I am a biomedical scientist passionate about understanding how cellular stress reprograms the immune system to shape health and disease. Trained in Singapore and at UC San Diego, my research journey has taken me from studying mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy, to uncovering how Ox-mtDNA fuels inflammation, autoimmunity, and aging. At the VBRI and MCW, I am excited to build a collaborative and inclusive lab where curiosity, innovation, and mentorship drive discoveries that can translate into new therapies.

The Xian Lab is actively recruiting! Come work with us using cutting-edge immunology, genetics, and bioinformatics, to explore the dialogue between mitochondria and the immune system! Together we will push the boundaries of discovery and inspire new strategies to treat autoimmunity, neurodegeneration, and cancer.

Please contact Dr. Xian for more information hxian@Versiti.org.

• Arthritis National Research Foundation (#1291101)
  “Activation of Antigen-Presenting Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells in Autoimmune Disease”

1. Xian, H., Watari, K., Ohira, M., Brito, J., Buttice, S., Onyuru, J., Zuniga, E., Hoffman, H. and Karin, M. (2025) Mitochondrial DNA oxidation propagates autoimmunity by enabling plasmacytoid dendritic cells to induce TFH differentiation. Nature Immunology. PMID: 40528028; DOI: 10.1038/s41590-025-02179-7
   
   

   – Highlighted by News & Views (Arditi & Crother, Nature Immunology, 2025).

2. Hu, D., Yang, Q., Xian, H., Wang, M., Zheng, H., Mallilankaraman, K., Yu, V. and Liou, Y.C. (2025) Death-associated protein 3 triggers intrinsic apoptosis via Miro1 upon inducing intracellular calcium changes. MedComm. PMID: 40351389, DOI: 10.1002/mco2.70214
3. Nilsson, AR., Xian, H., Shalapour, S., Cammenga, J., & Karin, M. (2023) IRF1 regulates self-renewal and stress-responsiveness to support hematopoietic stem cell maintenance. Science Advances. PMID: 37889967, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg5391
4. Xian, H., & Karin M. (2023). Oxidized mitochondrial DNA: a protective signal gone awry. Trends in Immunology. PMID: 36739208; DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2023.01.006
5. Xian, H., Watari, K., Sanchez-Lopez, E., Offenberger, J., Onyuru, J., Sampath, H., . . . Karin, M. (2022). Oxidized DNA fragments exit mitochondria via mPTP- and VDAC-dependent channels to activate NLRP3 inflammasome and interferon signaling. Immunity. PMID: 35835107, DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2022.06.007.
   
   

   – Selected as Best of Immunity 2022; highlighted by Preview (Lawrence et al, Immunity, 2022).

6. Xian, H., Liu, Y., Rundberg Nilsson, A., Gatchalian, R., Crother, T. R., Tourtellotte, W. G., . . . Karin, M., Sanchez-Lopez, E. (2021). Metformin inhibition of mitochondrial ATP and DNA synthesis abrogates NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pulmonary inflammation. Immunity, PMID: 34115964, DOI:10.1016/j.immuni.2021.05.004.
7. Xian, H., & Liou, Y. C. (2020). Functions of outer mitochondrial membrane proteins: mediating the crosstalk between mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy. Cell Death & Differentiation. PMID: 33208889, DOI: 10.1038/s41418-020-00657-z
8. Xian, H., Xiao, L., Yang, Q., Shen, H., & Liou, Y.C. (2019). STX17 dynamically regulated by Fis1 induces mitophagy via hierarchical macroautophagic mechanism. Nature Communications. PMID: 31053718, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10096-1
9. Xian, H., & Liou, Y. C. (2019). Loss of MIEF1/MiD51 confers susceptibility to BAX-mediated cell death and PINK1-PRKN-dependent mitophagy. Autophagy. PMID: 30894073, DOI:10.1080/15548627.2019.1596494
10. Xiao, L., Xian, H., Lee, K. Y., Xiao, B., Wang, H., Yu, F., . . . Liou, Y. C. (2015). Death-associated Protein 3 Regulates Mitochondrial-encoded Protein Synthesis and Mitochondrial Dynamics. J Biol Chem, PMID: 26306039, DOI:10.1074/jbc.M115.673343
11. Xiao, B., Goh, J. Y., Xiao, L., Xian, H., Lim, K. L., & Liou, Y. C. (2017). Reactive oxygen species trigger Parkin/PINK1 pathway-dependent mitophagy by inducing mitochondrial recruitment of Parkin. J Biol Chem, PMID: 28848050, DOI:10.1074/jbc.M117.787739