Texas A&M University College of Dentistry

Hua Zhang, PhD, MD

Instructional Associate Professor Department of Biomedical Sciences | College of Dentistry
Contact
  • 214-828-8487
  • 3302 Gaston Ave., Room 456
    Dallas, TX 75246
  • Fax: 214-828-8487
Groups and Affiliations

Biography

Career History

Instructional Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University College of Dentistry (2024-present)

Instructional Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University College of Dentistry (2017-2024)

Assistant Research Scientist, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University College of Dentistry (2016-2017)

Visiting Senior Resident, Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China (1999-2000)

Pathologist and Instructor, Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao, China (1997-1999)

Education

  • Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Biomedical Sciences Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX, 2010-2016
  • Ph.D. Pharmacology/Molecular Biology & Biochemistry School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, MO, 2010
  • M.S. Medical Pathology Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao Medical, China, 1997
  • M.D. Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao Medical, China, 1994

Research Interests

  • My research interests include the Roles of bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP1)/tolloid-like I (TLL1) proteinases in dentinogenesis and the roles of FAM20C (Family with sequence similarity 20, member C) and SIBLING (small integrin binding ligands N-linked glycoprotein) family proteins in brain homeostasis.

Teaching Interests

  • Teaching responsibilities include Dental Pharmacology (dental), Medical Pharmacology (dental), General Pathology (dental), Gross Anatomy (dental), Cellular and Molecular Biology (dental and graduate).

Recent Grants

  • Family with Sequence Similarity 20, Member C (FAM20C) and Brain Calcification. NIH/NINDS R03NS116744; 05/01/21-09/30/24 (PI)
  • Functions of Family with Sequence Similarity 20 – Member C (FAM20C) and Member A (FAM20A) in Amelogenesis and Dentinogenesis. NIH/NIDCR R01 DE030081; 09/14/2020-08/31/2026 (Co-Investigator)
  • Dentin Sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) and Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) in Dentinogenesis Imperfecta (DGI) and Odontoblast Function. NIH/NIDCR R01 DE027345; 07/30/2018-05/31/2025 (Collaborator)

