Xin Wu, MD
Dr. Xin Wu
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Research Assistant Professor
Department of Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics
2012 Medical Research and Education Building, 8447 State Highway 47
Bryan,
Texas 77807-3260
Phone: 979-436-0325
Fax: 979-436-0086
Email: xinwu@medicine.tamhsc.edu
Education and Post-Graduate Training
M.D. Medicine, 1985, Nantong Medical College (Certified by ECFMG-US)
M.S., Medical Physiology, 1993, Suzhou Medical College
Research Interests
Mechanical forces are known to stimulate a number of cell signaling pathways, including those initiated by or resulting in ion channel activation. My recent research in cardiovascular system and neuronal system focuses on: (1) Which ion channels are activated by mechanical stress; (2) Which ion channels are modulated by integrins; (3) How integrin-mediated signaling pathways modulate ion channel function and mechanotransduction in physiological and pathological conditions; (4) Epilepsy, Neurosteroids and New Drug Development.
My technical approaches include: (1) Nano-technique (atomic force microscopy with/without immunofluorescence) in fresh isolated living cells to address mechanical properties in physiological and pathological condition (e.g. diabetes or/and hypertension); (2) Electrophysiology and optical imaging techniques in native or gene transfected cells, and in tissues to probe the signaling pathways; (3) Histocytochemistry, PCR, and co-expression of ion channels, and/or intracellular molecules in HEK cells or fresh isolated cells, and site-directed mutagenesis strategies to understand the details in the signaling pathways; (4) Single fresh cell isolation techniques including isolating vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, neuronal cells, cardiomyocytes, etc; and isolated and canulated blood and lymphatic vessels (diameter <100 micrometer) methods and Langendorff heart preparations to allow interpretation of biological responses; (5) Single cell stretching using two or three microelectrodes and application of protein-coated microbeads to single cells while performing electrophysiological recording to document characteristics of mechanosensitivity.
Our study will provide an important connection between extracellular matirx and cardiovascular and neuronal regulation in tissue injury and remodeling.
Selected Publications
Wu X, Huang WQ, Zhang QQ and Yu ZM. Effects of histamine on electrophysiological properties and triggered activity in guinea pig papillary muscles. Methods and Findings in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology 16(8): 583-587, 1994.
Wu X, Teng AF, Huang WQ and Yu ZM. Role of histamine receptors in the genesis of delayed afterdepolarizations induced by specific antigen in sensitized guinea-pig papillary muscles. Chinese Journal of Applied Physiology 12: 178-182, 1996
Wu X and Davis MJ. The treatment of acute coronary syndromes. The Circulation Frontier 2(1): 27-38, 1998.
Wu X, Mogford JE, Davis GE, Platts S, Meininger GA and Davis MJ. Modulation of calcium current in arteriolar smooth muscle by avb3 and a5b1 integrin ligands. Journal of Cell Biology 143(1): 241-252, 1998.
Davis MJ, Wu X, Nurkiewicz TR, Kawasaki J, Davis GE, Hill MA, Meininger GA. Integrins and mechanotransduction of the vascular myogenic response. Am J Physiol, 280: H1427-1433, 2001.
Wu X and Davis MJ. Characterization of stretch activated cation current in vascular smooth muscle cells. American Journal of Physiology 280: H1751-1760, 2001.
Davis MJ, Wu X, Nurkiewicz TR, Kawasaki J, Gui P, Hill MA, Wilson E. Regulation of ion channels by protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Am J Physiol, 281: H1835, 2001.
Wu X, Davis GE, Meininger GA, Wilson E, Davis MJ. Regulation of the L-type calcium channel by a5b1 integrin requires signaling between focal adhesion proteins. J Biol Chem 276:30285, 2001.
Davis MJ, Wu X, Nurkiewicz TR, Gui PC, Kawasaki J, Hill MA, Wilson E. Regulation of ion channels by integrins. Cell Biochemistry and Biophysics, 36:41-66, 2002.
Waitkus-Edwards KR, Martinez-Lemus LA, Wu X, Trzeciakowski JP, Davis MJ, Davis GE and Meininger GA. a4b1 integrin activation of L-type calcium channels in vascular smooth muscle causes arteriole vasoconstriction. Circ Res, 90:473-480, 2002. (Featured in Editorial and on Cover)
Marinez-Lemus LA, Wu X, Wilson E, Hill MA, Davis GE, Davis MJ, Meininger GA. Integrins as unique receptors for vascular control. J Vasc Res, 40:211-233, 2003.
Gui P, Wu X, Ling S, Stotz SC, Winkfein RJ, Wilson E, Davis GE, Braun AP, Zamponi GW, Davis MJ. Integrin receptor activation triggers converging regulation of Cav1.2 calcium channels by c-Src and PKA pathways. J Biol Chem, 281:14015-25, 2006.
Qamirani E, Razavi HM, Wu X, Davis MJ, Kuo L, Hein TW. Sodium azide dilates coronary arterioles via activation of inward rectifier K+ channels and Na+-K+-ATPase. Am J Physiol 290: H1617-H1623, 2006.
Wu X, Yang Y, Gui P, Sohma Y, Meininger GA, Davis GE, Braun AP and Davis MJ. Potentiation of large conductance, Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channels by alpha5beta1 integrin activation in arteriolar smooth muscle. J Physiol. 586:1699-713, 2008.
Wu X, Sun Z, Foskett A, Trzeciakowski JP, Meininger GA and Muthuchamy M. Cardiomyocyte contractile status is associated with differences in fibronectin and integrin interactions. Am J Physiol, 298: H2071-H2081, 2010.
Yang Y, Wu X, Wu J, Sheng JZ, Ling S, Braun AP, George E. Davis GE, Davis MJ. α5β1 integrin activation increases BK channel current and Ca2+ sensitivity through c-Src mediated channel phosphorylation. J Biol Chem, 285:131-141, 2010.
Gui P, Chao JT, Wu X, Yang Y, Davis GE, Davis MJ. Coordinated regulation of vascular K+ and Ca2+ channels by integrin signaling. Adv Exp Med Biol. 674:69-79, 2010.
Wu X, Chakraborty S, Heaps CL, Davis MJ, Meininger GA and Muthuchamy M. Fibronectin increases the cardiac contractility of mouse ventricle via alpha (5) beta (1) integrin. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 50:203-213, 2011.
