, with emphasis on skeletal muscle regeneration, immune aging, epigenetics, and women's health. Her lab employs multi-omics approaches, including single-cell transcriptomics, epigenomics, and metabolomics, to define how aging, sex, hormonal transitions, and exercise reshape stem cell function and systemic inflammation. Dr. Liu pioneered methods for isolating and epigenetically profiling rare muscle stem cells, contributed to landmark single-cell aging atlases, and is currently investigating how sex chromosomes and hormonal transitions regulate immune aging across female life stages. She is committed to translating discoveries in aging biology toward interventions that promote healthspan.

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    State University of New York, Stony Brook, New YorkPhDMolecular and Cellular Biology
    Stanford University, CaliforniaPostdoc Stem Cell Biology

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    Decoding Immune Adaptation to Sex, Hormones, and Aging via Single-Cell Analysis and Machine Learning
    Foundation for Women's Health Jun 1, 2026 - May 31, 2028
    Role: Principle Investigator
    Description: This project investigates how immune function is shaped by sex, hormonal transitions, and aging, with a focus on understanding autoimmune disease risk in women. Using single-cell RNA sequencing and machine learning, the study maps how hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and peripheral immune populations are remodeled across female life stages, from puberty through menopause. By integrating sex chromosome composition, hormonal signals, and aging trajectories, the research aims to identify periods of increased immune vulnerability and uncover the biological mechanisms that drive sex differences in immune health. Ultimately, this work seeks to provide a foundation for predicting immune dysfunction before irreversible tissue damage occurs and developing more personalized approaches to disease prevention and immune health.
    Understanding the Role of Skeletal Muscle as An Endocrine Organ to Regulate Mammalian Aging
    Hevolution Foundation Feb 1, 2024 - Jan 31, 2028
    Role: Co-Investigator
    Description: Skeletal muscle is increasingly recognized as a key regulator of systemic aging through the release of signaling molecules that influence metabolism, inflammation, and tissue function throughout the body. This project investigates the role of skeletal muscle as an endocrine organ in regulating systemic aging. Using multi-omics approaches, including bulk and single-cell transcriptomics, epigenomics, and metabolomics combined with in vivo protein labeling, the study examines how muscle-derived signals change with age and are modulated by exercise. The goal is to identify the molecular mediators responsible for the beneficial effects of exercise on aging tissues and systemic health, with the long-term aim of developing interventions that promote healthy aging and extend healthspan.

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    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help. to make corrections and additions.
    Newest   |   Oldest   |   Most Cited   |   Most Discussed   |   Timeline   |   Field Summary   |   Plain Text
    Altmetrics Details PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Targeting C1q signaling in fibro-adipogenic progenitors prevents regenerative fibrosis of aged muscle. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2026 Jan 13; 123(2):e2423340122. Kanugovi A, Aguiari P, Choi R, Kim S, Wu D, De Morree A, Bui S, Lam R, Biressi S, Liu L, Rando TA. PMID: 41505520; PMCID: PMC12799171.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    2. Enhancer Rewiring Orchestrates Inflammation and Loss of Cell Identity During Muscle Stem Cell Aging. Aging Cell. 2026 01; 25(1):e70289. Shi C, Yang N, Pizano E, Wang L, Occean JR, Cui CY, Liu L, Dunn C, Boadu F, Meng Q, Banskota N, Yang JH, Fan J, De S, Cheng J, Rando TA, Sartorelli V, Sen P. PMID: 41239549; PMCID: PMC12740102.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    3. Spatial transcriptomic clocks reveal cell proximity effects in brain ageing. Nature. 2025 02; 638(8049):160-171. Sun ED, Zhou OY, Hauptschein M, Rappoport N, Xu L, Navarro Negredo P, Liu L, Rando TA, Zou J, Brunet A. PMID: 39695234; PMCID: PMC11798877.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 22     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    4. Hematologic DNMT3A reduction and high-fat diet synergize to promote weight gain and tissue inflammation. iScience. 2024 Mar 15; 27(3):109122. Reyes JM, Tovy A, Zhang L, Bortoletto AS, Rosas C, Chen CW, Waldvogel SM, Guzman AG, Aguilar R, Gupta S, Liu L, Buckley MT, Patel KR, Marcogliese AN, Li Y, Curry CV, Rando TA, Brunet A, Parchem RJ, Rau RE, Goodell MA. PMID: 38414863; PMCID: PMC10897855.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5  
