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The Center for Reproductive Sciences

Faculty

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Xuan Zhang, MD, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Research Description

My major area of interest is the ovarian hormonal regulation of endometrial epithelial proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and migration. These processes are crucial for the normal development and maintenance of the endometrial tissue. The imbalance of these cellular processes is associated with infertility and various uterine diseases such as dysmenorrhea, endometriosis and endometrial cancer. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of endometrial epithelial homeostasis is extremely important for developing therapeutics for many uterine disorders. Ovarian steroid hormones appear to be the major regulators of endometrial function, but the detailed mechanisms are not well-defined. Receptor tyrosine kinases and their growth factor ligands play pivotal roles in epithelial cell homeostasis. My current research projects focus on the hormonal regulation and function of these ligand-receptor complexes such as hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor c-Met in the endometrium, the interplay between various growth factors, as well as their signaling pathways. The importance of these studies lies in that they may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies for endometrial disorders by targeting the regulatory and signaling pathways of these growth factors and their receptors.

Representative Publications

    • Zhang X, Christenson LK, Nothnick WB. (2007) Regulation of MMP-9 expression and activity in the mouse uterus by estrogen. Mol Reprod Dev 74:321-331
    • Zhang X, Nothnick WB. (2005) The role and regulation of the uterine matrix metalloproteinase system in menstruating and non-menstruating species. Front Biosci 10:353-366
    • Hu J, Zhang X, Nothnick WB, Spencer TE. (2004) Matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors in the developing neonatal mouse uterus. Biol Reprod 71:1598-1604
    • Zhou HE, Zhang X, Nothnick WB. (2004) Disruption of the TIMP-1 gene product is associated with accelerated endometrial gland formation during early postnatal uterine development. Biol Reprod 71:534-539
    • Nothnick WB, Zhang X, Zhou HE (2003) Steroidal regulation of uterine edema and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-3 messenger RNA expression is altered in TIMP-1-deficient mice. Biol Reprod 70:500-508
    • Zhang X, Wang L, Zhang H, Guo D, Zhao J, Qiao Z, Qiao J (2002) The effects of cigarette smoke extract on the endothelial production of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 are mediated through macrophages, possibly by inducing TNF-alpha release. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 24:261-265
    • Zhang X, Wang L, Dou Y, Zhao J, Jiang T, Qiao Z, Qiao J (2002) Testosterone and estradiol modulate TNF-alpha-induced expression of adhesion molecules in endothelial cells. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 24:125-130
    • Zhang X, Wang LY, Jiang TY, Zhang HP, Dou Y, Zhao JH, Zhao H, Qiao ZD, Qiao JT (2002) Effects of testosterone and 17-beta-estradiol on TNF-aplha-induced E-selectin and VCAM-1 expression in endothelial cells. Analysis of the underlying receptor pathways. Life Sci 71:15-29
    • Zhang X, Wang L, Zhang H, Guo D, Qiao Z, Qiao J (2001) Estrogen inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha release from murine macrophages. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 23:169-173
    • Zhang X, Zhang BZ, Wang HQ, Qiao ZD (2001) Computer science in Human Genome Project. Med Phylos 22:14-18
    • Zhang X, Qiao ZD (2001) Sex hormones and immune responses. Chin J Med Lab Technol 2:265-267
    • Wang LY, Wang HY, Zhang X, Zhang HP, Zhang KJ, Qiao ZD (2001) Effects of tobacco smoke on the expression of ICAM-1 by HUVEC. Clin J Prev Med 35:105-107

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