Basic and Translational Neuroscience/Stem Cell Research - Our lab is interested in studying mechanisms of nervous system development, disease, and repair. Emphasis is on neuronal and glial cell death, excitotoxic, oxidative and inflammatory forms of injury to the developing brain, stem cell biology, and regenerative medicine.

Representative Publications

Liu Y, Jiang P, Deng W. (2011) Olig gene targeting in human pluripotent stem cells for motor neuron and oligodendrocyte differentiation. Nature Protocols, 6(5): 640-655. The first two authors contributed equally to this work.

Shen Y, Liu X, Pleasure DE, Deng W. (2012) Axon-glia synapses are highly vulnerable to white matter injury in the developing brain. J Neurosci Res, 90 (1):105-121.

Chung S, Calafiore M, Plane JM, Pleasure D, Deng W. (2011) AIF deficiency causes reduced mitofusion-1 expression and patterned Purkinje cell degeneration. Neurobiology of Disease, 41: 445–457.

Liu W, Shen Y, Plane JM, Pleasure DE, Deng W. (2011) Neuroprotective potential of erythropoietin and its derivative carbamylated erythropoietin in periventricular leukomalacia. Experimental Neurology, 230: 227-239 (selected for COVER illustration).

Zhang Jiaping, Marco Calafiore, Yuesheng Huang, Qunli Zeng, Xiuzhen Zhang, Ronald A. Li, Deng W*, Min Zhao*. (2011) Electrically guiding migration of human induced pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cell Rev Reports, 7: 987-996. PubMed ID: 21373881. *Co-correspondence authors.

Lo K, Sun Y, Landry JP, Zhu X, Deng W. (2011) Label-free detection of surface markers on stem cells by oblique-incidence reflectivity difference microscopy. BioTechniques, 50 (6): 381–388.

Wang Y, Plane JM, Jiang P, Zhou C, Deng W. (2011) Quiescent and active stages of endogenous adult neural stem cells: identification and characterization. Stem Cells, 29(6):907-912.

Soundarapandian MM, Selvaraj V, Lo U, Golub MS, Feldman DH, Pleasure DE, Deng W. (2011) Zfp488 promotes oligodendrocyte differentiation of neural progenitor cells in adult mice after cuprizone-induced demyelination. Nature Publishing Group: Scientific Reports, 1:2 doi:10.1038/srep2 (2011).

Chechneva OV, Mayrhofer F, Daugherty DJ, Pleasure DE, Hong J, Deng W. (2011) Low dose dextromethorphan attenuates moderate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by inhibiting NOX2 and reducing peripheral immune cells infiltration in the spinal cord. Neurobiology of Disease, 44: 63-72.

Selvaraj V, Jiang P, Chechneva O, Lo U, Deng W. (2012) Differentiating human stem cells into neurons and glial cells. Frontiers in Bioscience, 17: 65-89. The first two authors contributed equally to this work.

Calafiore M, Capani, A, Deng W. (2012) DNA polymerase-ß mediates the neurogenic effect of ß-amyloid protein on subventricular zone stem cells. J Neurosci Res, doi: 10.1002/jnr.22780.

Jantzie LL, Talos DM, Selip DB, An L, Jackson MC, Folkerth RD, Deng W, Jensen FE (2011) Developmental regulation of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors in the premature brain and their protective role in a rodent model of periventricular leukomalacia. Neuron Glia Biology, Dec. 14: 1-12.

Plane JM, Grossenbache SK, Deng W. (2012) Poly-ADP-ribose polymerase deletion switches mouse subventricular zone stem cells toward a glial fate. J Neurosci Res, in press.

Deng W. (2010) Neurobiology of injury to the developing brain. Nature Reviews Neurology, 6 (6): 328-336.

Liu D, Ander BP, Xu H, Shen Y, Kaur P, Deng W, Sharp FR. (2010) Blood brain barrier breakdown and repair by src after thrombin-induced brain injury. Annals of Neurology, 67(4):526-533.

Plane JM, Shen Y, Pleasure DE, Deng W. (2010) Prospects for minocycline neuroprotection. Arch Neurol, 67 (12), 1442-1448.

Deng W. (2010) Exploiting pluripotency for therapeutic gain. Panminerva Medica, 52 (2): 167-173. PubMed ID: 20517198

Deng W. (2010) AID in reprogramming: quick and efficient. BioEssays, 32 (5): 385-387.