    5. Depletion of SAM leading to loss of heterochromatin drives muscle stem cell ageing. Nat Metab. 2024 Jan; 6(1):153-168. Kang J, Benjamin DI, Kim S, Salvi JS, Dhaliwal G, Lam R, Goshayeshi A, Brett JO, Liu L, Rando TA. PMID: 38243132; PMCID: PMC10976122.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 31     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    6. Exercise reprograms the inflammatory landscape of multiple stem cell compartments during mammalian aging. Cell Stem Cell. 2023 05 04; 30(5):689-705.e4. Liu L, Kim S, Buckley MT, Reyes JM, Kang J, Tian L, Wang M, Lieu A, Mao M, Rodriguez-Mateo C, Ishak HD, Jeong M, Wu JC, Goodell MA, Brunet A, Rando TA. PMID: 37080206; PMCID: PMC10216894.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 53     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    7. Cell-type-specific aging clocks to quantify aging and rejuvenation in neurogenic regions of the brain. Nat Aging. 2023 01; 3(1):121-137. Buckley MT, Sun ED, George BM, Liu L, Schaum N, Xu L, Reyes JM, Goodell MA, Weissman IL, Wyss-Coray T, Rando TA, Brunet A. PMID: 37118510; PMCID: PMC10154228.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 106     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    8. Fasting induces a highly resilient deep quiescent state in muscle stem cells via ketone body signaling. Cell Metab. 2022 06 07; 34(6):902-918.e6. Benjamin DI, Both P, Benjamin JS, Nutter CW, Tan JH, Kang J, Machado LA, Klein JDD, de Morree A, Kim S, Liu L, Dulay H, Feraboli L, Louie SM, Nomura DK, Rando TA. PMID: 35584694; PMCID: PMC9177797.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 40     Fields:    Translation:Cells
    9. Single-Cell RNA Sequencing (scRNA-seq) in Cardiac Tissue: Applications and Limitations. Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2021; 17:641-657. Wang M, Gu M, Liu L, Liu Y, Tian L. PMID: 34629873; PMCID: PMC8495612.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 12     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    10. Hairless regulates heterochromatin maintenance and muscle stem cell function as a histone demethylase antagonist. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 09 14; 118(37). Liu L, Rodriguez-Mateo C, Huang P, Huang A, Lieu A, Mao M, Chung M, Yang S, Yu K, Charville GW, Gan Q, Rando TA. PMID: 34493660; PMCID: PMC8449361.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    11. Targeting microRNA-mediated gene repression limits adipogenic conversion of skeletal muscle mesenchymal stromal cells. Cell Stem Cell. 2021 07 01; 28(7):1323-1334.e8. Wosczyna MN, Perez Carbajal EE, Wagner MW, Paredes S, Konishi CT, Liu L, Wang TT, Walsh RA, Gan Q, Morrissey CS, Rando TA. PMID: 33945794; PMCID: PMC8254802.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 45     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    12. A single-cell transcriptomic atlas characterizes ageing tissues in the mouse. Nature. 2020 07; 583(7817):590-595. Tabula Muris Consortium. PMID: 32669714; PMCID: PMC8240505.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 563     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    13. Ageing hallmarks exhibit organ-specific temporal signatures. Nature. 2020 07; 583(7817):596-602. Schaum N, Lehallier B, Hahn O, Pálovics R, Hosseinzadeh S, Lee SE, Sit R, Lee DP, Losada PM, Zardeneta ME, Fehlmann T, Webber JT, McGeever A, Calcuttawala K, Zhang H, Berdnik D, Mathur V, Tan W, Zee A, Tan M, Tabula Muris Consortium, Pisco AO, Karkanias J, Neff NF, Keller A, Darmanis S, Quake SR, Wyss-Coray T. PMID: 32669715; PMCID: PMC7757734.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 385     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    14. Honey bee Royalactin unlocks conserved pluripotency pathway in mammals. Nat Commun. 2018 12 04; 9(1):5078. Wan DC, Morgan SL, Spencley AL, Mariano N, Chang EY, Shankar G, Luo Y, Li TH, Huh D, Huynh SK, Garcia JM, Dovey CM, Lumb J, Liu L, Brown KV, Bermudez A, Luong R, Zeng H, Mascetti VL, Pitteri SJ, Wang J, Tu H, Quarta M, Sebastiano V, Nusse R, Rando TA, Carette JE, Bazan JF, Wang KC. PMID: 30510260; PMCID: PMC6277453.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 16     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    15. Single-cell transcriptomics of 20 mouse organs creates a Tabula Muris. Nature. 