Research Fields

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions affecting people of all ages. Our research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie the development of epilepsy. We are devoted to providing new insights into the etiology of epilepsy and to identifying potential therapeutic targets for epilepsy.

Honor Reward

2017-2018   The faculty development program of University of Tennessee, TN, USA

2017-2018   The “DalianDong-Gan” Teaching scholar ship, Southeast University

2016-2017   National MBBS Mini-lecture Awards, Jinan University

2015-2016   “Top10 favorite teacher” award, Medical School of Southeast University

2015-2016    Mini-lectureAwards of Jiangsu Pharmacology Association

2015-2016   The23th Annual Teaching awards, Southeast University

2013-2014   The“87-Wireless Class” Teaching scholar ship, Southeast University

2013-2014   Mini-lecture Awards, Medical School of Southeast University

2012-2013   Laboratory-basedresearch track award at the 22nd Annual

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)Research Poster Day, USA





Academic Achievements


Publications:

(1)Zhu X*, Yao Y, Yang J, Ge Q, Niu D, Liu X, Zhang C, Gan G,Zhang A, Yao H.Seizure-induced neuroinflammation contributes toectopic neurogenesis and aggressive behavior in pilocarpine-induced statusepilepticus mice. Neuropharmacology. 2020,170:108044.

(2)Zhu X*, Zhang A,Dong J, Yao Y, Zhu M, Xu K, Al Hamda MH. MicroRNA-23acontributes to hippocampal neuronal injuries and spatial memory impairment inan experimental model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Brain Res Bull. 2019, 152: 175-183.

(3)Zhu X*, Yao Y, Liu Y, Zhou R, Zhang W, Hu Q, Liu H, Al Hamda MH1, Zhang A. Regulationof ADAM10 by MicroRNA-23a Contributes to Epileptogenesis in Pilocarpine-InducedStatus Epilepticus Mice. Front Cell Neurosci. 2019, 30; 13:180.(4)ZhuX*, Yao Y, Li X, Dong J, Zhang A. Alterationof GABAergic signaling is associated with anxiety-like behavior in temporallobe epilepsy mice. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2019; 93:141-148

(5) Zhu X*Li X, Zhu M, Xu K, Yang L, Han B, Huang R, Zhang A, YaoH., Metalloprotease Adam10 suppresses epilepsy through repression ofhippocampal neuroinflammation. J Neuroinflammation. 2018;15(1):221.

(6)  Zhu X*, Dong J, Han B,  Huang R, Zhang A, Xia Z,Chang H, Chao J, Yao H., Neuronalnitric oxide  synthase contributes to PTZ kindling epilepsy-induced hippocampalendoplasmic  reticulum stress and oxidative damage. Front Cell Neurosci. 2017;11:377.

(7) Zhu X*, Dong J, Han B,  Huang R, Zhang A, Xia Z,Chang H, Chao J, Yao H., Neuronalnitric oxide  synthase contributes to PTZ kindling-induced cognitive impairmentand  depressive-like behavior. FrontBehav Neurosci. 2017;11:203.

(8) Zhu X*,Dong J, Xia Z,  Zhang A, Chao J, Yao H., Repeated restraint stress increases seizure  susceptibility by activationhippocampal endoplasmic reticulum stress. Neurochem  Int. 2017;110:25-37.

(9) Zhu X*,Shen K, Bai Y,  Zhang A, Xia Z, Chao J, Yao H., NADPH oxidase activation is required for  pentylenetetrazolekindling-induced hippocampal autophagy. FreeRadic Biol  Med. 2016;94:230-42.

(10) Zhu X*,Dong J, Shen K,  Bai Y, Chao J, Yao H., Neuronal nitric oxide synthasecontributes to  pentylenetetrazole-kindling-inducedhippocampal neurogenesis. Brain Res  Bull.2016, 24 (1), 33-42.

(11) Zhu X, Dubey D,  Bermudez C, PorterBE*., Suppressing cAMP response element-binding protein  transcription shortensthe duration of status epilepticus and decreases the  number of spontaneousseizures in the pilocarpine model of epilepsy.Epilepsia.2015,  56(12):1870-1078

(12) Zhu X*,Dong J, Shen K, Bai Y, Zhang Y, Lv X, Chao J, Yao H.,  NMDA receptor NR2B subunits contribute to PTZ-kindling-inducedhippocampal  astrocytosis andoxidative stress. Brain Res Bull.2015, 114:70-78.

