Assistant Professor
Anesthesiology
Developmental Biology
Email Website Contact Info
My research is primarily focused on the following areas:
1) The molecular mechanisms underlying the assembly of the spinal dorsal horn circuitry. Spinal dorsal horn is a pivotal center for integrating and relaying pain-sensing signals (nociceptive) from the periphery to the brain. We have found that several transcription factors and axonal guidance molecules play important functions in the formation of dorsal laminae and the projections of primary afferents to the spinal cord. In addition, we have identified several lamina-specific transcription factors and neuropeptides by differential screening and are using gene targeting approach to study their function in vivo. Finally, we are using Cre/LoxP system to generate the dorsal horn-specific knockout mice and to study the function of genes during postnatal development.
2) The molecular mechanisms underlying the development of the central serotonergic system. Serotonin (5-HT) is a key neurotransmitter that has been implicated in numerous psychiatric disorders including pain, depression, aggression and anxiety. We have found that a transcription factor (Lmx1b) is critical for the development of all central 5-HT neurons. Differential screening approach is being carried out to identify other 5-HT neuron-specific genes and to dissect their relationship with Lmx1b.
3). The molecular mechanisms underlying the descending control of the pain circuitry. We are interested in understanding how distinct types of neurotransmitters in the brainstem could modulate pain transmission through a variety of descending pathways. We have generated a line of mice completely devoid of 5-HT in the brainstem and are studying the responses of these mice in the settings of inflammatory and neuropathic pain using pharmacological and behavioral approaches.
These molecular, cellular, genetic, pharmacological and behavioral studies may reveal potential sites of drug actions on central nociceptive pathways and thus aid in the new pharmacological strategies for spinal cord injury and pain relief.
Research Photos (Click to Enlarge)
Research Publications
Ren XR, Ming GL, Xie Y, et al. Focal adhesion kinase in netrin-1 signaling, Nat. Neurosci. 2004 7(11):1204-1212
Ding YQ, Yin J, Kania A, et al. Lmx1b controls the differentiation and migration of the superficial dorsal horn neurons of the spinal cord. Development 2004 Aug;131(15):3693-703.
Ding YQ, Yin J, Xu HM, et al. Formation of whisker-related principal sensory nucleus-based lemniscal pathway requires a paired homeodomain
transcription factor, Drg11. J. Neurosci. 2003 23(19):7246-7254
Ding YQ, Marklund U, Yuan W, et al.Lmx1b is essential for the development of serotonergic neurons.Nat. Neurosci. 2003 6(9):933-938
Wei F, Wang GD, Kerchner GA, et al. Genetic enhancement of inflammatory pain by forebrain NR2B overexpression. Nat. Neurosci. 2001 2:164-169.
Chen ZF, Rebelo S, White F, et al. The paired homeodomain protein DRG11 is required for the projection of cutaneous sensory afferent fibers to the dorsal spinal cord. Neuron 2001 31:59-73.
Contact Info
Zhou-Feng Chen, Ph.D.
Office Location: 6640 Clinical Science Research Bldg.
Office Phone: 314-747-5093
Lab Phone: 314-747-5360
Campus Box: 8054
Fax: 314-362-8571
chenz@morpheus.wustl.edu
http://elysium.wustl.edu/zclab/
