Younggeon Jin

Current Research

Our long-term research objective is to elucidate the critical mechanisms governing intestinal epithelial homeostasis, regeneration, and development. We focus on the interplay between the apical junctional complex, intestinal stem cells (ISCs), and the stromal microenvironment to understand the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to improve intestinal health in neonatal development.

Role of E-cadherin as a Dynamic Switch for Intestinal Stem Cell Regeneration. Mucosal healing is a critical therapeutic goal in IBD, yet the specific role of adherens junctions (AJs) in this process has remained elusive. We are investigating how E-cadherin, a core AJ protein, functions as a dynamic switch during the regeneration phase. Our recent findings suggest that transient downregulation of E-cadherin is essential for initiating effective epithelial repair. Using an inducible knockdown model in colonoids, we demonstrated that temporary reduction of E-cadherin promotes a stem-like, hyperproliferative state by activating Wnt and Hippo signaling pathways. Conversely, persistent loss leads to barrier dysfunction. We propose that precisely modulating this "switch"—temporarily suppressing E-cadherin to boost regeneration and then restoring it for maturation—could be a novel therapeutic strategy to accelerate mucosal healing in IBD patients.

Priming Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) for IBD Therapy While Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) show promise for treating IBD due to their immunomodulatory properties, their clinical efficacy remains variable. This project aims to enhance the therapeutic potential of human bone marrow-derived MSCs (hBM-MSCs) by focusing on their ability to directly support ISC regeneration. We are developing novel priming strategies to boost the secretion of therapeutic factors that promote both mucosal healing and immunomodulation. By identifying specific priming candidates through proteomic analysis of injured colonoids, we aim to generate "super-charged" MSCs that can effectively repair the damaged intestinal barrier and suppress inflammation in murine colitis models.

Dynamic Reprogramming of Intestinal Mesenchymal stromal Cells (iMCs) in Pig Development The neonatal porcine intestine undergoes rapid remodeling, a process critically regulated by the underlying stroma. Our research has identified that intestinal mesenchymal stromal cells (iMCs) undergo dynamic molecular reprogramming during the pre-weaning period to direct epithelial development. We discovered that iMSCs shift from supporting epithelial expansion (Day 0) to promoting differentiation (Day 7) through distinct signaling mechanisms, including a surge in calcium signaling and glucose metabolism at Day 7. This project aims to leverage these stage-specific iMSC signatures to develop targeted nutritional interventions—such as specific feed additives—that optimize gut maturation and growth performance in piglets.

Collaborative Project: Ingestible Bioimpedance Capsules for Monitoring Gut Health. In collaboration with Drs. Reza Ghodssi and Justin Stine in the MATRIX Lab at the UMD, we are developing non-invasive technologies to monitor intestinal health. We are validating a wireless ingestible bioimpedance sensing capsule capable of measuring mucosal permeability in vivo. Unlike traditional endoscopy, this device can continuously monitor site-specific tissue properties throughout the GI tract. Our recent work demonstrated the capsule's ability to accurately detect permeability changes associated with inflammation in rat colitis models, offering a promising new tool for the real-time diagnosis and monitoring of IBD progression.

1. Kim, J., Madan, J.P., Laumas, S., Krishnan, B.R., Jin, Y. (2025). Larazotide Acetate Protects the Intestinal Mucosal Barrier from Anoxia/Reoxygenation Injury via Various Cellular Mechanisms. Biomedicines. 2025 October. DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines13102483
2. Holt, B. M., Stine, J. M.,  Beardslee, L. A.,  Ayansola, H., Jin, Y., Pasricha, P. J., Ghodssi, R. (2025), An Ingestible Bioimpedance Sensing Device for Wireless Monitoring of Epithelial Barrier, Microsystems and Nanoengineering, 11;24.
3. Ayansola, H., Kim, J., Mayorga, E.J., Vaughn, S., Desai, O., Garg, V., Jin, Y (2025). Insights into the transcriptomic profiling of subepithelial intestinal mesenchymal stromal cells during postnatal development in piglets, American Journal of Physiology-GIL, under review for revision.
4. Ayansola, H., Mayorga, E., and Jin, Y. (2024). Subepithelial stromal cells: their roles and interactions with intestinal epithelial cells during gut mucosal homeostasis and regeneration, Biomedicines, 12(3), 668
5. Hada A, Li L, Kandel A, Jin Y, Xiao Z. Characterization of Bovine Intraepithelial T Lymphocytes in the Gut. Pathogens. 2023 Sep 19;12(9) PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10535955.
6. Jin, Y. and Blikslager, A.T. (2020). The Regulation of Intestinal Mucosal Barrier by Myosin Light Chain Kinase/Rho Kinases. Int J Mol Sci. 18;21(1):3550
7. Jin, Y. and Blikslager, A.T. (2018). Knockout of ClC-2 reveals critical functions of adherens junctions in colonic homeostasis and tumorigenicity. American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal Liver Physiology, 315: G966-G979
8. Jin, Y. and Blikslager, A.T. (2016). Myosin light chain kinase mediates intestinal barrier dysfunction via occludin endocytosis during anoxia/reoxygenation injury. American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology, 311(6):C996-C1004
9. Jin, Y. and Blikslager, A.T. (2016). Intestinal Ischemia–Reperfusion: Rooting for the SOCS? Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 62(1):pp 4-6
10. Jin, Y., Prigeon, T. A. and Blikslager, A. T. (2015). Pharmaceutical activation or genetic absence of ClC-2 alters tight junctions during experimental colitis. Inflammatory Bowel Disease, 21(12), 2747-57
11. Jin, Y. and Blikslager, A.T (2015) ClC-2 regulation of intestinal barrier function: Translation of basic science to therapeutic target. Tissue Barriers, 3 (4), e1105906

   ANSC 445: Comparative Digestive Pathophysiology

   ANSC 645: Advanced Studies in Comparative Digestive Pathophysiology

   ANSC 401: Animal Growth and Development for Production Agriculture

• Discovery Program, Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, 2025-2027

• co-PI: Grand Challenge Team Project Grant,  FY 2023-26

• LAUNCH program, Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, 2021-2023 

• Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) Competitive Grant Program, 2020-2021, 2023- 2024

• Innovate Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. 2019-2021

• Pilot/Feasibility Grant, Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, 2017-2018

   

• Certificate of Recognition - 2018
  Digestive Disease Week
  For Your Scientific Accomplishment As An Early Career Investigator
• Notable Poster - 2018
  2018 Postdoctoral Research Symposium
  NC State University
• 2017-2018 Professional Development Award for Postdocs - 2017
  Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, Graduate
  NC State University
• Travel Award - 2017
  2017 FASEB Gastrointestinal Tract XVII
  Current Biology of the GI Tract, Mucosa, Microbiota, and Beyond Conferences
• Postdoctoral Scholar of the Year Award - 2016
  The Department of Clinical Sciences of NC State University
  College of Veterinary Medicine