Discovery of therapeutic targets and research and development of new drugs for neuropsychiatric disorders; Drug targets and mechanisms study of stroke; Targeting Study on Key Sites of Inflammatory Regulation in Cardio-cerebrovascular Diseases.

1.Research Projects

2017-2021,The role and mechanism of GPR40 receptor in the pathogenesis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease (General program of National Natural Science Foundation of China , No.81673434)

2012-2015,Establishment of novel G-protein-coupled receptor targeting drug screening system and its key technologies (National Twelfth Five-Year major new drug creation special project ,No.2012ZX09504001-001)

2012-2015,Preclinical study on innovative Chinese medicine for treating Alzheimer's disease with Pinus massoniana conifer polypentenol (Major science and technology Project of Guangdong Province, No.2012A080201005)

2. Academic Awards

2010, Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University of Ministry of Education of China

2007, Jiangsu Province Science and Technology Progress Award, the first prize

2005, Servier Young Pharmacologist Award, Chinese Pharmacological Society

3. Representative Research Achievements

1) Our team conducted research on Establishment of a new G-protein coupled receptor targeted drug screening system and research on its key technologies, based on a major special project for new drug discovery during the 12th Five Year Plan period. Focusing on G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) related to the treatment of Alzheimer,s disease (AD), a stable GPCR cell line and its high throughput screening model have been established, achieving innovation in the screening technology for new drugs for GPCRs. A multi-level screening model for new drugs for AD treatment has been established, greatly promoting the development process of AD treatment.

2) Our previous studies have found that the metabolism of polyterpene alcohols in the brain and their regulation of the function and expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) on the blood brain barrier are closely related to the pathology and treatment of AD. This study provides a new research direction and idea for exploring the etiology and pathological mechanism of AD, and provides clues and experimental evidence for searching for new targets of AD prevention and treatment drugs.

1. Wang, C.; Zheng, D.P.; Weng, F.L.; Jin, Y.Z.; He, L.* Sodium butyrate ameliorates the cognitive impairment of Alzheimer's disease by regulating the metabolism of astrocytes. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2022;239(1),215-227. (IF: 4.415)

2. Chen, T.; Liu, S.N.; Zheng, M.L; Li, Y.X.; He, L.* The effect of geniposide on chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depressive mice through BTK/TLR4/NF-kappaB and BDNF/TrkB signaling pathways. Phytother Res. 2021;35(2),932-945. (IF: 5.878)

3. Liu, C.; Cheng, Z.Y.; Xia, Q.P.; Hu, Y.H.; Wang, C.; He, L.* GPR40 receptor agonist TAK-875 improves cognitive deficits and reduces beta-amyloid production in APPswe/PS1dE9 mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2021;238(8),2133-2146. (IF: 4.530)

4. Gong, Y.; Li, Y.F.; Liu, X.; He, L.* GW9508 ameliorates cognitive dysfunction via the external treatment of encephalopathy in Abeta1-42 induced mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Pharmacol. 2021;909,174362. (IF: 4.432)

5. Cheng, Z.Y.; Hu, Y.H.; Xia, Q.P.; Wang, C.; He, L.* DRD1 agonist A-68930 improves mitochondrial dysfunction and cognitive deficits in a streptozotocin-induced mouse model. Brain Res Bull. 2021;175,136-149. (IF: 4.077)

6. Zheng, M.L.; Li, K.; Chen, T.; Liu, S.N.; He, L.* Geniposide protects depression through BTK/JAK2/STAT1 signaling pathway in lipopolysaccharide-induced depressive mice. Brain Res Bull. 2021;170:65-73. (IF: 4.077)

7. Wang, Y.; He, Y.; Yang, F.P.; Abame, M.A.; Wu, C.H.; Peng, Y.M.; Feng, L.Y.; Shen, J.S.; Wang, Z.*; He, L.* TPN672: A Novel Serotonin-Dopamine Receptor Modulator for the Treatment of Schizophrenia. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2021;378(1),20-30. (IF: 4.030)

8. Gong, Y.H.; Chen, J.J.; Jin, Y.Z.; Wang, C.; Zheng, M.L.; He, L.* GW9508 ameliorates cognitive impairment via the cAMP-CREB and JNK pathways in APPswe/PS1dE9 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Neuropharmacology. 2020;164,107899. (IF: 4.431)

9. Cheng, Z.Y.; Xia, Q.P.; Hu, Y.H.; Wang, C.; He, L.* Dopamine D1 receptor agonist A-68930 ameliorates Aβ1-42-induced cognitive impairment and neuroinflammation in mice. Int Immunopharmacol. 2020;88:106963. (IF: 3.943)

10. Chen, T.; Zheng, M.L.; Li, Y.X.; Liu, S.N.; He, L.* The role of CCR5 in the protective effect of Esculin on lipopolysaccharide-induced depressive symptom in mice.J Affect Disord. 2020;277:755-764. (IF: 3.892)

Prof. Ling He, Lecturers Yi Sun, Tong Chen and Mengtao Xing, Postdoctoral Yuhang Gong