Department of Neuroscience,
Stem Cell Institute
Xue-Jun Li received her PhD in Neurobiology from Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University in 2000. To pursue her strong interests in neurodegenerative disease and regenerative medicine, she joined the Stem Cell Research Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, first as a postdoctoral associate and then as an assistant scientist. In 2007, she joined the Neuroscience Department at the University of Connecticut Health Center as an assistant professor. She is also a PI of the University of Connecticut Stem Cell Institute. In February 2016, Dr. Li joined the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the College of Medicine-Rockford and the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Illinois-Chicago as an associate professor. Dr. Li's research focuses on specifying neuronal subtypes from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs including both human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells) and using these stem cell-derived neurons to study motor neuron and axonal degeneration. Dr. Li has published over 40 peer reviewed manuscripts and 3 book chapters. As the lead author, she published the seminal report on the specification of spinal motor neurons from hPSCs (Nature Biotechnology, 2005). This paradigm she developed has been widely used in motor neuron research (>800 citations; Google Scholar 01/2020). Recently, her lab has successfully established human stem cell models for spinal muscular atrophy (Cell Research, 2013; Disease Models & Mechanisms, 2016) and hereditary spastic paraplegias (Stem Cells, 2014; Human Molecular Genetics, 2014 & 2018). Her research is supported by grant funding from the National Institute of Health, the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation, the Blazer Foundation, the Connecticut Stem Cell Research Program and the ALS Association. By combining cellular, molecular, bioengineering and system approaches, research in her lab aims to understand the pathogenic mechanisms of motor neuron diseases and to develop therapeutics for the treatment of these debilitating diseases.
Effects of acetazolamide and anordiol on osmotic water permeability in AQP1-cRNA injected Xenopus oocyte.
Acta pharmacologica Sinica Jan, 2004 | Pubmed ID: 14704128
[The advance of RNA interference].
Sheng li ke xue jin zhan [Progress in physiology] Jan, 2004 | Pubmed ID: 15127600
Acetazolamide inhibits aquaporin-1 protein expression and angiogenesis.
Acta pharmacologica Sinica Jun, 2004 | Pubmed ID: 15169637
The protein profile of acetazolamide-treated sera in mice bearing Lewis neoplasm.
Life sciences Jul, 2004 | Pubmed ID: 15234186
Specification of motoneurons from human embryonic stem cells.
Nature biotechnology Feb, 2005 | Pubmed ID: 15685164
GLB prevents tumor metastasis of Lewis lung carcinoma by inhibiting tumor adhesion actions.
Acta pharmacologica Sinica Jul, 2005 | Pubmed ID: 15960897
Melatonin protects against MPTP/MPP+ -induced mitochondrial DNA oxidative damage in vivo and in vitro.
Journal of pineal research Aug, 2005 | Pubmed ID: 15978055
The effects of curcumin on depressive-like behaviors in mice.
European journal of pharmacology Jul, 2005 | Pubmed ID: 15987635
Effect of chronic unpredictable mild stress on brain-pancreas relative protein in rat brain and pancreas.
Behavioural brain research Nov, 2005 | Pubmed ID: 16154211
Antidepressant effects of curcumin in the forced swim test and olfactory bulbectomy models of depression in rats.
Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior Sep, 2005 | Pubmed ID: 16171853
[The structure and biological functions of A-kinase anchor proteins].
Sheng li ke xue jin zhan [Progress in physiology] Jul, 2005 | Pubmed ID: 16270826
Etiological investigation of fatal liver failure during the course of chronic hepatitis B in southeast China.
Journal of gastroenterology Apr, 2006 | Pubmed ID: 16741614
In vitro differentiation of neural precursors from human embryonic stem cells.
Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) , 2006 | Pubmed ID: 16881517
Salvianolic acid B, an antioxidant from Salvia miltiorrhiza, prevents Abeta(25-35)-induced reduction in BPRP in PC12 cells.