2018 10; 562(7727):367-372. Tabula Muris Consortium, Overall coordination, Logistical coordination, Organ collection and processing, Library preparation and sequencing, Computational data analysis, Cell type annotation, Writing group, Supplemental text writing group, Principal investigators. PMID: 30283141; PMCID: PMC6642641.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1404     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    16. Impaired Notch Signaling Leads to a Decrease in p53 Activity and Mitotic Catastrophe in Aged Muscle Stem Cells. Cell Stem Cell. 2018 10 04; 23(4):544-556.e4. Liu L, Charville GW, Cheung TH, Yoo B, Santos PJ, Schroeder M, Rando TA. PMID: 30244867; PMCID: PMC6173623.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 90     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    17. UTX in muscle regeneration--the right dose and the right time. J Clin Invest. 2016 Apr 01; 126(4):1233-5. Liu L, Rando TA. PMID: 26999609; PMCID: PMC4811162.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    18. Isolation of skeletal muscle stem cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Nat Protoc. 2015 Oct; 10(10):1612-24. Liu L, Cheung TH, Charville GW, Rando TA. PMID: 26401916; PMCID: PMC4793971.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 226     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    19. mTORC1 controls the adaptive transition of quiescent stem cells from G0 to G(Alert). Nature. 2014 Jun 19; 510(7505):393-6. Rodgers JT, King KY, Brett JO, Cromie MJ, Charville GW, Maguire KK, Brunson C, Mastey N, Liu L, Tsai CR, Goodell MA, Rando TA. PMID: 24870234; PMCID: PMC4065227.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 428     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    20. Chromatin modifications as determinants of muscle stem cell quiescence and chronological aging. Cell Rep. 2013 Jul 11; 4(1):189-204. Liu L, Cheung TH, Charville GW, Hurgo BM, Leavitt T, Shih J, Brunet A, Rando TA. PMID: 23810552; PMCID: PMC4103025.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 308     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    21. Alternative polyadenylation mediates microRNA regulation of muscle stem cell function. Cell Stem Cell. 2012 Mar 02; 10(3):327-36. Boutet SC, Cheung TH, Quach NL, Liu L, Prescott SL, Edalati A, Iori K, Rando TA. PMID: 22385659; PMCID: PMC3306803.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 106     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    22. Maintenance of muscle stem-cell quiescence by microRNA-489. Nature. 2012 Feb 23; 482(7386):524-8. Cheung TH, Quach NL, Charville GW, Liu L, Park L, Edalati A, Yoo B, Hoang P, Rando TA. PMID: 22358842; PMCID: PMC3292200.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 257     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    23. Notch signaling is necessary to maintain quiescence in adult muscle stem cells. Stem Cells. 2012 Feb; 30(2):232-42. Bjornson CR, Cheung TH, Liu L, Tripathi PV, Steeper KM, Rando TA. PMID: 22045613; PMCID: PMC3384696.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 315     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    24. Manifestations and mechanisms of stem cell aging. J Cell Biol. 2011 Apr 18; 193(2):257-66. Liu L, Rando TA. PMID: 21502357; PMCID: PMC3080271.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 160     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    25. Aging of Stem Cells: Intrinsic Changes and Environmental Influences. Handbook of the Biology of Aging, Seventh Edition. 2010. Ling Liu, Thomas A. Rando.
    26. Tracking STAT nuclear traffic. Nat Rev Immunol. 2006 Aug; 6(8):602-12. Reich NC, Liu L. PMID: 16868551.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 194     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    27. Identification of STAT3 as a specific substrate of breast tumor kinase. Oncogene. 2006 Aug 10; 25(35):4904-12. Liu L, Gao Y, Qiu H, Miller WT, Poli V, Reich NC. PMID: 16568091.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 52     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    28. STAT3 nuclear import is independent of tyrosine phosphorylation and mediated by importin-alpha3. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Jun 07; 102(23):8150-5. Liu L, McBride KM, Reich NC. PMID: 15919823; PMCID: PMC1149424.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 171     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
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