Biography

• 2009–present, Professor, Department of Neuroscience Science, Department Biomedical Science, City University of Hong Kong
• 2017–present, Honors Professor, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Hong Kong
• 2002–2009, Associate Research Professor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Medical School Department of Internal Medicine Gastroenterology
• 1993–2001, Research Investigator, Assistant Research Scientist, University of Michigan
• 1985–1992, Postdoctoral Fellow, Research Associate, University of Michigan
• 1979–1984, Oral-maxillofacial Surgeon, Nanjing Medical School, China
• 1969–1978, General Surgeon, Qinghai Huzo and Qinghai Medical School, China
• 1962–1968, Beijing Medical University, China

Research

Pain is a conscious, subjective experience resulting from the activation of nociceptors. Research in my lab provides behavioral and electrophysiological evidence that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is an integral part of the functional circuit and a key mediator in the processing and perception of chronic pain. Pain involves both sensory and emotional dimensions. Using a rodent model of the conditioned place-avoidance paradigm, we study the structure and function of the neural circuits that control the associative learning and long-term negative aversive memory with pain. Memory is a dynamic brain function that tends to be processed after encoding rather than being stored; related experiences form knowledge structures called schemata. Our studies determine the dynamic feature of the hippocampus (CA1)-ACC network during schema establishment, allowing new relevant information to be quickly assimilated by parallel cortical encoding in the hippocampus and cortex. Research in our laboratory has been dedicated to explaining the role of neuroglia, particularly astrocytes, in supporting neural networks and cognitive functions. Employing chemogenetics as a tool for manipulating of astrocytes using the Gi or Gq pathway, we characterize the roles of astrocytes in different types of nondeclarative associative learning and memory, and decision-making with emphasis on myelin plasticity, cortex synchrony and astrocytic L-lactate signalling. In addition, Li is the pioneer of studies which clarified that cholecystokinin-8, a gastrointestinal hormone released during feeding, acts on the vagal afferent, enables the modulation of visceral pain-related affective memory and maintains the ACC neural network synchrony in rats.