Biochemical and biophysical research communications Sep, 2006 | Pubmed ID: 16890202
Human embryonic stem cell-derived neural precursors develop into neurons and integrate into the host brain.
Journal of neuroscience research Nov, 2006 | Pubmed ID: 16941479
Reduction in the in vitro expression of Brain-Pancreas Relative Protein by oxygen and glucose-deprivation.
Molecular and cellular biochemistry Jan, 2007 | Pubmed ID: 16953335
Induced expression of Olig2 is sufficient for oligodendrocyte specification but not for motoneuron specification and astrocyte repression.
Molecular and cellular neurosciences Dec, 2006 | Pubmed ID: 17035043
Effects of glucose, insulin, and supernatant from pancreatic beta-cells on brain-pancreas relative protein in rat hippocampus.
Neurochemical research Dec, 2006 | Pubmed ID: 17091403
[The application of siRNA in therapeutics].
Sheng li ke xue jin zhan [Progress in physiology] Oct, 2006 | Pubmed ID: 17262970
Human embryonic stem cells for brain repair?
Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences Jan, 2008 | Pubmed ID: 17322002
Directed neural differentiation of human embryonic stem cells via an obligated primitive anterior stage.
Stem cells (Dayton, Ohio) Jun, 2007 | Pubmed ID: 17332508
[Impacts of modern biology on drug discovery].
Sheng li ke xue jin zhan [Progress in physiology] Jan, 2007 | Pubmed ID: 17438949
Oxidative stress mediates CoCl(2)-induced prostate tumour cell adhesion: role of protein kinase C and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase.
Basic & clinical pharmacology & toxicology Jul, 2007 | Pubmed ID: 17577315
[Expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha and relationship thereof to apoptosis related protein in non-small cell lung cancer].
Zhonghua yi xue za zhi Apr, 2007 | Pubmed ID: 17650407
The antidepressant effects of curcumin in the forced swimming test involve 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptors.
European journal of pharmacology Jan, 2008 | Pubmed ID: 17942093
Down-regulation of brain-pancreas relative protein in diabetic rats and by high glucose in PC12 cells: prevention by calpain inhibitors.
Journal of pharmacological sciences Jan, 2008 | Pubmed ID: 18212479
Directed differentiation of ventral spinal progenitors and motor neurons from human embryonic stem cells by small molecules.
Stem cells (Dayton, Ohio) Apr, 2008 | Pubmed ID: 18238853
Epinephrine increases phosphorylation of MAP-2c in rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12 Cells) via a protein kinase C- and mitogen activated protein kinase-dependent mechanism.
Journal of proteome research Apr, 2008 | Pubmed ID: 18290605
Curcumin protects against glutamate excitotoxicity in rat cerebral cortical neurons by increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor level and activating TrkB.
Brain research May, 2008 | Pubmed ID: 18420184
Serum amyloid A mediates the inhibitory effect of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides on tumor cell adhesion to endothelial cells.
Oncology reports Sep, 2008 | Pubmed ID: 18695905
Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells as in vitro models of human neurogenetic disorders.
Neurogenetics Oct, 2008 | Pubmed ID: 18791750
Salvianolic acid B protects human endothelial cells from oxidative stress damage: a possible protective role of glucose-regulated protein 78 induction.
Cardiovascular research Jan, 2009 | Pubmed ID: 18815184
Identification of aquaporin-5 and lipid rafts in human resting saliva and their release into cevimeline-stimulated saliva.
Biochimica et biophysica acta Jan, 2009 | Pubmed ID: 18822351
[Genetic analysis of a novel aurea mutant in wheat].
Yi chuan = Hereditas / Zhongguo yi chuan xue hui bian ji Dec, 2008 | Pubmed ID: 19073577
[Endoscopic anatomy involving the extended transsphenoidal approach].
