My primary research focus is on stem and developmental biology. During my master's studies, I concentrated on male reproduction, specifically spermatogenesis. My research revealed that the mTOR signaling pathway plays distinct roles in different stages of spermatogenesis, including early spermatogonial stem cell proliferation, meiosis, and final spermiogenesis.In my Ph.D., I shifted my focus to adult stem cells and their hierarchical organization, using lineage tracing in vivo. My key finding was the coexistence of bipotent and unipotent stem cells in the postnatal mouse mammary gland, primarily enriched in the Nipple and Terminal End Buds (TEB). We were able to isolate these stem cells using surface markers Cd200 and Cd34. This discovery not only deepened our understanding of mammary lineage but also resolved the long-standing debate on the existence of bipotent stem cells in postnatal mouse mammary glands.I have a strong academic background in stem and developmental biology, including reproductive biology. My expertise lies in stem cell biology, lineage tracing, and the molecular mechanisms underlying tissue development and regeneration.
Lin, Z. B., Guo, Y. J., Bai, H. R., Liu, X. Q., Lin, M. Z., Zhang, Y., Wang, C. H., & Cai, S. (2025). Distinct mammary stem cells orchestrate the long-term homeostasis of adult mammary gland. Cell Discovery, 11(1), 39. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41421-025-00794-0
Yuan, L., Xie, S. F., Bai, H. R., Liu, X. Q., Cai, P., Lu, J., Wang, C. H., Lin, Z. B., Li, S. Y., & Cai, S. (2023). Reconstruction of dynamic mammary mini gland in vitro for normal physiology and oncogenesis. Nature Methods, 20(12), 2021-2033. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-023-02039-y
Cao, J., Lin, Z. B., Tong, M. H., Zhang, Y. L., Li, Y. P., & Zhou, Y. C. (2020). Mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (Mtor) is required for spermatogenial proliferation and differentiation in mice. Asian Journal of Andrology, 22(2), 169-176. https://doi.org/10.4103/aja.aja_14_19
