Dr. Xiong's laboratory | Pharmacology | University of Nebraska Medical Center

Research Goals

The goals of our research are to elucidate molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of HIV-1-assciated neurocognitive disorders and to identify potential target(s) for development of therapeutic strategies.

Collaborators

Nawal Boukli, Ph.D., Universidad Central del Caribe, School of Medicine, Puerto, Rico
Lina Chen, M.D., Ph.D., Xi’an JiaoTong University, Xi’an, China
Howard S. Fox, M.D., Ph.D., University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Howard E. Gendelman, M.D., University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Shilpa Buch, Ph.D., University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Joe Zhou, Ph.D., University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
Dr. Hirokazu Tamamura, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan
Dr. Shangdong Liang, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China

Funding

Microglial ion channels and HIV- 1-associated Dementia
PI: Xiong, H
Source: NIH/NINDS R01 NS077873
This grant studies how HIV-1 triggers microglia activation, migration and production of neurotoxins via microglia ion channels, resulting in neuronal damage and ultimately neurological dysfunction.

Chronic HIV Infection and Aging In NeuroAIDS (CHAIN)
MPI: Buch, S and Fox, H; Therapeutics Core Co-I: Xiong, H
Source: NIH/NIMH P30 MH062261
This is a center grant to provide administrative and core support for scientists investigating NeuroAIDS

Glutaminase and its neurotoxic link to HAND
PI: Zheng, J
Source: NIH/NINDS R56NS041-15A1
Excess glutamate is known to cause synaptic dysfunctions and neuronal injury in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). We will investigate a novel approach to target glutaminase, which is a primary enzyme for the production of glutamate in the brain, to block excess glutamate production. Inhibition of glutaminase through novel inhibitors may become a novel strategy to prevent neuronal injury in HAND.

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Techniques used in laboratory

Primary cell cultures
Brain slices
Western and Northern blots
Immunocytochemistry
Imunohistochemistry
Two-electrode voltage clamp on Xenopus oocytes
Extracellular recording
Whole-cell patch recordings from cultured neural cells and brain slices (“blind “ patching recording)
Single channel recordings from frog oocytes and neuronal cultures
Animal behavior tests (radial armed water maze)
ELISA, PCR, RT-PCR

Personnel

Changhai Tian, Ph.D. Assistant Professor
Dongsheng Xu, Ph.D. Adjunct Professor
Wenhui Yan Student Scholar
Ya Zheng CSC Student Scholar

Dr. Xiong's home page
Dr. Xiong's biographical information
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Primary Faculty

Jialin Zheng, M.D.