Publications

2025 Gingival squamous cell carcinoma: an epidemiologic, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical study of 419 cases.
Lee AM, Wright JM, Abraham C, Zhang H, Woo VL. Gingival squamous cell carcinoma: an epidemiologic, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical study of 419 cases. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2025 Sep 18; S2212-4403(25)01210-6
2025 Comparative study of the clinicopathologic characteristics and immunohistochemical expression of recurrent and nonrecurrent glandular odontogenic cysts: a retrospective longitudinal cohort multicenter study.
Peraza-Labrador A, Wright J, Woo V, Kowalski M, Tikkhanarak K, Handoo NQ, Wongpattaraworakul W, Bilodeau E, Nor F, Smith MH, Kesterke M, Zhang H, Barros P, Shrestha M. Comparative study of the clinicopathologic characteristics and immunohistochemical expression of recurrent and nonrecurrent glandular odontogenic cysts: a retrospective longitudinal cohort multicenter study. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2025 Aug 22; S2212-4403(25)01169-1.
2024 FAM20A is a golgi-localized Type II transmembrane protein.
Siddiqui MF, Li J, Wang S, Zhang H, Qin C, Lu Y. FAM20A is a golgi-localized Type II transmembrane protein. Sci Rep. 2024 Mar 18; 14(1):6518.
2024 Constitutive expression of spliced X-box binding protein 1 inhibits dentin formation in mice.
Xu Q, Li J, Zhang H, Wang S, Qin C, Lu Y. Constitutive expression of spliced X-box binding protein 1 inhibits dentin formation in mice. Front Physiol. 2024 Jan 10; 14:1319954.
2023 R., Benson M. D., Cheng Y.-S. L., & Qin C. Intracranial calcification in Fam20c-deficient mice recapitulates human Raine syndrome.
Zhang H (first author/corresponding author), Lu Y, Kramer P. R., Benson M. D., Cheng Y.-S. L., & Qin C. Intracranial calcification in Fam20c-deficient mice recapitulates human Raine syndrome. Neurosci Lett. 2023 Apr 1; 802:137176.
2022 Evidence for A Mixed Odontogenic Tumor
Barnts K, Feng J, Qin C, Zhang H, Cheng Y. Adenomatoid Odontogenic Tumor, Evidence for A Mixed Odontogenic Tumor, Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol, 2022 Jun;133(6):675-683.
2022 FAM20C plays a critical role in the development of mouse vertebra.
Huang Y, Chen H, Zhang H, Lu Y, Qin C. FAM20C plays a critical role in the development of mouse vertebra. Spine J. 2022 Feb; 22(2):337-348.
2021 Enamel Defects Associated With Dentin Sialophosphoprotein Mutation in Mice.
Liang T, Xu Q, Zhang H, Wang S, Diekwisch TGH, Qin C, Lu Y. Enamel Defects Associated With Dentin Sialophosphoprotein Mutation in Mice. Front Physiol. 2021 Sep 24; 12:724098.
2021 Effect of high phosphate diet on the formation of dentin in Fam20c-deficient mice.
Zhang H (first author/corresponding author), Xu Q, Lu Y, Qin C. Effect of high phosphate diet on the formation of dentin in Fam20c-deficient mice. Eur J Oral Sci. 2021 Jun; 129(3):e12795.
2021 Constitutive expression of spliced XBP1 causes perinatal lethality in mice.
Xu Q, Zhang H, Wang S, Qin C, Lu Y. Constitutive expression of spliced XBP1 causes perinatal lethality in mice. Genesis. 2021 Apr 23; 59:e23420.
2020 Noggin inhibition of mouse dentinogenesis.
Jani P, Zhang H, Benson MD, Qin C. Noggin inhibition of mouse dentinogenesis. J Oral Biosci. 2020 Mar; 62(1):72-79.
2019 High-Phosphate Diet Improved the Skeletal Development of Fam20c-Deficient Mice.
Zhang H (first author/corresponding author), Li L, Kesterke MJ, Lu Y, Qin C. High-Phosphate Diet Improved the Skeletal Development of Fam20c-Deficient Mice. Cells Tissues Organs. 2019; 208(1-2):25-36.
2019 FAM20A is essential for amelogenesis, but is dispensable for dentinogenesis.
Li L, Saiyin W, Zhang H, Wang S, Xu Q, Qin C, Lu Y. FAM20A is essential for amelogenesis, but is dispensable for dentinogenesis. J Mol Histol. 2019 Dec;50(6):581-591.
2019 Inactivation of FAM20B causes cell fate changes in annulus fibrosus of mouse intervertebral disc and disc defects via the alterations of TGF-β and MAPK signaling pathways.
Saiyin W, Li L, Zhang H, Lu Y, Qin C. Inactivation of FAM20B causes cell fate changes in annulus fibrosus of mouse intervertebral disc and disc defects via the alterations of TGF-β and MAPK signaling pathways. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2019 Dec 1;1865(12):165555.
