Thach-Vu Ho, M.S., Ed.S.

Thach Vu Ho

Senior Laboratory Manager
Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology
Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC

2250 Alcazar St.
CSA 123 – HSC 9062
Los Angeles, CA 90033-9062
Phone: (323) 442-3187
Fax: (323) 442-2981
thachvuh@usc.edu

Education
Experience
Publications

California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, California
B.S., 2008
Cell and Molecular Biology & Physiology

California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, California
M.S., 2011
Biology

Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Ed.S., 2018
Education

  • 2022 – present – Senior Laboratory Manager – Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
  • 2013 – 2022 – Instructional Laboratory Manager – Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
  • 2011 – 2013 – Research Technician III/Supervisor – Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
  • 2010 – 2011 – Intern of Stem Cell Research – City of Hope, Duarte, CA
  • 2009 – 2010 – Teaching Associate of Biology – California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA

  1. Buchanan C, Chen S, Yuan Y, Guo T, Feng J, Zhang M, Carey G, Howard I, Sanchez J, Ho TV, Chai Y. Loss of Runx2 in Gli1+ osteogenic progenitors prevents bone loss following ovariectomy. JBMR Plus, Volume 9, Issue 1, January 2025, ziae141, https://doi.org/10.1093/jbmrpl/ziae141.

  2. Pei F, Guo T, Zhang M, Ma L, Jing J, Feng J, Ho T-V, Wen Q, Chai Y. FGF signaling modulates mechanotransduction/WNT signaling in progenitors during tooth root development. Bone Res 12, 37 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41413-024-00345-5.

  3. Zhang M, Guo T, Pei F, Feng J, Jing J, Xu J, Yamada T, Ho T-V, Du J, Sehgal P, Chai Y. ARID1B maintains mesenchymal stem cell quiescence via inhibition of BCL11B-mediated non-canonical Activin signaling. Nat Commun 15, 4614 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-48285-2.

  4. Guo, T., Pei, F., Zhang, M., Yamada, T., Feng, J., Jing, J., Ho, T-V, and Chai, Y. Vascular architecture regulates mesenchymal stromal cell heterogeneity via p53-PDGF signaling in the mouse incisor. Cell Stem Cell. 2024 May 03. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2024.04.011.

  5. Pei F, Ma L, Guo T, Zhang M, Jing J, Wen Q, Feng J, Lei J, He J, Janečková E, Ho TV, Chen JF, Chai Y. Sensory nerve regulates progenitor cells via FGF-SHH axis in tooth root morphogenesis. Development. 2024 Jan 15;151(2):dev202043. doi: 10.1242/dev.202043. Epub 2024 Jan 11. PMID: 38108472.

  6. Janečková E, Feng J, Guo T, Han X, Ghobadi A, Araujo-Villalba A, Rahman MS, Ziaei H, Ho TV, Pareek S, Alvarez J, Chai Y. (2023) Canonical Wnt signaling regulates soft palate development by mediating ciliary homeostasis. Development. 2023 Mar 1;150(5):dev201189. doi: 10.1242/dev.201189. Epub 2023 Mar 9. PMID: 36825984; PMCID: PMC10108707.

  7. Pei F, Ma L, Jing J, Feng J, Yuan Y, Guo T, Han X, Ho TV, Lei J, He J, Zhang M, Chen JF, Chai Y. (2023) Sensory nerve niche regulates mesenchymal stem cell homeostasis via FGF/mTOR/autophagy axis. Nat Commun. 2023 Jan 20;14(1):344. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-35977-4. PMID: 36670126; PMCID: PMC9859800.

  8. Feng, J., Han X., Yuan Y., Cho, C.K., Janečková, E., Guo T., Pareek, S., Rahman, M.S., Zheng, B., Bi, J., Jing, J.J., Zhang, M., Xu, J., Ho, T.H., Chai, Y. (2022). TGF-B signaling and Creb5 cooperatively regulate Fgf18 to control pharyngeal muscle development. eLife. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.80405.

  9. Jing J, Feng J, Yuan Y, Guo T, Lei J, Pei F, Ho TV, Chai Y. Spatiotemporal single-cell regulatory atlas reveals neural crest lineage diversification and cellular function during tooth morphogenesis. Nat Commun. 2022 Aug 16;13(1):4803. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-32490-y. PMID: 35974052; PMCID: PMC9381504. 

