Professor CHOW, Billy Kwok Chong

Teaching Areas

• Endocrinology
• Molecular Biology

Research Interests

• Bioactive Peptides and G Protein-coupled Receptor
• Neuroendocrinology of Secretin
• Drug discovery and development
• Nutritional supplement

Current Research

• Role of Secretin and its receptor in thirst regulatory neural circuits
• Co-evolution of function and structure of PACAP with the hypothalamo-pituitary axis from invertebrates to vertebrates.
• Discovery of new drug candidates for allergy, hypertension and obesity
• Unveiling the detoxification and antioxidant potential of Hong Kong pearl oyster powder 

Research Team

Technician:

Mr.Oscar Chow

Post-doc:

Dr. Zhang Fengwei

Dr. Shaik Abdullah Nawabjan

PhD students:

Mr. Su Liuru

Mr. Lin Minghui Leo

Mr. Tao Zhengyi

Ms. Lin Bilian

Research Assistant:

Ms. Muthu Iswarya Gandhi Sethuraman

Ms. Xiao Deng

Ms. Nisha Kandel

Fellowships

• Croucher Senior Research Fellow
• University of Kyoto
• University of British Columbia

Patents

• IP00835 ((US): Purmophamine as a small compound positive allosteric modulator of secretin receptor for the treatment of hypertension
• IP01041(US, PRC and HK) MRGPRX2 Antagonist for the Treatment of Pseudo Allergic Reactions
• Hong Kong Patent HK30085211: Detoxification drug and use of pearl powder in the preparation of detoxification drug
• Hong Kong Patent HK30103200: Improving Intestinal Health under Obesity by Optimizing Gut Microbiota: Nano Pearl (Pinctada imbricata) Powder
• Hong Kong Patent PSR24004HK(C): Use of pearl oyster shell powder in the preparation of antioxidants
   

Selected Publications

https://scholar.google.com.tw/citations?user=kjfd3oAAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

2024

• SA Nawabjan, K Singh, MI GS, RKH Au-Yeung, F Zhang, L Zhang, H El-Nezami, BKC Chow 2024.Preclinical Toxicity Evaluation of the Novel Anti-Hypertensive Compound KSD179019. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 196 (115195)
• SA Nawabjan, F Zhang, MI GS, Y Xinyue, YW Tat, K Balu, BKC Chow. 2024. Preparation, Characterization of Pearl Powder and its In Vivo Detoxification Potential for Heavy Metals in Mice. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, 100524
• M Kumar, YG Choi, T Wong, PH Li, BKC Chow.2024 Beyond the classic players: Mas‐related G protein‐coupled receptor member X2 role in pruritus and skin diseases. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology
• L Su, G Li, BKC Chow, JCR Cardoso. 2024. Neuropeptides and receptors in the cephalochordate: a crucial model for understanding the origin and evolution of vertebrate neuropeptide systems. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. 594 (112324)
• K Lao, HWF Mak, V Chiang, M Kumar, BKC Chow, PH Li. 2024. Mas‐Related G‐Protein Coupled Receptor‐X2 and Chemokine (C–C Motif) Ligand 2 Correlate With Disease Activity Among Treatment‐Naïve Chinese Patients With Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria. Clinical & Experimental Allergy
• TK Wong, YG Choi, PH Li, BKC Chow, M Kumar. 2024. MRGPRX2 antagonist GE1111 attenuated DNFB-induced atopic dermatitis in mice by reducing inflammatory cytokines and restoring skin integrity. Frontiers in Immunology. 15 (1406438)
• K Duraisamy, M Kumar, A Nawabjan, EKK Lo, M Lin, B Lefranc, E Bonnafé, M Treilhou, H El-Nezami, J Leprince, BKC Chow.2024. MRGPRB2/X2 and the analogous effects of its agonist and antagonist in DSS-induced colitis in mice. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. 174(116471)
• LH Lam, W Li, WC Wu, KC Chow, WYD Au, G Xu, G Wang, X Qian, KM Ng, SA Nawabjan, MIG Sethuraman, WY Choi, BKC Chow, SO Leung, CW Hui.2024. SM17, a new IL-17RB-targeting antibody, ameliorates disease progression in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis. Allergy. 79 (6), 1625-1628
• FW Zhang, W Qiao, J Wei, ZY Tao, MH Lin, KMC Ng, L Zhang, KWK Yeung, BKC Chow Secretin-Dependent Signals in the Ventromedial Hypothalamus Regulate Energy Metabolism and Bone Homeostasis. Nature Communications. 15 (1) 1030
   