Selected Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications

1. Mastura Akter, Mahadi Hasan, Aruna Surendran Ramkrishnan, Xianlin Zheng, Zafar Iqbal, Zhongqi Fu, Zhuogui Lei, Anwarul Karim, Y Li*. (2023). Astrocytic L-lactate signaling in the anterior cingulate cortex is essential for schema memory and neuronal mitochondrial biogenesis. elife. 2023.01.08.523156; doi: 10.1101/2023.01.08.523156
2. Akter, M., Li, Y.*. (2023). Does astrocytic L-lactate enhance cognition through myelination? Neural Regeneration Research. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.385872
3. Iqbal, Z., Lei, Z., Ramkrishnan, A. S., Liu, S., Hasan, M., Akter, M., & Li, Y*. (2023). Adrenergic signaling to astrocytes in anterior cingulate cortex contributes to pain-related aversive memory in rats. Communications Biology. doi: 10.1038/s42003-022-04405-6
4. Iqbal, Z., Liu, S., Lei, Z., Ramkrishnan, A. S., Akter, M., & Li, Y*. (2023). Astrocyte L-Lactate Signaling in the ACC Regulates Visceral Pain Aversive Memory in Rats. Cells. 12(1), 26.
5. Akter, M., Ma, H., Hasan, M., Karim, A., Zhu, X., Zhang, L., & Li, Y*. (2023). Exogenous L-lactate administration in rat hippocampus increases expression of key regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis and antioxidant defense. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience. 16, 1117146.
6. Hasan, M., Lei, Z., Akter, M., Iqbal, Z., Usaila, F., Ramkrishnan, A. S., & Li, Y*. (2022). Chemogenetic activation of astrocytes promotes remyelination and restores cognitive deficits in visceral hypersensitive rats. iScience.
7. Liu, S., Wong, H. Y., Xie, L., Iqbal, Z., Lei, Z., Fu, Z., ... & Li, Y*. (2022). Astrocytes in CA1 modulate schema establishment in the hippocampal-cortical neuron network. BMC biology, 20(1), 1-22. doi: 10.1186/s12915-022-01445-6
8. Lei, Z., Xie, L., Li, C. H., Lam, Y. Y., Ramkrishnan, A. S., Fu, Z., Zeng, X., Liu, S., Iqbal, Z., & Li, Y*. (2022). Chemogenetic Activation of Astrocytes in the Basolateral Amygdala Contributes to Fear Memory Formation by Modulating the Amygdala-Prefrontal Cortex Communication. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 23(11).
9. Lei, Z., Lam, Y., Li, C., Fu, Z., Ramkrishnan, A. S., Liu, S., & Li, Y*. (2022). β2-Adrenoceptors in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex Excitatory Neurons Regulate Anxiety-like Behavior in Mice. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 23(10), 5578.
10. Murugappan, S. K., Xie, L., Wong, H. Y., Iqbal, Z., Lei, Z., Ramkrishnan, A. S., & Li, Y*. (2021). Suppression of pain in the late phase of chronic trigeminal neuropathic pain failed to rescue the decision-making deficits in rats. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2023-01.
11. Murugappan, S. K., Hasan, M., Lei, Z., Iqbal, Z., Ramkrishnan, A. S., Wong, H. Y., & Li, Y*. (2021). Trigeminal neuropathy causes hypomyelination in the anterior cingulate cortex, disrupts the synchrony of neural circuitry, and impairs decision-making in male rats. Journal of Neuroscience Research.. 99(10), 2721-2742.
12. Hasan M, Kanna M.S, Wang J, Aruna S. R, Iqbal Z, Lee Y, and Li Y*. (2019) Schema-like learning and memory consolidation acting through myelination. The FASEB Journal. 33(11), 11758-11775.
13. Jun Wang, Jie Tu, Bing Cao, Li M, X Yang, Mi Cong, Aruna S. R, Rosa H. M, Chan, Liping Wang, Ying Li*. Astrocytic L-lactate Signaling Facilitates Amygdala-Anterior Cingulate Cortex Synchrony and Decision-making in Rats. Cell Reports. 2017, 21, 2407-2418.
14. J Wang, X Zhang, B Cao, J Liu, Ying Li*. (2013) Facilitation of synaptic transmission in the anterior cingulate cortex in the viscerally hypersensitive rats Cerebral Cortex.. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bht273
15. Bing Cao Jun Wang, Mahadi Shahed, Beth Jelfs, Rosa H. M. Chan & Ying Li*, Vagus Nerve Stimulation Alters Phase Synchrony of the Anterior Cingulate Cortex and Facilitates Decision Making in Rats. Scientific Reports. 6:35135. doi: 10.1038/srep35135
16. B Cao, N Yan, Zhang X, Chen S, Y Li*. (2012) Cholecystokinin enhances visceral pain-related affective memory via vagal afferent pathway in rats. Molecular Brain. 5:19.
17. Cao, Z., Wu, X., Chen, S, C Owyang, Y Li*. (2008) Anterior cingulate cortex modulates visceral pain as measured by visceromotor responses in viscerally hypersensitive rats, Gastroenterology. 134:535-543.
18. Y Li* & O Chung. (2003) Musings on the Wanderer: What’s New in Our Understanding of Vago-vagal reflexes? V. Remodeling of vagus and enteric neural circuitry after vagal injury. Am J Physiol. 285:G461-G469.
19. Ying Li, Y. Hao, Owyang Chung. (2000) Diazepam-binding inhibitor mediates feedback regulation of pancreatic secretion and postprandial release of cholecystokinin. Journal of Clinic Investigation. 105:351-359.
20. Ying Li, Owyang C. (1996) Peptone stimulates CCK-releasing peptide secretion by activating intestinal submucosal cholinergic neurons. Journal of Clinic Investigation 97:1463-1470.
21. Y Li*, Owyang C. (1994) Endogenous cholecystokinin stimulated pancreatic enzyme secretion via a vagal afferent pathway. Gastroenterology. 107:525-531.
22. Ying Li, Owyang C. (1993) Vagal afferent pathways mediate physiological action of cholecystokinin on pancreatic secretion. Journal of Clinic Investigation. 92:418-424.

4 January 2024