2019 Mutant Dentin Sialophosphoprotein Causes Dentinogenesis Imperfecta.
Liang T, Zhang H, Xu Q, Wang S, Qin C, Lu Y. Mutant Dentin Sialophosphoprotein Causes Dentinogenesis Imperfecta. J Dent Res. 2019 Jul;98(8):912-919.
2018 Inactivation of Fam20b in the neural crest-derived mesenchyme of mouse causes multiple craniofacial defects.
Liu X, Li N, Zhang H, Liu J, Zhou N, Ran C, Chen X, Lu Y, Wang X, Qin C, Xiao J, Liu C. Inactivation of Fam20b in the neural crest-derived mesenchyme of mouse causes multiple craniofacial defects. Eur J Oral Sci. 2018 Oct;126(5):433-436.
2018 The role of bone morphogenetic proteins 2 and 4 in mouse dentinogenesis.
Jani P, Liu C, Zhang H, Younes K, Benson MD, Qin C. The role of bone morphogenetic proteins 2 and 4 in mouse dentinogenesis. Arch Oral Biol. 2018 Jun;90:33-39.
2018 Transgenic expression of dentin phosphoprotein (DPP) partially rescued the dentin defects of DSPP-null mice.
Zhang H, Xie X, Liu P, Liang T, Lu Y, Qin C. Transgenic expression of dentin phosphoprotein (DPP) partially rescued the dentin defects of DSPP-null mice. PLoS One. 2018;13(4):e0195854.
2018 FAM20C regulates osteoblast behaviors and intracellular signaling pathways in a cell-autonomous manner.
Liu C, Zhang H, Jani P, Wang X, Lu Y, Li N, Xiao J, Qin C. FAM20C regulates osteoblast behaviors and intracellular signaling pathways in a cell-autonomous manner. J Cell Physiol. 2018 Apr;233(4):3476-3486.
2018 Abrogation of Fam20c altered cell behaviors and BMP signaling of immortalized dental mesenchymal cells.
Liu C, Zhou N, Wang Y, Zhang H, Jani P, Wang X, Lu Y, Li N, Xiao J, Qin C. Abrogation of Fam20c altered cell behaviors and BMP signaling of immortalized dental mesenchymal cells. Exp Cell Res. 2018 Feb 15;363(2):188-195.
2017 Specific ablation of mouse Fam20C in cells expressing type I collage leads to skeletal defects and hypophosphatemia.
Liu P, Ma S, Zhang H, Liu C, Lu Y, Chen Li, Qin C. Specific ablation of mouse Fam20C in cells expressing type I collage leads to skeletal defects and hypophosphatemia. Sci. Rep. 2017 Jun 15; 7(1):3590.
2017 Inactivation of bone morphogenetic protein 1 (Bmp1) and tolloid-like 1 (Tll1) in cells expressing Type I collagen leads to dental and periodontal defects in mice.
Zhang H, Jani P, Liang T, Lu Y, Qin C. Inactivation of bone morphogenetic protein 1 (Bmp1) and tolloid-like 1 (Tll1) in cells expressing Type I collagen leads to dental and periodontal defects in mice, J Mol Histol. 2017 Apr; 48(2): 83-98.
2017 Disruption of type I–IFN signaling decreases autoimmune development and kidney damage, but not anxiety-like behaviors in lupus NZB mice.
Zhang H, Wang J. Disruption of type I–IFN signaling decreases autoimmune development and kidney damage, but not anxiety-like behaviors in lupus NZB mice. J Depress Anxiety. 2017; 6:271.
2016 Abrogation of epithelial BMP2 and BMP4 causes Amelogenesis Imperfecta by reducing MMP20 and KLK4 expression.
Xie X, Liu C, Zhang H, Jani PH, Lu Y, Wang X, Zhang B, Qin C. Abrogation of epithelial BMP2 and BMP4 causes Amelogenesis Imperfecta by reducing MMP20 and KLK4 expression. Sci. Rep. 2016 May 5; 6:25364.
2016 Transgenic expression of dentin phosphoprotein inhibits skeletal development.
Zhang H, Liu P, Wang S, Liu C, Jani P, Lu Y, Qin C. Transgenic expression of dentin phosphoprotein inhibits skeletal development. Eur J Histochem. 2016 Mar 11; 60 (1): 2587.
2016 Transgenic expression of Dspp partially rescued the long bone defects of Dmp1-null mice.
Jani PH, Gibson MP, Liu C, Zhang H, Wang X, Lu Y, Qin C. Transgenic expression of Dspp partially rescued the long bone defects of Dmp1-null mice. Matrix Biol. 2016 May-Jul; 52-54:95-112.
2015 Twist 1 is essential for tooth morphogenesis and odontoblast differentiation.
Meng T, Huang Y, Wang S, Zhang H, Dechow PC, Wang X, Qin C, Shi B, D’Souza RN, Lu Y. Twist 1 is essential for tooth morphogenesis and odontoblast differentiation. J Bio Chem. 2015 Dec 4; 290(49): 29593-602.
2015 Letter to the Editor, “Osterix regulates tooth root formation in a site-specific manner’’.
Feng JQ, Zhang H, Qin C. Letter to the Editor, “Osterix regulates tooth root formation in a site-specific manner’’. J Dent Res. 2015 Sep; 94(9): 1326.
2015 Dspp-independent Effects of Transgenic Trps1 Overexpression on Dentin Formation.