2023

• F Zhang, Z Tao, C Chen, BKC Chow.2023. Effects of secretin gene knockout on the diversity, composition, and function of gut microbiota in adult male mice. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. 13:13:1257857
• Y Su, Y Luo, P Zhang, H Lin, W Pu, H Zhang, H Wang, Y Hao, Y Xiao, X Zhgut microbiota's diversity, composition, and function ang, X Wei, S Nie, K Zhang, Q Fu, H Chen, N Huang, Y Ren, M Wu, BKC Chow, X Chen, W Jin, F Wang, L Zhao, F Rao.2023. Glucose-induced CRL4COP1-p53 axis amplifies glycometabolism to drive tumorigenesis. Molecular Cell. 83(P2316-2331)
• M Kumar, K Duraisamy, RR Annapureddy, CB Chan, BKC Chow.2023. Novel small molecule MRGPRX2 antagonists inhibit a murine model of allergic reaction. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.151(1110-1122)
• Y Liu, J Wei, Z Luo, J Cui, Y Luo, SOK Mak, K So, L Zhang, BKC Chow.2023. A gut-brain axis mediates sodium appetite via gastrointestinal peptide regulation on medulla - hypothalamic circuits. Science Advances. 9(7)
• J Wei, Q Han, Z Luo, L Liu, J Cui, J Tan, BKC Chow, KF So, L Zhang. 2023. Amygdala neural ensemble mediates mouse social investigation behaviors. National Science Review. 10 (nwac179)
• P Berg, T Jensen, JF Andersen, MV Sorensen, T Wang, H Malte, BKC Chow, J Leipziger. 2023. Loss of the secretin receptor impairs renal bicarbonate excretion and aggravates metabolic alkalosis during acute base-loading. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 10 (1681)

2022

• K Singh, SA Nawabjan, L Zhang, H El-Nezami, RR Annapureddy, BKC Chow. 2022. Discovery of small-molecule modulators of the secretin receptor: Purmorphamine as novel anti-hypertensive agent. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 242, 114642
• F Zhang, SOK Mak, Y Liu, Y Ke, F Rao, WH Yung, L Zhang, BKC Chow. 2022. Secretin receptor deletion in the subfornical organ attenuates the activation of excitatory neurons under dehydration. Current Biology. 32(22), 4832-4841
• L Xue, J Sun, J Liu, C Hu, D Wu, C Nie, K Zhang, Y Wang, X Li, Y Lu, L Zhang, D Zhang, M Fan, H Zian, H Jiang, J Wong, Y Li, H Ying, BKC Chow, L Wang, Y Li. 2022. Maternal secretin ameliorates obesity by promoting white adipose tissue browning in offspring. EMBO reports. 23: e54132
• J On, L Su, H Shen, A Arokiaraj, J Cardoso, G Li, BKC Chow. 2022. PACAP/GCGa Is an Important Modulator of the Amphioxus CNS-Hatschek’s Pit Axis, the Homolog of the Vertebrate Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis in the Basal Chordates. Frontiers in endocrinology. 13, 850040
• Y Sun, Z Wang, C Nie, L Xue, Y Wang, J Liu, M Fan, D Zhang, R He, X Zhang, H Qian, BKC Chow, Y Li, L Wang. 2022. Hydroxysafflor yellow A triggered a fast-to-slow muscle fiber-type conversion via regulating FoxO1 in myocytes. Food & Function.13(11), 6317-6328
• K Duraisamy, K Singh, M Kumar, B Lefranc, E Bonnafé, M Treilhou, J Leprince, BKC Chow. 2022. P17 induces chemotaxis and differentiation of monocytes via MRGPRX2-mediated mast cell-line activation. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 149(1):275-291

2021

• H Lin, Y Yan, Y Luo, WY So, X Wei, X Zhang, X Yang, J Zhang, Y Su, X Yang, B Zhang, K Zhang, N Jiang, BKC Chow, W Han, F Wang, F Rao. 2021. IP6-assisted CSN-COP1 competition regulates a CRL4-ETV5 proteolytic checkpoint to safeguard glucose-induced insulin secretion. Nature Communications. 12(1): 2461
• R Ke,  SIS Lok,  K Singh, BKC Chow, LTO  Lee. 2021.GIP receptor suppresses PAC1receptor-mediated neuronal differentiation via formation of a receptor heterocomplex. Journal of Neurochemistry. 157 (6), 1850-1860
• M Kumar, K Duraisamy, BKC Chow. 2021. Unlocking the Non-IgE-Mediated Pseudo-Allergic Reaction Puzzle with Mas-Related G-Protein Coupled Receptor Member X2 (MRGPRX2). Cells, 10, 1033
• R Ke, SIS Lok, K Singh, BKC Chow, H Janovjak, LTO. Lee. 2021. Formation of Kiss1R/GPER Heterocomplexes Negatively Regulates Kiss1R-mediated Signalling through Limiting Receptor Cell Surface Expression. Journal of Molecular Biology 433(7): 166843
• L Ciranna, D Reglodi, BKC Chow, D Vaudry. 2021. Novel Therapeutic Potential for Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP), Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) and Related Peptides in Cognition Deficits. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience. 15

