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
- Yin, M, Guo, S, Gu, J, Zhang, Y, Yang, L, Zhang, Y et al.. Molecular identification and functional characterization of glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) and its receptor (GIPR) in Micropterus salmoides. J Fish Biol. 2026; :. doi: 10.1111/jfb.70549. PubMed PMID:42470158 .
- Huang, Y, Zhang, Y, Zhang, J, Ma, X, Zhang, Y. Knowledge graph visualization and bibliometric analysis of research on coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease. Medicine (Baltimore). 2026;105 (29):e49678. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000049678. PubMed PMID:42470076 .
- Meng, T, Yang, S, Wu, W, Gong, M, Zhang, Y. Human amniotic epithelial cell-derived exosomes promote conjunctival goblet cells proliferation and mucin secretion. Medicine (Baltimore). 2026;105 (29):e49647. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000049647. PubMed PMID:42469984 .
- Zhang, X, Zhang, Y. Psychosocial factors associated with spiritual needs among patients with colorectal cancer: A multicenter cross-sectional study using structural equation modeling in Guangdong Province, China. Medicine (Baltimore). 2026;105 (29):e49894. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000049894. PubMed PMID:42469969 .
- Chen, S, Zhang, Y, Li, X, Liu, Y, Yang, S, Zhang, X et al.. Post-exercise glycaemic rebound characterises exploratory glucose-lactate response patterns during incremental rowing in elite male rowers: a cross-sectional study. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2026; :. doi: 10.1186/s13102-026-01853-z. PubMed PMID:42469900 .