  10. Schuler RE, Bugacov A, Hacia JG, Ho TV, Iwata J, Pearlman L, Samuels BD, Williams C, Zhao Z, Kesselman C, Chai Y. FaceBase: A Community-Driven Hub for Data-Intensive Research. J Dent Res. 2022 Oct;101(11):1289-1298. doi: 10.1177/00220345221107905. Epub 2022 Jul 31. PMID: 35912790; PMCID: PMC9516628.

  11. Guo T, Han X, He J, Feng J, Jing J, Janečková E, Lei J, Ho TV, Xu J, Chai Y. (2022) KDM6B interacts with TFDP1 to activate P53 signaling in regulating mouse palatogenesis. eLife. 2022 Feb 25;11:e74595. doi: 10.7554/eLife.74595. PMID: 35212626; PMCID: PMC9007587.

  12. Jing J, Feng J, Li J, Zhao H, Ho TV, He J, Yuan Y, Guo T, Du J, Urata M, Sharpe P, Chai Y. (2021) Reciprocal interaction between mesenchymal stem cells and transit amplifying cells regulates tissue homeostasis. eLife. 2021 Jan22;10:e59459. doi: 10.7554/eLife.59459. PMID: 33480845; PMCID: PMC7822593.

  13. Yu M, Ma L, Yuan Y, Ye X, Montagne A, He J, Ho TV, Wu Y, Zhao Z, Sta Maria N, Jacobs R, Urata M, Wang H, Zlokovic BV, Chen JF, Chai Y. (2021) Cranial Suture Regeneration Mitigates Skull and Neurocognitive Defects in Craniosynostosis. Cell. 2021 Jan 7;184(1):243-256.e18. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.11.037. PMID: 33417861; PMCID: PMC7891303.

  14. Han X, Feng J, Guo T, Loh YE, Yuan Y, Ho TV, Cho CK, Li J, Jing J, Janeckova E, He J, Pei F, Bi J, Song B, Chai Y. (2021) Runx2-Twist1 interaction coordinates cranial neural crest guidance of soft palate myogenesis. eLife. 2021 Jan 22;10:e62387. doi: 10.7554/eLife.62387. PMID: 33482080; PMCID: PMC7826157.

  15. He J, Jing J, Feng J, Han X, Yuan Y, Guo T, Pei F, Ma Y, Cho C, Ho TV, Chai Y. (2021) Lhx6 regulates canonical Wnt signaling to control the fate of mesenchymal progenitor cells during mouse molar root patterning. PLoS Genet. 2021 Feb 17;17(2):e1009320. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009320. PMID: 33596195; PMCID: PMC7920342.

  16. Du J, Jing J, Yuan Y, Feng J, Han X, Chen S, Li X, Peng W, Xu J, Ho TV, Jiang X, Chai Y. (2021) Arid1a-Plagl1-Hh signaling is indispensable for differentiation-associated cell cycle arrest of tooth root progenitors. Cell Rep. 2021 Apr 6;35(1):108964. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108964. PMID: 33826897; PMCID:PMC8132592.

  17. Du J, Jing J, Chen S, Yuan Y, Feng J, Ho TV, Sehgal P, Xu J, Jiang X, Chai Y. (2021) Arid1a regulates cell cycle exit of transit-amplifying cells through inhibiting the Aurka-Cdk1 axis in mouse incisor. Development. 2021 Apr 15;148(8):dev198838. doi: 10.1242/dev.198838. Epub 2021 Apr 16. PMID: 33766930; PMCID: PMC8077510.

  18. Lei J, Chen S, Jing J, Guo T, Feng J, Ho TV, Chai Y. (2021) Inhibiting Hh signaling in Gli1+ osteogenic progenitors alleviates TMJOA. J Dent Res. 2022 Jun;101(6):664-674. doi: 10.1177/00220345211059079. Epub 2022 Jan 20. PMID: 35045740; PMCID: PMC9124909.

  19. Wen Q, Jing J, Han X, Feng J, Yuan Y, Ma Y, Chen S, Ho TV, Chai Y. (2020) Runx2 regulates mouse tooth root development via activation of WNT inhibitor Notum. J Bone Miner Res. 2020 Nov;35(11):2252-2264. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.4120. Epub 2020 Aug 3. PMID: 32569388; PMCID: PMC7689689.

