Xiao Lab
Xunjun Xiao, PhD
My primary research interest is to understand the molecular mechanisms of dietary fat digestion by pancreatic lipases in young children to improve fat digestion for better growth and development. My secondary research interest is to define the role of proteotoxicity in the pathophysiology of chronic pancreatitis using mutant misfolded pancreatic lipases as study model for finding potential novel therapies.
Principal investigator

Xunjun Xiao, PhD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
- Phone: 314-454-6173
- Email: xunjun.xiao@wustl.edu
Recent publications
- The genetic risk factor CEL-HYB1 causes proteotoxicity and chronic pancreatitis in miceFjeld, K., Gravdal, A., Brekke, R. S., Alam, J., Wilhelm, S. J., El Jellas, K., Pettersen, H. N., Lin, J., Solheim, M. H., Steine, S. J., Johansson, B. B., Njølstad, P. R., Verbeke, C. S., Xiao, X., Lowe, M. E. & Molven, A., Dec 2022, In: Pancreatology. 22, 8, p. 1099-1111 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- The position of single-base deletions in the VNTR sequence of the carboxyl ester lipase (CEL) gene determines proteotoxicityGravdal, A., Xiao, X., Cnop, M., Jellas, K. E., Johansson, S., Njølstad, P. R., Lowe, M. E., Johansson, B. B., Molven, A. & Fjeld, K., Jan 1 2021, In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. 296, 100661.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Single nucleotide polymorphisms in CEL-HYB1 increase risk for chronic pancreatitis through proteotoxic misfoldingCassidy, B. M., Zino, S., Fjeld, K., Molven, A., Lowe, M. E. & Xiao, X., Nov 1 2020, In: Human mutation. 41, 11, p. 1967-1978 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Protease-Sensitive Pancreatic Lipase Variants Are Associated with Early Onset Chronic PancreatitisLasher, D., Szabó, A., Masamune, A., Chen, J. M., Xiao, X., Whitcomb, D. C., Barmada, M. M., Ewers, M., Ruffert, C., Paliwal, S., Issarapu, P., Bhaskar, S., Mani, K. R., Chandak, G. R., Laumen, H., Masson, E., Kume, K., Hamada, S., Nakano, E., Seltsam, K., & 9 othersBugert, P., Müller, T., Groneberg, D. A., Shimosegawa, T., Rosendahl, J., Férec, C., Lowe, M. E., Witt, H. & Sahin-Tóth, M., Jun 1 2019, In: American Journal of Gastroenterology. 114, 6, p. 974-983 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Erratum: A carboxyl ester lipase (CEL) mutant causes chronic pancreatitis by forming intracellular aggregates that activate apoptosis (Journal of Biological Chemistry (2016) 291 (23224-23236) DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M116.734384)Xiao, X., Jones, G., Sevilla, W. A., Stolz, D. B., Magee, K. E., Haughney, M., Mukherjee, A., Wang, Y. & Lowe, M. E., May 12 2017, In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. 292, 19, p. 7744 1 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate