Chief Physician, Ph.D. Supervisor, Director of the Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunity at the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China (Anhui Provincial Hospital). He is a leading academic and technical figure in Anhui Province, a chairman of the Clinical Epidemiology Branch of the Anhui Medical Association, a deputy director of the Rheumatology Branch of the Anhui Medical Association, a member of the Gout Group of the Rheumatology Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, and head of the Gout Group of the Anhui Medical Doctor Association.
Education and Work Experience
- 1990-1995: Bachelor’s in Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University
- 2002-2005: Master’s in Internal Medicine (Rheumatology), Anhui Medical University
- 2008-2011: Ph.D. in Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Anhui Medical University
- 2014-2015: Postdoctoral Fellowship in Immunology, Johns Hopkins University, USA
- 1995-present: Physician at the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China (Anhui Provincial Hospital)
Academic Achievements and Impact
Dr. Tao has dedicated over 30 years to clinical, teaching, and research work in internal medicine and rheumatology, mentoring more than 20 doctoral and master's students. His main academic achievements include discovering ATP as a second pathogenic signal in gout and the role of its receptor P2X7R in regulating gout onset, which redefined the pathogenesis of gout. He also identified the pivotal role of regulatory T cells in the transition between acute and chronic gout, providing new therapeutic targets for intractable gout. His work has been recognized with three provincial science and technology awards, and he has published over 120 SCI papers in journals such as Cancer Discovery, Immunity, and Journal of Experimental Medicine, with more than 4,000 citations and an H-index of 30.
Ongoing Projects (as Principal Investigator)
1. Identification of key regulatory targets of inflammatory cell pyrodeath and screening and validation of inhibitors. Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, 1 million RMB, 2023-2025.
Main Research Directions (Graduate Programs) and Content
Biology:
1. Inflammatory signal transduction
2. Regulation of immune cell differentiation
Clinical Medicine:
1. Internal Medicine
- Mechanisms of metabolic and inflammatory/immune regulation in allergy and rheumatic diseases
- Screening and validation of targets and interventions for precision treatment of allergy and rheumatic diseases
Representative Papers (Last Five Years)
1. Luo C, Liu X, Liu Y, Shao H, Gao J, Tao J*. Upregulation of CD39 During Gout Attacks Promotes Spontaneous Remission of Acute Gouty Inflammation. Inflammation. 2023 Dec 6. doi: 10.1007/s10753-023-01936-w. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38055119.
2. Zhang H, Gao J, Tang Y, Jin T*, Tao J*. Inflammasomes cross-talk with lymphocytes to connect the innate and adaptive immune response. J Adv Res. 2023 Jan 18:S2090-1232(23)00025-5.
3. Li X, Wan A, Liu Y, Li M, Zhu Z, Luo C, Tao J*. P2X7R Mediates the Synergistic Effect of ATP and MSU Crystals to Induce Acute Gouty Arthritis. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2023 Jan 12;2023:3317307.
4. Gao J, Zhang H, Yang Y, Tao J*. Therapeutic Potential of Targeting the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Inflammation. 2023 Jun;46(3):835-852.
5. Liu Y, Feng S, Liu X, Tang Y, Li X, Luo C, Tao J*. IFN-beta and EIF2AK2 are potential biomarkers for interstitial lung disease in anti-MDA5 positive dermatomyositis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023 Mar 13:kead117.
6. Li MY, Fang X, Ma Y, Pan XY, Dai XJ, Li XM, Li XL, Wang YP, Tao JH*, Li XP*. The functional change of the P2X7R containing the Ala348 to Thr polymorphism is associated with the pathogenesis of gout. Sci Rep. 2023 Apr 5;13(1):5603.
7. Wu ZD, Chen C, He YS, Chen Y, Feng YT, Huang JX, Yin KJ, Wang J, Tao JH*, Pan HF*. Association between air pollution exposure and outpatient visits for dermatomyositis in a humid subtropical region of China: a time-series study. Environ Geochem Health. 2023 Aug;45(8):6095-6107.
8. Li X, Liu Y, Luo C, Tao J*. Z1456467176 alleviates gouty arthritis by allosterically modulating P2X7R to inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Front Pharmacol. 2022 Aug 16;13:979939.
9. Zhang H, Gao J, Fang W, Tang Y, Fang X, Jin T*, Tao J*. Role of NINJ1 in Gout Flare and Potential as a Drug Target. J Inflamm Res. 2022 Sep 28;15:5611-5620.
10. Wan A, Zhao WD, Tao JH*. Causal effects of systemic lupus erythematosus on endometrial cancer: A univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization study. Front Oncol. 2022 Oct 3;12:930243.
11. Wu J, Ye Q, Fang L, Deng L, Liao T, Liu B, Lv X, Zhang J, Tao J*, Ye D*. Short-term association of NO2 with hospital visits for chronic kidney disease and effect modification by temperature in Hefei, China: A time series study. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2022 Jun 1;237:113505.
12. Liu Y, Tao X, Tao J*. Strategies of Targeting Inflammasome in the Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Front Immunol. 2022 May 18;13:894847.
13. Dai X, Fang X, Xia Y, Li M, Li X, Wang Y, Tao J*, Li X*. ATP-Activated P2X7R Promote the Attack of Acute Gouty Arthritis in Rats Through Activating NLRP3 Inflammasome and Inflammatory Cytokine Production. J Inflamm Res. 2022 Feb 23;15:1237-1248.
14. Li X, Gao J, Tao J*. Purinergic Signaling in the Regulation of Gout Flare and Resolution. Front Immunol. 2021 Dec 1;12:785425. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.785425.
15. Dong Y, Li X, Liu Y, Gao J, Tao J*. The molecular targets of taurine confer anti-hyperlipidemic effects. Life Sci. 2021 Aug 1;278:119579.
16. Zhang H, Zahid A, Ismail H, Tang Y, Jin T*, Tao J*. An overview of disease models for NLRP3 inflammasome over-activation. Expert Opin Drug Discov. 2021 Apr;16(4):429-446.
17. Zhang H, Tang Y, Tao J*. Sex-Related Overactivation of NLRP3 Inflammasome Increases Lethality of the Male COVID-19 Patients. Front Mol Biosci. 2021 Jun 4;8:671363.
18. Zahid A, Li B, Kombe AJK, Jin T*, Tao J*. Pharmacological Inhibitors of the NLRP3 Inflammasome. Front Immunol. 2019 Oct 25;10:2538.
Contact Information
Email: taojinhui@ustc.edu.cn
Phone: 0551-62224162