  20. Chen S, Jing J, Yuan Y, Feng J, Han X, Wen Q, Ho TV, Lee C, Chai Y. (2020) Runx2+ Niche Cells Maintain Incisor Mesenchymal Tissue Homeostasis through IGF Signaling. Cell Rep. 2020 Aug 11;32(6):108007. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108007. PMID: 32783935; PMCID: PMC7461627.

  21. Ma Y, Jing J, Feng J, Yuan Y, Wen Q, Han X, He J, Chen S, Ho TV, Chai Y. (2020) Ror2-mediated non-canonical Wnt signaling regulates Cdc42 and cell proliferation during tooth root development. Development. 2021 Jan 21;148(2):dev196360. doi:10.1242/dev.196360. PMID: 33323370; PMCID: PMC7847279.

  22. Yuan Y, Loh YE, Han X, Feng J, Ho TV, He J, Jing J, Groff K, Wu A, Chai Y. (2020) Spatiotemporal cellular movement and fate decisions during first pharyngeal arch morphogenesis. Sci Adv. 2020 Dec 16;6(51):eabb0119. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abb0119. PMID: 33328221; PMCID: PMC7744069.

  23. Shi C, Yuan Y, Guo Y, Jing J, Ho TV, Han X, Li J, Feng J, Chai Y. (2019) BMP Signaling in Regulating Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Incisor Homeostasis. J Dent Res. 2019 Jul;98(8):904-911. doi: 10.1177/0022034519850812. Epub 2019 May 28. PubMed PMID: 31136721; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6616121.

  24. Jing J, Feng J, Li J, Han X, He J, Ho TV, Du J, Zhou X, Urata M, Chai Y. (2019) Antagonistic interaction between Ezh2 and Arid1a coordinates root patterning and development via Cdkn2a in mouse molars. eLife. 2019 Jul 1;8. pii: e46426. doi:10.7554/eLife.46426. PubMed PMID: 31259687; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6602580.

  25. Zhang T, Wu J, Ungvijanpunya N, Jackson-Weaver O, Gou Y, Feng J, Ho TV, Shen Y, Liu J, Richard S, Jin J, Hajishengallis G, Chai Y, Xu J. (2018) Smad6 Methylation Represses NFκB Activation and Periodontal Inflammation. J Dent Res. 2018 Jul;97(7):810-819. doi: 10.1177/0022034518755688. Epub 2018 Feb 8. PubMed PMID: 29420098; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6728583.

  26. Gou Y, Li J, Wu J, Gupta R, Cho I, Ho TV, Chai Y, Merrill A, Wang J, Xu J. (2018) Prmt1 regulates craniofacial bone formation upstream of Msx1. Mech Dev. 2018 Aug;152:13-20. doi: 10.1016/j.mod.2018.05.001. Epub 2018 May 1. PubMed PMID: 29727702.

  27. Li J, Yuan Y, He J, Feng J, Han X, Jing J, Ho TV, Xu J, Chai Y. (2018) Constitutive activation of hedgehog signaling adversely affects epithelial cell fate during palatal fusion. Dev Biol. 2018 Sep 1;441(1):191-203. doi:10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.07.003. Epub 2018 Jul 5. PubMed PMID: 29981310; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6152919.

  28. Guo Y, Yuan Y, Wu L, Ho TV, Jing J, Sugii H, Li J, Han X, Feng J, Guo C, Chai Y. (2018) BMP-IHH-mediated interplay between mesenchymal stem cells and osteoclasts supports calvarial bone homeostasis and repair. Bone Res. 2018 Oct 17;6:30. doi: 10.1038/s41413-018-0031-x. eCollection 2018. PubMed PMID: 30345151; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6193039.

  29. Gou Y, Li J, Jackson-Weaver O, Wu J, Zhang T, Gupta R, Cho I, Ho TV, Chen Y, Li M, Richard S, Wang J, Chai Y, Xu J. (2018) Protein Arginine Methyltransferase PRMT1 Is Essential for Palatogenesis. J Dent Res. 2018 Dec;97(13):1510-1518. doi: 10.1177/0022034518785164. Epub 2018 Jul 9. PubMed PMID: 29986157; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6728548.