Mobley CG, Kuzynski M, Zhang H, Jani P, Qin C, Napierala D. Dspp-independent Effects of Transgenic Trps1 Overexpression on Dentin Formation. J Dent Res. 2015 Aug; 94(8): 1128-34.
2015 Immortalized Mouse Floxed Fam20c Dental Papillar Mesenchymal and Osteoblast Cell Lines Retain Their Primary Characteristics.
Liu C, Wang X, Zhang H, Xie X, Liu P, Liu Y, Jani PH, Lu Y, Chen S, Qin C. Immortalized Mouse Floxed Fam20c Dental Papillar Mesenchymal and Osteoblast Cell Lines Retain Their Primary Characteristics. J Cell Physiol. 2015 Nov; 230(11):2581-7
2014 Inactivation of Fam20C in cells expressing type I collagen causes periodontal disease in mice.
Liu P, Zhang H, Liu C, Wang X, Chen L, Qin C. Inactivation of Fam20C in cells expressing type I collagen causes periodontal disease in mice. PLoS One. 2014 Dec 5; 9(12):e114396.
2015 Osterix controls cementoblast differentiation through down regulation of Wnt-signaling via enhancing DKK1 expression.
Cao Z, Liu R, Zhang H, Liao H, Zhang Y, Hinton RJ, Feng JQ. Osterix controls cementoblast differentiation through down regulation of Wnt-signaling via enhancing DKK1 expression. Int J Biol Sci. 2015 Feb 5: 11(3): 335-44.
2015 Essential Role of Osterix for Tooth Root but not Crown Dentin Formation.
Zhang H, Jiang Y, Qin C, Liu Y, Ho SP, Feng JQ. Essential Role of Osterix for Tooth Root but not Crown Dentin Formation. J Bone Miner Res. 2015 Apr; 30(4):742-6.
2014 Nucleus-targeted Dmp1 transgene fails to rescue dental defects in Dmp1 null mice.
Lin SX, Zhang Q, Zhang H, Yan K, Ward L, Lu YB, Feng JQ. Nucleus-targeted Dmp1 transgene fails to rescue dental defects in Dmp1 null mice. Int J Oral Sci. 2014 Sep; 6(3): 133-41.
2014 Twist1- and Twist2-haploinsufficiency results in reduced bone formation.
Huang Y, Meng T, Wang S, Zhang H, Mues G, Qin C, Feng JQ, D'Souza RN, Lu Y. Twist1- and Twist2-haploinsufficiency results in reduced bone formation. PLoS One. 2014 Jun 27; 9(6):e99331.
2014 Constitutive nuclear expression of dentin matrix protein 1 fails to rescue the Dmp1-null phenotype.
Lin S, Zhang Q, Cao Z, Lu Y, Zhang H, Yan K, Liu Y, McKee MD, Qin C, Chen Z, Feng JQ. Constitutive nuclear expression of dentin matrix protein 1 fails to rescue the Dmp1-null phenotype. J Biol Chem. 2014 Aug 1; 289(31):21533-43.
2014 Key role for the transcriptional factor, osterix, in spine development.
Chen S, Feng J, Zhang H, Jia M, Shen Y, Zong Z. Key role for the transcriptional factor, osterix, in spine development. Spine J. 2014 Apr; 14(4):683-94.
2012 Genetic evidence for the vital function of osterix in cementogenesis.
Cao Z*, Zhang H* (*co-first authors), Zhou X, Han X, Ren Y, Gao T, Xiao Y, de Crombrugghe B, Somerman MJ, Feng JQ. Genetic evidence for the vital function of osterix in cementogenesis. J Bone Miner Res. 2012 May; 27(5): 1080-92.
2011 Roles of DMP1 processing in osteogenesis, dentinogenesis and chondrogenesis.
Sun Y, Chen L, Ma S, Zhou J, Zhang H, Feng JQ, Qin C. Roles of DMP1 processing in osteogenesis, dentinogenesis and chondrogenesis. Cells Tissues Organs. 2011; 194 (2-4): 199-204.
2010 Multiple functions of osterix are required for bone growth and homeostasis in postnatal mice.
Zhou X, Zhang Z, Feng JQ, Dusevich VM, Sinha K, Zhang H, Darnay BG, de Crombrugghe B. Multiple functions of osterix are required for bone growth and homeostasis in postnatal mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2010 Jul 20; 107(29); 12919-24.
2010 Behavioral evaluation of transgenic mice with CNS expression of IFN-α by elevated plus-maze and Porsolt swim test.
Zhang H, Tian Z, Wang J. Behavioral evaluation of transgenic mice with CNS expression of IFN-α by elevated plus-maze and Porsolt swim test. Neuroscience letters. 2010 Aug 2; 479(3):287-91.
2009 Decreased immobility in swimming test by homologous interferon-alpha in mice accompanied with increased cerebral tryptophan level and serotonin turnover.
Wang J, Dunn AJ, Roberts AJ, Zhang H. Decreased immobility in swimming test by homologous interferon-alpha in mice accompanied with increased cerebral tryptophan level and serotonin turnover. Neuroscience letters. 2009, 452: 96-100.
2008 Systemic interferon-alpha directly regulates interferon-stimulated genes in the central nervous system.
Wang J, Campbell IL, Zhang H. Systemic interferon-alpha directly regulates interferon-stimulated genes in the central nervous system. Molecular Psychiatry. 2008, 13 (3): 293-301.