Research
Astrocyte development and the roles of astrocytes in diseases
Appointments
- Assistant Professor
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior
Biography
Astrocytes constitute at least a third of all cells in human brains. Long thought to be passive support cells, astrocytes are recently found to be critical for the development and function of the central nervous system. Accumulating evidence show that astrocytes are involved in almost every type of neurological and psychiatric disorder.
The cellular and molecular mechanisms that control astrocyte development as well as dysfunction of astrocytes in neurological and psychiatric disorders remains poorly understood.
We combine cell culture and mouse genetic approaches to study the following questions:
- What signals regulate astrocyte maturation?
- How is astrocyte differentiation regulated?
- Can we improve treatment of glioblastoma by studying astrocyte development?
- Are astrocytes involved in intellectual disability and autism?
Publications
- Wang, Y, Fan, X, Li, H, Zhang, X, Yin, M, Xu, K et al.. Acute topical menthol application and exercise performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis of perceptual and physiological responses. J Therm Biol. 2026;140 :104529. doi: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2026.104529. PubMed PMID:42385298 .
- Zheng, H, Zhang, Y, Wang, L. Temporal microbial succession informs the reformulation of a defined four-member starter for fermented milk. Int J Food Microbiol. 2026;459 :111934. doi: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2026.111934. PubMed PMID:42385280 .
- Ji, N, Cheng, W, Li, Z, Xu, Q, Sun, Y, Mustieles, V et al.. Trihalomethane Exposure in Relation to Depressive Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women and underlying Mechanisms from an Organ-on-a-Chip Model. Environ Sci Technol. 2026; :. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.6c02824. PubMed PMID:42385132 .
- Chen, M, Xu, P, Ren, W, Zhang, Y, Fei, Y, Zhang, W et al.. Transcriptomic mechanisms of lumbar sympathectomy improving cold allodynia of nerve injury in rat. Somatosens Mot Res. 2026; :1-14. doi: 10.1080/08990220.2026.2696803. PubMed PMID:42385098 .
- Li, HY, Zhang, Y, Shui, XL, Che, ZG, Liu, QF, Guo, SS et al.. Development of a Nomogram for Predicting Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries Risk in Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit Patients: A Comparison Cohort Study. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. ;53 (4):290-297. doi: 10.1097/WON.0000000000001297. PubMed PMID:42385022 .