Junhua Yang
Assistant Professor Department of Veterinary Integrative BiosciencesResearch and Scholarly Interests
The Yang lab focuses on understanding how glial cells especially astrocytes interact with neurons to regulate animal behaviors and how dysregulation of glia-neuron crosstalk contributes to neurological diseases.
Education
B.S., Soochow University, China, 2010
Ph.D., Zhejiang University, China, 2015
Postdoc, Johns Hopkins University, 2016-2021
Research Associate, Johns Hopkins University, 2022-2024
Honors and Awards
2021 BBRF NARSAD Young Investigator Grant
2021 AHA Career Development Award
2020 AHA and American Brain Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship
2020 Paul Ehrlich Award, Johns Hopkins University
2012 Lim Por-yen Brain Science Award, Zhejiang University
Professional Organizations
Society for Neuroscience
American Heart Association
Service
AHA Postdoc and Predoctoral Fellowships Peer Review Committee (2020-2022)
Neuroscience
Glial biology
Ion channel physiology
Neurological and psychiatric disorders
Molecular identification of novel chloride channels (SWELL1 and PAC) has provided an unprecedented opportunity to elucidate their function in the brain. In my lab, I will focus on investigating their roles in glial cells (astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes) in normal brain function and neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease). The long-term objective of my research is to understand how diverse ion channels (including SWELL1 and PAC) contribute to the glia-neuron interaction in physiology and disease by using cutting-edge genetic, viral, optical, and pharmacological tools. I will also employ cell-type-specific manipulation tools (optogenetics and chemogenetics) and gene expression profiling technologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing to advance our understanding of neuron-glia interaction in health and disease.
Dr. Yang's Google Scholar profile.
1. Yang J, Chen J, Liu Y, Chen KH, Baraban JM, and Qiu Z. Ventral tegmental area astrocytes modulate cocaine reward by tonically releasing GABA. Neuron. 2023 Jan 10:S0896-6273(22)01154-0.
2. Yang J, Vitery MDC, Chen J, Osei-Owusu J, Chu J, Qiu Z. Glutamate-Releasing SWELL1 Channel in Astrocytes Modulates Synaptic Transmission and Promotes Brain Damage in Stroke. Neuron. 2019 May 22;102(4):813-827.
3. Yang J*, Chen J*, Del Carmen Vitery M*, Osei-Owusu J, Chu J, Yu H, Sun S, Qiu Z. PAC, an evolutionarily conserved membrane protein, is a proton-activated chloride channel. Science. 2019 Apr 26;364(6438):395-399.
4. Yang J*, Yang H*, Liu Y, Li X, Qin L, Lou H, Duan S, Wang H. Astrocytes contribute to synapse elimination via type 2 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor-dependent release of ATP. Elife. 2016 Apr 12;5:e15043.
5. Yang H*, Yang J*, Xi W, Hao S, Luo B, He X, Zhu L, Lou H, Yu YQ, Xu F, Duan S, Wang H. Laterodorsal tegmentum interneuron subtypes oppositely regulate olfactory cue-induced innate fear. Nat Neurosci. 2016 Feb;19(2):283-9.
6. Yang J, Yu H, Zhou D, Zhu K, Lou H, Duan S, Wang H. Na⁺-Ca²⁺ exchanger mediates ChR2-induced [Ca²⁺]i elevation in astrocytes. Cell Calcium. 2015 Sep;58(3):307-16.
*Equal contribution.