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
- Yang, Z, Nie, Z, Sui, F, Yi Wang,, Xu, J, Zhang, Y et al.. TaSULTR1;2 regulates sulfur and selenium uptake in wheat. Plant Physiol Biochem. 2025;226 :110071. doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.110071. PubMed PMID:40441103 .
- Zhang, Y, Gan, Y, Lai, B, Ran, X, Cao, D, Wang, L et al.. A portable sensing platform using a novel dipyrrolopyrazinedione-based aza-BODIPY dimer for highly efficient detection of hypochlorite and hydrazine. Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2025;341 :126415. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2025.126415. PubMed PMID:40441000 .
- Liu, Z, Qiao, F, Liu, D, Kong, X, Liu, K, Gu, H et al.. Periplocin targets LRP4 to regulate metabolic homeostasis and anti-inflammation for the treatment of IVDD. Phytomedicine. 2025;143 :156885. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2025.156885. PubMed PMID:40440911 .
- Li, X, Zhang, Y, Yu, C, Guo, X, Fu, X, Chen, S et al.. Angoroside C: A potent AMPK activator in the aqueous extract of Scrophularia ningpoensis, alleviates metabolic syndrome in db/db mice. Phytomedicine. 2025;143 :156873. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2025.156873. PubMed PMID:40440908 .
- Zhang, YF, Xu, ZL, Wang, C, Li, J, Wu, MY, Yi, YQ et al.. Resveratrol attenuates prenatal X-ray-induced microcephaly and adult depression via SIRT1-mediated senescence suppression and TPH2/5-HT pathway restoration in mice. Phytomedicine. 2025;143 :156845. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2025.156845. PubMed PMID:40440905 .