Zhonghua yi xue za zhi Aug, 2008 | Pubmed ID: 19087691
Osteopontin mediates dense culture-induced proliferation and adhesion of prostate tumour cells: role of protein kinase C, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and calcium.
Basic & clinical pharmacology & toxicology Feb, 2009 | Pubmed ID: 19143755
[Study on the impact factors of condom usage among the floating population].
Zhonghua liu xing bing xue za zhi = Zhonghua liuxingbingxue zazhi Nov, 2008 | Pubmed ID: 19173955
Sinomenine influences capacity for invasion and migration in activated human monocytic THP-1 cells by inhibiting the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and CD147.
Acta pharmacologica Sinica Apr, 2009 | Pubmed ID: 19305422
Endothelium-specific GTP cyclohydrolase I overexpression accelerates refractory wound healing by suppressing oxidative stress in diabetes.
American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism Jun, 2009 | Pubmed ID: 19336662
Human oligodendrocytes from embryonic stem cells: conserved SHH signaling networks and divergent FGF effects.
Development (Cambridge, England) May, 2009 | Pubmed ID: 19363151
[Purinergic signaling in nervous system].
Sheng li ke xue jin zhan [Progress in physiology] Jan, 2009 | Pubmed ID: 19408706
[Multi-target therapeutics and new drug discovery].
Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica Mar, 2009 | Pubmed ID: 19449518
Aquaporin-2 regulates cell volume recovery via tropomyosin.
The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology Dec, 2009 | Pubmed ID: 19651234
Lack of ABCG2 expression and side population properties in human pluripotent stem cells.
Stem cells (Dayton, Ohio) Oct, 2009 | Pubmed ID: 19670287
[Association between the serum HBV DNA loads normalized to hepatic parenchyma cell volume and the liver histopathologic inflammation gradings in the immune clearance phase].
Zhonghua gan zang bing za zhi = Zhonghua ganzangbing zazhi = Chinese journal of hepatology Oct, 2009 | Pubmed ID: 19874688
Curcumin produces neuroprotective effects via activating brain-derived neurotrophic factor/TrkB-dependent MAPK and PI-3K cascades in rodent cortical neurons.
Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry Feb, 2010 | Pubmed ID: 19879308
Coordination of sonic hedgehog and Wnt signaling determines ventral and dorsal telencephalic neuron types from human embryonic stem cells.
Development (Cambridge, England) Dec, 2009 | Pubmed ID: 19906872
Immediate but not long-term administration of nicardipine inhibits tolbutamide-induced insulin secretion from rat pancreatic beta cells.
Pancreas May, 2010 | Pubmed ID: 19959966
A potential regulatory single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter of the Klotho gene may be associated with essential hypertension in the Chinese Han population.
Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry Mar, 2010 | Pubmed ID: 20005218
[A simple scoring system to evaluate the severity of acute-on-chronic liver failure in hepatitis B].
Zhonghua yi xue za zhi Dec, 2009 | Pubmed ID: 20193566
Expression and clinical significance of EGFL7 in malignant glioma.
Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology Nov, 2010 | Pubmed ID: 20213100
Pax6 is a human neuroectoderm cell fate determinant.
Cell stem cell Jul, 2010 | Pubmed ID: 20621053
Specification of region-specific neurons including forebrain glutamatergic neurons from human induced pluripotent stem cells.
PloS one , 2010 | Pubmed ID: 20686615
[Phase separation characteristics of an anaerobic baffled reactor treating organic wastewater containing sulphate].
Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue / [bian ji, Zhongguo ke xue yuan huan jing ke xue wei yuan hui "Huan jing ke xue" bian ji wei yuan hui.] Jul, 2010 | Pubmed ID: 20825024
[Surgical outcomes of pediatric symptomatic epilepsy and their influencing factors].
Zhongguo dang dai er ke za zhi = Chinese journal of contemporary pediatrics Sep, 2010 | Pubmed ID: 20849719
Puerarin improves insulin resistance and modulates adipokine expression in rats fed a high-fat diet.
