Xiang Yu

E-mail: yuxiang01（AT）pku.edu.cn

Website:https://www.bio.pku.edu.cn/en/index/index/by_speciality_detail/cid/70/id/22.html

Key words:

Brain development, synaptic plasticity, neural circuits, autism, sensory experience, neuroimmunology

Research area：
The normal functioning of the brain relies on its intricate and complex circuits. Natural sensory experience is critical to the development of neural circuits. Our previous research showed that early sensory experience cross-regionally regulates neural circuit development via oxytocin signaling. We further showed that pleasant sensory stimuli, such as gentle stroking, elevate the firing of oxytocin neurons through specific neural circuits, thereby promote social interactions. Based on these findings, we propose the “early global cross-brain regional neural circuit plasticity hypothesis”. The early development brain is highly plastic, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. By integrating techniques including single-cell sequencing, transgenic animal models, electrophysiology, optical imaging, and quantitative behavioral assays, we aim to uncover the mechanisms through which sensory experience regulates the function of neurons, glial cells, and neurovascular units. We will further investigate how these mechanisms go away in neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability. These studies will not not only deepen our understanding of the brain’s operating principles but also provide new insights for early pharmacological and behavioral interventions in developmental neurological disorders.

Selected Publications

1. Li H., Jiang T., An S., Xu M., Gou L., Ren B., Shi X., Wang X., Yan J., Yuan J., Xu X., Wu Q.F., Luo Q., Gong H., Bian W.J.* Li A.*, Yu X.* (2024) Single-neuron projectomes of mouse paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus oxytocin neurons reveal mutually exclusive projection patterns. Neuron 112(7):1081-1099.

2. Wang M.* and Yu X.* (2023) Experience-dependent structural plasticity of pyramidal neurons in the developing sensory cortices. Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. doi: 10.1016/j.conb.2023.102724

3. Yu H., Miao W., Ji E., Huang S., Jin S., Zhu X., Liu M.Z., Sun Y.G., Xu F., and Yu X.* (2022) Social touch-like tactile stimulation activates a tachykinin 1-oxytocin pathway to promote social interactions. Neuron 110(6):1051-1067. (highlighted by same issue Preview 110(6):909-911)

4. Cao H., Li M.Y., Li G., Li S.J., Wen B., Lu Y., and Yu X.* (2020) Retinoid X receptor α regulates DHA-dependent spinogenesis and functional synapse formation in vivo. Cell Rep. 31(7):107649.

5. Duan L., Zhang X.D., Miao W.Y., Sun Y.J., Xiong G., Wu Q., Li G., Yang P., Yu H., Li H., Wang Y., Zhang M., Hu L.Y., Tong X., Zhou W.H., Yu X.* (2018) PDGFRβ cells rapidly relay inflammatory signal from the circulatory system to neurons via chemokine CCL2. Neuron 100(1):183-200. (highlighted by same issue Preview 100(1):11-13)

6. Hu C.C., Xu X.*, Xiong G.L., Xu Q., Zhou B.R., Li C.Y., Qin Q., Liu C.X., Li H.P., Sun Y.J.*, Yu X.* (2018) Alterations in plasma cytokine levels in Chinese children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res. 11(7):989-999.

7. Li M.Y., Miao W.Y., Wu Q.Z., He S.J., Yan G., Yang Y., Liu J.J., Taketo M.M. and Yu, X.* (2017) A critical role of presynaptic Cadherin/Catenin/p140cap complexes in stabilizing spines and functional synapses in the neocortex. Neuron 94(6):1155-1172

8. Wang M., Li H., Takumi T., Qiu Z., Xu X.*, Yu X.* and Bian W.J.* (2017) Distinct Defects in Spine Formation or Pruning in Two Gene Duplication Mouse Models of Autism Neurosci. Bull. 33(2):143-152

9. Bian W.J., Miao W.Y., He S.J., Qiu Z. and Yu, X.* (2015) Coordinated spine pruning and maturation mediated by inter-spine competition for cadherin/catenin complexes. Cell 162(4): 808-822 [highlighted by Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 16(10):577; selected as “exceptional” by Faculty 1000]

10. Zheng J.J., Li S.J., Zhang X.D., Miao W.Y., Zhang D., Yao H. and Yu, X.* (2014) Oxytocin mediates early experience–dependent cross-modal plasticity in the sensory cortices. Nat. Neurosci. 17(3):391-399 [highlighted by same issue News and Views 17(3), 340 and by Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 15(3):139; selected as “exceptional” by Faculty 1000]