  30. Tian H, Feng J, Li J, Ho TV, Yuan Y, Liu Y, Brindopke F, Figueiredo JC, Magee W 3rd, Sanchez-Lara PA, Chai Y. (2017) Intraflagellar transport 88 (IFT88) is crucial for craniofacial development in mice and is a candidate gene for human cleft lip and palate. Hum Mol Genet. 2017 Mar 1;26(5):860-872. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddx002. PubMed PMID: 28069795; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6075526.

  31. Sugii H, Grimaldi A, Li J, Parada C, Vu-Ho T, Feng J, Jing J, Yuan Y, Guo Y, Maeda H, Chai Y. (2017) Dlx5-FGF10 signaling cascade controls cranial neural crest and myoblast interaction during oropharyngeal patterning and development. Development. 2017 Nov 1;144(21):4037-4045. doi: 10.1242/dev.155176. Epub 2017 Oct 5. PubMed PMID: 28982687; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5702075.

  32. Ho TV, Iwata J, Ho HA, Grimes WC, Park S, Sanchez-Lara PA, Chai Y. (2015) Integration of comprehensive 3D microCT and signaling analysis reveals differential regulatory mechanisms of craniofacial bone development. Dev Biol. 2015 Apr 15;400(2):180-90. doi: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2015.02.010. Epub 2015 Feb 23. PubMed PMID: 25722190; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4385433.

  33. Zhao H, Feng J, Ho TV, Grimes W, Urata M, Chai Y. (2015) The suture provides a niche for mesenchymal stem cells of craniofacial bones. Nat Cell Biol. 2015 Apr;17(4):386-96. doi: 10.1038/ncb3139. Epub 2015 Mar 23. PubMed PMID: 25799059; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4380556.

  34. Li J, Feng J, Liu Y, Ho TV, Grimes W, Ho HA, Park S, Wang SL, Chai Y. (2015) BMP-SHH Signaling Network Controls Epithelial Stem Cell Fate via Regulation of Its Niche in the Developing Tooth. Dev Cell. 2015 Apr 20;33(2):125-35. doi:10.1016/j.devcel.2015.02.021. Epub 2015 Apr 9. PubMed PMID: 25865348; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4406846.

  35. Liu Y, Feng JF, Li JY, Zhao Hu, Ho TV, Chai Y. (2015) An Nfic-Hedgehog Signaling Cascade Regulates Tooth Root Development. Development. 2015 Oct 1;142(19):3374-82. doi:10.1242/dev.127068. Epub 2015 Aug 20. PubMed PMID: 26293299; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4631759.

  36. Iwata J, Suzuki A, Pelikan RC, Ho TV, Sanchez-Lara PA, Chai Y. (2014) Modulation of Lipid Metabolic Defects Rescues Cleft Palate in Tgfbr2 Mutant Mice. Hum Mol Genet. 2014 Jan 1;23(1):182-93. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddt410. Epub 2013 Aug 23. PubMed PMID: 23975680; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3857953.

  37. Iwata J, Suzuki A, Yokota T, Ho TV, Pelikan R, Urata M, Sanchez-Lara PA, Chai Y. (2014) TGFβ regulates epithelial-mesenchymal interactions through WNT signaling activity to control muscle development in the soft palate. Development. 2014 Feb;141(4):909-17. doi: 10.1242/dev.103093. PubMed PMID: 24496627; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3912833.

  38. Iwata J, Suzuki A, Pelikan RC, Ho TV, Sanchez-Lara PA, Urata M, Dixon MJ, Chai Y. (2013) Smad4-Irf6 genetic interaction and TGF-mediated IRF6 signaling cascade are crucial for palatal fusion in mice. Development. 2013 Mar;140(6):1220-30. doi: 10.1242/dev.089615. Epub 2013 Feb 13. PubMed PMID: 23406900; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3585659.

  39. Iwata J, Suzuki A, Pelikan RC, Ho TV, Chai Y. (2013) Non-canonical transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signaling in cranial neural crest cells causes tongue muscle developmental defects. J Biol Chem. 2013 Oct 11;288(41):29760-70. doi:10.1074/jbc.M113.493551. Epub 2013 Aug 15. PubMed PMID: 23950180; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3795273.