Zhang, Ye, Ph.D.

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

1. Zhang, Y, Zhang, QD, Li, Q, Shi, ZY, Pan, C, Yan, RS et al.. Mechanical stress facilitates calcium influx and growth of alveolar epithelial cells via activation of the BDKRB1/Ca²⁺/CaMKII/MEK1/ERK axis. Respir Res. 2025;26 (1):168. doi: 10.1186/s12931-025-03240-7. PubMed PMID:40296124 .
2. Li, J, Li, Q, Zhang, J, Chen, X, Yang, L, Zhang, Y et al.. Incidence, outcomes and risk factors of postoperative urinary retention in patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty: a national inpatient sample database study. BMC Surg. 2025;25 (1):186. doi: 10.1186/s12893-025-02930-9. PubMed PMID:40296087 .
3. Yu, Z, Zhang, X, Fu, X, Jia, X, Ju, M, Zhang, Y et al.. An analysis of trends in the burden of ischemic stroke caused by air pollution in China between 1990 and 2021. BMC Public Health. 2025;25 (1):1567. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-22287-1. PubMed PMID:40296073 .
4. Tang, C, Zhong, J, Wang, X, Zhu, F, Wang, B, Zhang, Y et al.. Evaluating the Chinese versions of delirium assessment scales: a diagnostic systematic review. BMC Psychiatry. 2025;25 (1):431. doi: 10.1186/s12888-025-06745-z. PubMed PMID:40296051 .
5. Zhou, J, Wang, X, Lou, W, Li, T, Zhang, Y, Hu, Y et al.. Peripapillary Bruch's membrane Opening-Minimum Rim Width (BMO-MRW) and microvascular changes in early diabetic retinopathy. BMC Ophthalmol. 2025;25 (1):257. doi: 10.1186/s12886-025-04077-w. PubMed PMID:40295997 .

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