Dr.
Xuechu Zhen is a professor of neuropsycho pharmacology in Department of
pharmacology, Soochow University College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Suzhou,
China. He was formally a professor and principle investigator in Shanghai
Institute of Material Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences between 2006-2011. In
2003-2006, he became associate professor in department of Pharmacology and
physiology at City University of New York Medical School. He received his MD in
University of Geneva, Switzerland in 1996.
Dr.
Zhen's lab is focused on neurotransmission and diseases and CNS drug discovery
targeted to Schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease and drug abuse.
Research interests:
1.
Neurotransmission regulation, especially dopamine and serotonin in physiology
and diseases
2. CNS drug discovery, including Parkinson's disease, Schizophrenia,
depression, stoke and drug addiction
3. Microglia in neuropsychiatric disorders He is awarded national outstanding
young scientist in 2008.
Dr. Zhen
has published more than 130 research papers and review articles in
peered-reviewed international journals. He was awarded national outstanding
young scientist in 2008. His research is supported by National Science
Foundation of China, Ministry of Science and Technology of China.
Representative
Publications:
- Gu R, Zhang F, Chen G, Han C, Liu J, Ren Z, Zhu Y, Waddington JL,
Zheng LT, Zhen X. Clk1 deficiency promotes neuroinflammation and subsequent
dopaminergic cell death through regulation of microglial metabolic
reprogramming. Brain Behav Immun.
2017 Feb;60:206-219.
- Wu J, Zhao R, Guo L, Zhen X. Morphine-induced inhibition of Ca2+ -dependent
d-serine release from astrocytes suppresses excitability of GABAergic
neurons in the nucleus accumbens. Addict
Biol. 2017 Sep;22(5):1289-1303.
- Guo L, Chen Y, Zhao R, Wang G, Friedman E, Zhang A, Zhen X. Allosteric modulation of sigma-1 receptors elicits
anti-seizure activities. Br J Pharmacol.
2015 Aug;172(16):4052-65.
- Ni J, Wang X, Chen S, Liu H, Wang Y, Xu X, Cheng J, Jia J, Zhen X.
MicroRNA let-7c-5p protects against cerebral ischemia
injury via mechanisms involving the inhibition of microglia activation.
Brain Behav Immun. 2015
Oct;49:75-85.
- Jin Q, Cheng J, Liu Y, Wu J, Wang X, Wei S, Zhou X, Qin Z, Jia J, Zhen X. Improvement of
functional recovery by chronic metformin treatment is associated with
enhanced alternative activation of microglia/macrophages and increased
angiogenesis and neurogenesis following experimental stroke. Brain
Behav Immun. 2014
1591(14)00069-5.\
- Zhang Z, Hao CJ, Li CG, Zang DJ, Zhao J, Li XN, Wei AH, Wei ZB,
Yang L, He X, Zhen X,
Gao X, Speakman JR, Li W. Mutation of SLC35D3 causes metabolic syndrome by
impairing dopamine signaling in striatal D1 neurons. PLoS Genet. 2014 Feb 13;10(2):e1004124.
- Guo L, Zhao J, Jin G, Zhao B, Wang G, Zhang A, Zhen X. SKF83959 is a Potent
Allosteric Modulator of Sigma-1 Receptor. Mol Pharmacol.
2013
;83(3):577-86
- Ye N, Neumeyer JL, Baldessarini RJ, Zhen X, Zhang A.Update 1 of:
Recent Progress in Development of Dopamine Receptor Subtype-Selective
Agents: Potential Therapeutics for Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders.
Chem Rev. 2013
May 8;113(5):PR123-78.
- Zhang X, Zhou Z, Wang D, Li A, Yin Y, Gu X, Ding F, Zhen X, Zhou J. PI-linked D1
receptor-Mediated FGF-2 Expression in Astrocytes Protects Dopaminergic
Neurons. J. Neurosci. 2009, 29(24):7766-75.
- Sun P, Wang J, Gu W, Cheng W, Jin GZ, Friedman E, Zheng J, Zhen X. PSD-95 regulates D1
dopamine receptor resensitization, but not receptor-mediated Gs-protein
activation. Cell Res. 2009 May; 19(5):612-24.