Shen Y, Plane, JM, Deng W. (2010) Mouse models of periventricular leukomalacia. J Vis Exp, 2010 May 18;(39). pii: 1951. http://www.jove.com/index/Details.stp?ID=1951, doi: 10.3791/1951. PubMed ID: 20485263.

Jiang P, Selvaraj V, Deng W. (2010) Differentiation of embryonic stem cells into oligodendrocyte precursors. J Vis Exp, 2010 May 19;(39). pii: 1960. http://www.jove.com/index/Details.stp?ID=1960, doi: 10.3791/1960. PubMed ID: 20489683.

Jiang P, Rushing SN, Kong C, Fu J, Lieu D, Chan, C, Deng W, Li, R. (2010) Electrophysiological properties of human induced pluripotent stem cells. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, 298 (3), C486-495.

Deng W. (2010) Induced pluripotent stem cells: paths to new medicines. EMBO reports, 11 (3), 161-165.

Selvaraj V, Plane, JM, Williams AJ, Deng W. (2010) Switching cell fate: the remarkable rise of induced pluripotent stem cells and lineage reprogramming technologies. Trends in Biotechnology, 28 (4): 214-223.

Deng W. (2010) Stem cells and drug discovery: the time has never been better. Trends in BioPharmaceutical Industry, 6 (1): 12-20. (ISSN: 1943-2518).

Selvaraj V, Soundarapandian MM, Chechneva O, Williams AJ, Sidorov MK, Soulika AM, Pleasure DE, Deng W. (2009) PARP-1 deficiency increases the severity of disease in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. J Biol Chem, 284 (38), 26070–26084.

Deng W. (2009) PARylation: strengthening the connection between cancer and pluripotency. Cell Stem Cell, 5: 349-350.

Deng W*, Xu Y*. (2009) Genome integrity: linking pluripotency and tumorgenicity. Trends in Genetics, 25 (10): 425-427. *Co-correspondence authors.

Deng W, Pleasure J, Pleasure D. (2008) Progress in periventricular leukomalacia. Arch Neurol, 65 (10), 1291-1295.

Deng W, Neve RL, Rosenberg PA, Volpe JJ, Jensen FE. (2006) AMPA receptor composition and CREB regulate oligodendrocyte excitotoxicity. J Biol Chem, 281, 36004-36011.

Deng W, Yue Q, Rosenberg PA, Volpe JJ, Jensen FE. (2006) Oligodendrocyte excitotoxicity determined by local glutamate accumulation and mitochondrial function. J Neurochem 98, 213-222.

Deng W, Wang H, Rosenberg PA, Volpe JJ, Jensen FE. (2004) Role of metabotropic glutamate receptors in oligodendrocyte excitotoxicity and oxidative stress. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101, 7751-7756.

Follett PL, Deng W, Talos D, Massillon L, Rosenberg PA, Volpe JJ, Jensen FE. (2004) Glutamate receptor-mediated oligodendrocyte toxicity in periventricular leukomalacia: a protective role for topiramate. J Neurosci 24, 4412-4420.

Deng W, Rosenberg PA, Volpe JJ, Jensen FE. (2003) Calcium-permeable AMPA/kainate receptors mediate toxicity and preconditioning by oxygen-glucose deprivation in oligodendrocyte precursors. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100, 6801-6806.

Deng W, Poretz RD. (2003) Oligodendroglia in developmental neurotoxicity. Neurotoxicology 24, 161-178 (featured with cover illustration).

Deng W, Poretz RD. (2002) Protein kinase C activation is required for the lead-induced inhibition of proliferation and differentiation of cultured oligodendroglial progenitor cells. Brain Res 929, 87-95.

Deng W, Poretz RD. (2001) Chronic dietary lead exposure affects galactolipid metabolic enzymes in the developing rat brain. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 172, 98-107.

Deng W, McKinnon RD, Poretz RD. (2001) Lead exposure delays the differentiation of oligodendroglial progenitors in vitro. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 174, 235-244.

Deng W, Poretz RD. (2001) Lead alters the developmental profile of galactolipid metabolic enzymes in cultured oligodendrocyte lineage cells. Neurotoxicology 22, 429-437.

Poretz RD, Yang A, Deng W, Manowitz P. (2000) The interaction of lead exposure and arylsulfatase A genotype affects sulfatide catabolism in human fibroblasts. Neurotoxicology 21, 379-388.