(13)Bai Y#,Zhu  X#, Chao J#, Zhang Y, Qian C, Li P,Liu D,  Han B, Zhao L, Zhang J, Buch S, Teng G, Hu G, Yao H*.,Pericytes  Contribute to the Disruption of theCerebral Endothelial Barrier via  Increasing VEGF Expression: Implications forStroke, PLoS One, 2015;  10(4):e0124362

(14) Zhu XJ, Han X, Blendy,  JA, Porter BE*.Decreased CREB levels suppress epilepsy. Neurobiol Dis. 2012,  253-263.

(15) Luo CX#, Zhu XJ#, Zhou QG#,  Wang B, Wang W, Cai HH, Sun YJ, Hu M, Jiang J,Hua Y, Han X, Zhu DY*. Reducedneuronal nitric oxide synthase is involved in  ischemia-induced hippocampalneurogenesis by up-regulating inducible nitric  oxide synthase expression. JNeurochem. 2007, 103:1872-1882.

(16) Zhu XJ, Hua Y, Jiang  J, Zhou QG, LuoCX, Han X, Lu YM, Zhu DY*.,  Neuronal nitric oxide synthase-derived nitricoxide inhibits neurogenesis  in the adult dentate gyrus bydown-regulating cyclic AMP response element  binding protein phosphorylation. Neuroscience.2006 , 141(2):827-836.

(17) Luo CX#,  Zhu XJ#, Zhang AX#, Wang W,Yang XM, Liu  SH, Han X, Sun J, Zhang SG, Lu Y, Zhu DY*., Blockade of L-typevoltage-gated  Ca channel inhibits ischemia-induced neurogenesis by down-regulating iNOS  expression in adult mouse. JNeurochem. 2005, 94(4):1077-1086.

(18) Bai Y, Zhang Y,  Hua J, Yang X, Zhang X, DuanM, Zhu X, Huang W, Chao J, Zhou R,Hu G,  Yao H*., Silencing microRNA-143protects the integrity of the blood-brain  barrier: implications formethamphetamine abuse. Sci Rep. 2016,6:35642.  

(19) Zhang Y, Lv X,  Bai Y, Zhu X, Wu X, Chao J, Duan M, Buch S, Chen L, Yao H*.,  Involvement of sigma-1 receptor in astrocyteactivation induced by  methamphetamine via up-regulation of its own expression. J  Neuroinflammation. 2015 12:29.

(20) Yi H, Bai Y, Zhu  X, Lin L, Zhao L, Wu X, Buch S, Wang L, Chao J, Yao H*., IL-17A induces  MIP-1α expression in primaryastrocytes via Src/MAPK/PI3K/NF-kB pathways:  implications for multiplesclerosis. J NeuroimmunePharmacol. 2014 ,  9(5):629-641.

(21) Wang IT, Allen M, GoffinD, Zhu X,  Fairless AH, Brodkin ES, Siegel SJ, Marsh ED, Blendy JA, ZhouZ*.(2012) Loss of CDKL5 disrupts kinome  profile and event-related potentialsleading to autistic-like phenotypes in  mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A,2012, 109:21516-21521.

(22) VarodayanFP, Zhu  XJ, Cui XN, Porter BE*. Seizures increase cell proliferation in the  dentate gyrus byshortening progenitor cell-cycle length. Epilepsia, 2009,  50: 2638-2647.

(23) Zhou QG, Hu Y,  Hua Y, Hu M, Luo CX, Han X, Zhu XJ, Wang B, Xu JS, Zhu DY*., Neuronalnitric oxide synthase contributes to chronic  stress-induced depression bysuppressing hippocampal neurogenesis.J  Neurochem. 2007, 103(5):1843-54.

(24) Lin X, Zhang Y*,  Dong J, Zhu X, Ye M, Shi J, Lu J, Di Q, Shi J, Liu W., GM-CSF  enhancesneural differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells., Neuroreport.  2007:18(11):1113-1117.


Funding support:


(1) The effect of kynurenic metabolic dysfunction in  temporal lobe epilepsy and the mechanism invovled. Natural Science Foundation  of China, 81872846, 2019/01-2012/12.


(2) The role of miR-23a targeting of Adam10 in  temporal lobe epilepsy and the mechanism invovled. Natural Science Foundation  of China, 81673413, 2017/01-2018/12.


(3) NMDA receptor regulation epileptogenesis through  transcriptional factor CREB and the molecular and cellular mechanism  involved. National Ministry of Education, No. 49, 2015/03-2018/6.


(4) Effect of NMDA receptor on temporal lobe epilepsy. Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, BK20141335,2014/07-2017/06.  


(5) Effect of NMDA receptor NR2B unit on temporal lobe  epilepsy.The National Research Foundation for the Doctoral Program of Higher  Education. 20130092120043 2014/01-2016/12.


(6) Pharmacology curriculum reform project.Southeast  University, 2018/01-2020/12.