2020

• Y Heshiki, R Vazquez-Uribe, J Li, Y Ni, S Quainoo, L Imamovic, J Li M Sørensen, BKC Chow, G J Weiss, A Xu, MOA Sommer, G Panagiotou. 2020. Predictable modulation of cancer treatment outcomes by the gut microbiota. Microbiome. 8(1), 1-14
• W Nong, ZYH Chau, X Jiang, J Qin, KY Ma, KM Chan, TF Chan, BKC Chow, HS Kwan, CKC Wong, JW Qiu, JHL Hui, KH Chu. 2020. A crustacean annotated transcriptome (CAT) database. BMC Genomics 21, (1), 1-5
• M Kumar, K Singh, K Duraisamy, A Allam, J Ajarem, BKC Chow.2020. Protective effect of genistein against compound 48/80 induced anaphylactoid shock via inhibiting MAS related G protein-coupled receptor X2 (MRGPRX2). Molecules 25 (5), 1028

2019

• T Zheng, J Li, Y Ni, K Kang, MA Misiakou, L Imamovic, BKC Chow, AA Rode, P Bytzer, M Sommer, G Panagiotou. 2019. Mining, analyzing, and integrating viral signals from metagenomic data. Microbiome. 7(1): 21
• AM ZAW, R Sekar, SOK Mak, HKW Law, BKC Chow. 2019. Loss of secretin results in systemic and pulmonary hypertension with cardiopulmonary pathologies in mice. Scientific Reports, 9 (1), 1-13
• J Bai, K Duraisamy, SOK Mak, A Allam, J Ajarem, Z Li, BKC Chow. 2019. Role of SCTR/AT1aR heteromer in mediating ANGII-induced aldosterone secretion. PLoS ONE 14 (9) e0222005
• X Yang, D Brobst, WS Chan, MCL Tse, O Herlea-Pana, P Ahuja, X Bi, AM Zaw, ZSW Kwong, WH Jia, ZG Zhang, N Zhang, SKH Chow, WH Cheung, JCY Louie, TM Griffin, W Nong, JHL Hui, GH Du, HL Noh, S Sawngnipanthkul, BKC Chow, JK Kim, CW Lee, CB Chan. 2019. Muscle-generated BDNF is a sexually dimorphic myokine that controls metabolic flexibility, Science Signaling, 12(594), eaau1468
• JSW On, AWR Arokiaraj, BKC Chow. 2019. Molecular evolution of CRH and CRHR subfamily before the evolutionary origin of vertebrate. Peptides. 9781 (19): 30045-2
• L Wang, L Zhang, BKC Chow. 2019. Secretin Prevents Apoptosis in the Developing Cerebellum Through Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. Journal of Molecular Neuroscience 1-10
• SOK Mak, L Zhang, BKC Chow. 2019. In vivo actions of SCTR/AT1aR heteromer in controlling Vp expression and release viacFos/cAMP/CREB pathway in magnocellular neurons of PVN. FASEB Journal. 33 (4): 5389-5398

Awards and Honours

• 2023        Distinguish Presentation Award VPAC Osaka
• 2022        Healthy Longevity Catalyst Award 2022 in the Healthy Longevity Global Grant Challenge Competition organized by the

                        U.S. National Academy of Medicine (https://healthylongevitychallenge.org).

• 2022        Distinguished Presentation Award, by VPAC ISBAP 2022 
  2017        Alumni Builder Award, University of British Columbia
• 2010        Research Output Prize, The University of Hong Kong.
• 2007        Akira Arimura Young Investigator Award: By the international  VIP/PACAP society.  In memory of Prof Arimura who founded this research area, I was awarded the first Akira Arimura young investigator award in 2007 in recognition of my contributions in understanding the pleiotropic activities of secretin in our body.
• 2005        Grace Pickford Medal: By the International Federation of Comparative Endocrine Societies (IFCE). This is the most prestigious award for comparative endocrinologists, given out once every 4 years in the international comparative endocrinology meeting. I am the first scientist from Hong Kong receiving this honor.
• 2005        Outstanding Researcher Award, by The University of Hong Kong.
• 2004        Croucher Senior Research Fellow by Croucher Foundation.
• 1995        Travel award for young scientist, International congress Neuroscience.
• 1992        Medical Research Council, Canada, Postdoctoral Fellowship.