Room: 410D, BMSB Office: 2609 6781 Email: whko@cuhk.edu.hk Personal homepage: click here

KO, Wing Hung

Associate Professor

B. Sc. (1989) Chinese University of Hong Kong
Ph. D. (1992) Chinese University of Hong Kong
C. Biol.; M. I. Biol.

Warden, Ying Lin Tang, Chung Chi College (http://www.yinglin.cc)

Research Interests: Epithelial transport, P2Y receptors, Calcium signaling, Traditional Chinese Medicine and natural flavonoids, Using photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy in cancer treatment

My research aims to explore (i) the control of fluid and electrolyte transport by mammalian epithelial cells and the physiological basis of disease such as cystic fibrosis, equine anhidrosis, secretory diarrhoea, that are characterised by dysfunction of these processes; and (ii) the interactions between different signaling pathways (e.g. cAMP, Ca²⁺), and the role of which they may play in controlling the activity of ion channels in epithelial, endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells.

Various techniques such as short-circuit current measurement, tissue culture, ELISA, protein kinases assay, RT-PCR, adenoviral mediated gene transfer, real-time digital fluorescence imaging, etc. are employed in these studies. In particular, a simultaneous measurement technique that allows concurrent monitoring of bioelectric and fluorescent signals in polarized epithelia was developed in my laboratory. This is an extremely difficult experimental approach and there are only a few laboratories in the world where this technique could be used.

Recently, in collaboration with Prof. Dennis Ng (Chemistry, CUHK) and Prof. Wing-Ping Fong (Biochemistry, CUHK), we have been investigating the anti-cancer mechanisms of phthalocyanine-based photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy.

Selected Publications:

• Wong, A.M., Chow, A.W., Au, S.C., Wong, C.C. and Ko, W.H. Apical vs. basolateral P2Y₆ receptor-mediated Cl^- secretion in immortalized bronchial epithelia. American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, 2008 (in press).
  
• Yang, Z.H., Yu, H.J., Pan, A., Du, J.Y., Ruan, Y.C., Ko, W.H., Chan, H.C. and Zhou, W.L. Cellular mechanisms underlying the laxative effect of flavonol naringenin on rat constipation model. PLoS ONE, 3(10), e3348, 2008.
  
• Yue, G.G., Lau, C.B., Fung, K.P., Leung, P.C. and Ko, W.H. Effects of Cordyceps sinensis, Cordyceps militaris and their isolated compounds on ion transport in Calu-3 human airway epithelial cells. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 117(1):92-101, 2008.
  
• Chung, H.L., Yue, G.G., To, K.F., Su, Y.L., Huang, Y. and Ko, W.H. Effect of Scutellariae Radix extract on experimental dextran-sulfate sodium-induced colitis in rats. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 13(42), 5605-11, 2007.
  
• Lo, P.C., Zhao, B., Duan, W., Fong. W.P., Ko, W.H. and D. K. P. Ng. Synthesis and in vitro photodynamic activity of mono-substituted amphiphilic zinc (II) phthalocyanines. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 17(4), 1073-7, 2007.
  
• Chambers, L.A., Constable, M., Clunes, M.T., Olver, R.E., Ko, W.H., Inglis, S.K. and Wilson, S.M. Identification of adenosine receptors that mediate control over human airway epithelial Na+ transport. British Journal of Pharmacology, 149(1), 43 – 55, 2006.
  
• Yue, G.G.L., Yip, T.W.N., Huang, Y. and Ko, W.H. Cellular mechanism for potentiation of Ca²⁺-mediated Cl- secretion by the flavonoid baicalein in intestinal epithelia. Journal of Biological Chemistry 279(38), 39310-39316, 2004.
  
• Wong, C.H.Y. and Ko, W.H. Stimulation of Cl^- secretion via membrane-restricted Ca²⁺ signalling mediated by P2Y receptors in polarized epithelia. Journal of Biological Chemistry 277(11), 9016-9021, 2002.
• Ko, W.H., Law, V.W.Y., Yip, W.C.Y., Lau, C.W., Chen, Z.Y. and Huang, Y. Stimulation of chloride secretion by baicalein in isolated rat distal colon. American Journal of Physiology - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology 282, G508 - G518, 2002.

Grants

• HK$ 525,000 from Competitive RGC Earmarked Grant: Role of P2Y receptors in asthmatic inflammation and rhinovirus-induced cellular responses in human bronchial epithelium. (2008 – 2010); Principal investigator.
  
• HK$ 50,000 from Direct Grant for Research, CUHK: Expression of Cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CysLT₁) in human bronchial epithelia and its possible interaction with P2Y₆ receptors in modulating chloride secretion. (2008); Principal investigator.
  
• HK$ 428,000 from Competitive RGC Earmarked Grant: Synthesis and in vitro photodynamic activities of glycosylated phthalocyanines – a highly promising class of photosensitizers for targeted photodynamic therapy. (2006 - 2008); Co-investigator.
  
• HK$ 718,987 from Competitive RGC Earmarked Grant: Development of novel phthalocyanine-based photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy: from chemical synthesis to in vitro and in vivo anti-cancer effects. (2006 - 2008); Co-investigator.