The PI of the “Developingbrain damage and repair laboratory”isProfessor Dezhi Mu, and the Co-PI is Professor Yi Qu. The laboratory focuses onthe study of molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying damage and repair ofdeveloping brain, screening of diagnostic biomarkers and neuroregenerativeagents for brain injury, and stem cell therapy for neonatal brain damage. Thedetails are as following:

1.Mechanisms underlying damage and repair of developing brain

   We have systematically studied themolecules and signaling pathways mediating neural survival and injury in bothin vivo and in vitro models of brain injury. We have examined manyneuroprotective molecules such as hypoxia inducible factor-1 α (HIF-1α),integrin β 8, aquaporin 4 (AQP4), glucose transporter 1 (GLUT 1), andtelomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), and the molecules promoting neuralinjury such as human growth and transformation – dependent protein (HGTD-P),and elucidated the roles of many signaling pathways such as β8/ERK, PI3K/ Akt, HIF-1α/VEGF,  PTEN-AKT-FOXO3a, mTOR and STAT3 in the damageand repair of developing brain. The laboratory has many experimentalinstruments and equipments such as anesthesia machine and hypoxic devices forsmall animals, paraffin em-x-bedding station, paraffin slicing machine, cryostatmicrotome, vibratome, biosafety cabinet, immunofluorescence microscopy, andultrasonic cell disrupter, for performing of the studies mentioned above.

2.Screening of biomarkers for early diagnosis of neural injury

Wehave collected blood samples from neonates with brain injury, and screenedbiomarkers for early diagnosis of brain injury using gene chip and proteinchip. We have established real-time PCR protocol for the detection of bloodmicroRNAs. We found that microRNA-210 is significantly increased in blood ofneonates at the early stage of hypoxia-ischemia ecephalopathy(HIE), providing a potential sensitive indicator for early diagnosis of HIE.The laboratory has a series of instruments, including quantitative nucleic aciddetector, multiskan spectrum, PCR machines, gel imaging system, for performingof the studies mentioned above.

3.Screening of neural regenerative agents and stem cell therapy for HIE

Wehave selected some potential agents regulating the neuroprotective andneurodamage molecules. For example, microRNAs targeting HGTD-P and plantextract targeting TERT. We have performed stem cell (MSC, NSC, OPC) therapy inanimal models of HIE and achieved good results. The laboratory has a series ofinstruments, including small animal ECG monitor, neural analysis of stereologyautomation system, cryostat microtome, and electrochemiluminescence system, forperforming of these studies mentioned above.