Labs:Neuroimmunology

Research & Approaches

Our lab ultizes multi-photon imaging, multi-channel electrophysiological recording and gene expression profiling in vivo, to study neuronal and immune activity in physiological and pathological processes.

Neuronal activity
in CNS function

Neuronal events in central and peripheral nervous system

Neuro-immune interaction

How neuronal activty affects behavior of immune cells, and how immune cells influence neuronal function.

Intermittent fasting
in health and disease

How the body works without food, and how intermittent fasting benefits your body.

Two-photon imaging

We utilize classic two-photon microscopy to investigate brain, spinal cord and peripheral system in vivo by lab innovated devices.

Gene expression profiling

Spatial and temporal RNA-seq of interested cells

Electrophysiology

We are good at whole-cell patch clamp techniques, in vitro (acute slice) and also in vivo (two-photon guided). We aim to use those tools for understanding brain in the condition of health or disease from ion channels to synaptic transmision.

Publications

//*Corresponding author; #Co-first author

2021

Manling Xie# , Yong U. Liu*#, Shunyi Zhao, Lingxin Zhang, Dale B. Bosco, Yuan-Ping Pang, Jun Zhong, Udit Sheth, Yuka A. Martens, Na Zhao, Chia-Chen Liu, Yongxian Zhuang, Liewei Wang, Dennis W. Dickson, Mark P. Mattson, Guojun Bu, Long-Jun Wu*. TREM2 interacts with TDP-43 and mediates microglial neuroprotection against TDP-43-related neurodegeneration. Nature Neuroscience, 2021, Dec 16.

2020

Hengchang Li, Chengxiang Lu, Wenfei Yao, Lixin Xu, Jun Zhou, Bin Zheng*. Dexmedetomidine inhibits inflammatory response and autophagy through the circLrp1b/miR-27a-3p/Dram2 pathway in a rat model of traumatic brain injury. Aging, 2020. 12(21), 21687-21705.

2019

Yong U. Liu, Yanlu Ying, Yujiao Li, Ukpong B. Eyo, Tingjun Chen, Jiaying Zheng, Anthony D. Umpierre, Jia Zhu, Dale B. Bosco, Hailong Dong, Long-Jun Wu*. Neuronal network activity controls microglial process surveillance in awake mice via norepinephrine signaling. Nature Neuroscience, 2019, 22:1771–1781.
Yong Liu*#, Aiwu Cheng#, Yu-Jiao Li, Ying Yang, Yuki Kishimoto, Shi Zhang, Yue Wang, Ruiqian Wan, Sophia M. Raefsky, Daoyuan Lu, Takashi Saito, Takaomi Saido, Jian Zhu, Long-Jun Wu, Mark P. Mattson*. SIRT3 mediates hippocampal synaptic adaptations to intermittent fasting and ameliorates deficits in APP mutant mice. Nature Communications, 2019. 10(1):1886.

2018 and former

Bin Zheng, Renchun Lai, Jun Li*, Zhiyi Zuo*. Critical role of P2X7 receptors in the neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunction after surgery. Brain Behavior and Immunity, 2017. 61(3), 365–374.
Yong Liu#, Li-Jun Zhou#, Jun Wang#, Dai Li, Wen-Jie Ren, Jiyun Peng, Xiao Wei, Ting Xu, Wen-Jun Xin, Rui-Ping Pang, Yong-Yong Li, Zhi-Hai Qin, Madhuvika Murugan, Mark P Mattson, Long-Jun Wu*, Xian-Guo Liu*. TNF-α differentially regulates synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and spinal cord by microglia-dependent mechanisms after peripheral nerve injury. Journal of Neuroscience, 2017. 37(4):871-881.