European journal of pharmacology Dec, 2010 | Pubmed ID: 20869961
Promoting effects of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides on B16F10 cells to activate lymphocytes.
Basic & clinical pharmacology & toxicology Mar, 2011 | Pubmed ID: 20964805
Metabolic disorders in newly diagnosed young adult female patients with simple virilizing 21-hydroxylase deficiency.
Endocrine Oct, 2010 | Pubmed ID: 20978868
Fezf2 regulates telencephalic precursor differentiation from mouse embryonic stem cells.
Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991) Sep, 2011 | Pubmed ID: 21330470
[Drug targets discovery based on dynamic signal transduction networks].
Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica Jan, 2010 | Pubmed ID: 21351442
[Molecular mechanisms of diabetic wound healing].
Sheng li ke xue jin zhan [Progress in physiology] Dec, 2010 | Pubmed ID: 21416956
[Role of vimentin in tumor metastasis and drug research].
Sheng li ke xue jin zhan [Progress in physiology] Dec, 2010 | Pubmed ID: 21416957
[Mechanism of estrogen-mediated neuroprotection: regulation of mitochondrial function].
Sheng li ke xue jin zhan [Progress in physiology] Jun, 2010 | Pubmed ID: 21416974
[Modulation of vesicle trafficking by cytoskeleton proteins and its relationship with neurological diseases].
Sheng li ke xue jin zhan [Progress in physiology] Feb, 2010 | Pubmed ID: 21417015
Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides antagonize the suppression on lymphocytes induced by culture supernatants of B16F10 melanoma cells.
The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology May, 2011 | Pubmed ID: 21492175
The effect of topiramate on tumor-related angiogenesis and on the serum proteome of mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma.
European journal of pharmacology Aug, 2011 | Pubmed ID: 21596032
Bacteriological differences between COPD exacerbation and community-acquired pneumonia.
Respiratory care Nov, 2011 | Pubmed ID: 21605476
Relationship of carotid intima-media thickness and duration of vegetarian diet in Chinese male vegetarians.
Nutrition & metabolism , 2011 | Pubmed ID: 21929760
[Chemical proteomics and discovery of drug targets].
Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica Aug, 2011 | Pubmed ID: 22007509
[Network pharmacology and drug discovery].
Sheng li ke xue jin zhan [Progress in physiology] Aug, 2011 | Pubmed ID: 22066413
[Efficacy of two nucleoside analogs to treat resistant HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B].
Zhonghua shi yan he lin chuang bing du xue za zhi = Zhonghua shiyan he linchuang bingduxue zazhi = Chinese journal of experimental and clinical virology Aug, 2011 | Pubmed ID: 22097612
Activation of nuclear factor-κB pathway is responsible for tumor necrosis factor-α-induced up-regulation of endothelin B2 receptor expression in vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro.
Toxicology letters Mar, 2012 | Pubmed ID: 22207076
Chinese lacto-vegetarian diet exerts favorable effects on metabolic parameters, intima-media thickness, and cardiovascular risks in healthy men.
Nutrition in clinical practice : official publication of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Jun, 2012 | Pubmed ID: 22412169
Hypoxia-induced up-regulation of aquaporin-1 protein in prostate cancer cells in a p38-dependent manner.
Cellular physiology and biochemistry : international journal of experimental cellular physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology , 2012 | Pubmed ID: 22415096
Ginsenoside Rg3 attenuates cell migration via inhibition of aquaporin 1 expression in PC-3M prostate cancer cells.
European journal of pharmacology May, 2012 | Pubmed ID: 22426160
Ping-tang Recipe () improves insulin resistance and attenuates hepatic steatosis in high-fat diet-induced obese rats.
Chinese journal of integrative medicine Apr, 2012 | Pubmed ID: 22457136
A targeted high-efficiency angiogenesis strategy as therapy for myocardial infarction.
