Jialin Zheng, MD

Research Interests
Representative Publications
Biographical Information
Visit Dr. Zheng's Laboratory
Asian Pacific Rim Development Program

JIALIN ZHENG, MD
Professor

Durham Research Center II, Room 3070
985930 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-5930

Phone: 402-559-5656
E-mail: jzheng@unmc.edu

Omaha World-Herald, December 27, 2012
In program unique to UNMC, Chinese students learn medicine, build ties

UNMC Today, November 10, 2011
Dr. Zheng - UNMC's Secret Weapon in China

UNMC Today, November 8, 2011
Dr. Maurer: UNMC's Stock Rises in China

UNMC Today, May 23, 2011
Changes announced in academic affairs
James Turpen, Ph.D., has been named assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs and Jialin Zheng, M.D., is the new associate dean for graduate studies as part of a series of changes in UNMC Academic Affairs.

UNMC Connect summer 2010 - UNMC on the World Stage - Sixty years ago in the Midwest, diversity meant...

The Laboratory of Neurotoxicology is currently pursuing several investigative routes to elucidate the mechanism involved in HIV-1 Associated Dementia (HAD). These routes include: neurogenesis, mononuclear phagocyte (MP) activation in the brain, HIV viral proteins and their neurotoxic effects, and the chemokines (chemical signals) released by neurons, astrocytes and MP and their direct consequences on the brain environment. While these areas of research seem miles apart, they are actually quite linked. Studies have shown that neurogenesis plays an important role in the adult brain and can be stimulated by neuronal injury, physical exercise or stress. HIV-infected and activated MP can release viral proteins and neurotoxins, including glutamate, that injure neighboring neurons. Upon injury, neurons release chemokines that recruit more MPs to the site of injury, to repair the injury and promote neurogenesis as well as, rid the site of cellular debris and viral proteins. Infected and activated MP then respond to the signals produced by neurons, releasing more neurotoxins, thereby creating more damage and beginning yet another vicious cycle of injury. Therefore, by integrating studies of neuroscience, virology, immunology, biochemistry and receptor pharmacology to investigate these areas, the neuropathogenesis of HAD can be fully explored

Long Range Goals

The mission of our lab is to ultimately develop drugs that will selectively inhibit neurotoxin production and enhance neuronal repair in the brain. These studies will not only answer questions regarding HAD, but also other neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

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1. Tian C, Murrin LC, Zheng JC. Mitochondrial Fragmentation Is Involved in Methamphetamine-Induced Cell Death in Rat Hippocampal Neural Progenitor Cells. PLoS ONE. 2009; 4(5): e5546.
2. Huang Y, Walstrom A, Zhang L, Zhao Y, Cui M, Ye L, Zheng JC. Type I interferons and interferon regulatory factors regulate TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in HIV-1-infected macrophages. PLoS One. 2009;4(4):e5397
3. Wu Y, Peng H, Cui M, Whitney NP, Huang Y, Zheng JC. CXCL12 increases human neural progenitor cell proliferation through Akt-1/FOXO3a signaling pathway. J Neurochem. 2009 May; 109(4): 1157–1167.
4. Erdmann N, Tian C, Huang Y, Zhao J, Herek S, Curthoys N, Zheng J. In vitro glutaminase regulation and mechanisms of glutamate generation in HIV-1-infected macrophage. J Neurochem. 2009 Apr;109(2):551-61
5. Whitney NP, Eidem TM, Peng H, Huang Y, Zheng JC. Inflammation mediates varying effects in neurogenesis: relevance to the pathogenesis of brain injury and neurodegenerative disorders. J Neurochem. 2009 Mar;108(6):1343-59

Additional publications in PubMed.gov

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Dr. Zheng's Biographical Information

Visit Dr. Zheng's Laboratory

Asian Pacific Rim Development Program