Life sciences May, 2012 | Pubmed ID: 22469972
Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide accelerates refractory wound healing by inhibition of mitochondrial oxidative stress in type 1 diabetes.
Cellular physiology and biochemistry : international journal of experimental cellular physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology , 2012 | Pubmed ID: 22508065
Curcumin induces autophagy to protect vascular endothelial cell survival from oxidative stress damage.
Autophagy May, 2012 | Pubmed ID: 22622204
Roles of vimentin and 14-3-3 zeta/delta in the inhibitory effects of heparin on PC-3M cell proliferation and B16-F10-luc-G5 cells metastasis.
Acta pharmacologica Sinica Jun, 2012 | Pubmed ID: 22669117
Comparison of toxicokinetic and tissue distribution of triptolide-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles vs free triptolide in rats.
European journal of pharmaceutical sciences : official journal of the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences Nov, 2012 | Pubmed ID: 22677813
Enhanced MHC class I and costimulatory molecules on B16F10 cells by Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides.
Journal of drug targeting Aug, 2012 | Pubmed ID: 22697491
Stomatin inhibits pannexin-1-mediated whole-cell currents by interacting with its carboxyl terminal.
PloS one , 2012 | Pubmed ID: 22768083
[Research advances on aquaporins and vascular function regulation and related diseases].
Sheng li ke xue jin zhan [Progress in physiology] Apr, 2012 | Pubmed ID: 22774635
Anti-inflammatory effects and hepatotoxicity of Tripterygium-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats.
Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology Aug, 2012 | Pubmed ID: 22884304
Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy.
Autophagy Apr, 2012 | Pubmed ID: 22966490
[Determination of serum IL-23 and its significance in patients with severe chronic hepatitis B].
Zhonghua shi yan he lin chuang bing du xue za zhi = Zhonghua shiyan he linchuang bingduxue zazhi = Chinese journal of experimental and clinical virology Apr, 2012 | Pubmed ID: 23002552
[Progress of aquaporin 5 on tumor development and metastasis].
Sheng li ke xue jin zhan [Progress in physiology] Jun, 2012 | Pubmed ID: 23019930
Transendocardial Delivery of HGF Via Microbubbles and Ultrasound to Treat Acute Myocardial Infarction.
Current gene therapy Feb, 2013 | Pubmed ID: 23157548
Recapitulation of spinal motor neuron-specific disease phenotypes in a human cell model of spinal muscular atrophy.
Cell research Mar, 2013 | Pubmed ID: 23208423
Induction of oxidative stress by oxidized LDL via meprinα-activated epidermal growth factor receptor in macrophages.
Cardiovascular research Mar, 2013 | Pubmed ID: 23250920
The expression of moesin in astrocytoma: correlation with pathologic grade and poor clinical outcome.
Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England) Mar, 2013 | Pubmed ID: 23315217
[Inverse docking--a new approach for drug targets discovery and identification].
Sheng li ke xue jin zhan [Progress in physiology] Oct, 2012 | Pubmed ID: 23316610
Antagonism by Ganoderma lucidum Polysaccharides Against the Suppression by Culture Supernatants of B16F10 Melanoma Cells on Macrophage.
Phytotherapy research : PTR Mar, 2013 | Pubmed ID: 23519930
The Protective Effects of α-Lipoic Acid on Kidneys in Type 2 Diabetic Goto-Kakisaki Rats via Reducing Oxidative Stress.
International journal of molecular sciences , 2013 | Pubmed ID: 23531536
Rescue axonal defects by targeting mitochondrial dynamics in hereditary spastic paraplegias.
Neural regeneration research Apr, 2019 | Pubmed ID: 30632492
Drug screening with human SMN2 reporter identifies SMN protein stabilizers to correct SMA pathology.
Life science alliance 04, 2019 | Pubmed ID: 30910806
AAV9 Vector: a Novel modality in gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy.
Gene therapy 08, 2019 | Pubmed ID: 31243392