Ning Quan, Ph.D., Professor
Education
Huazhong Univ. of Science & Technology | China | B.A. | 1985 |
Bioengineering
University of Tennessee | Memphis, TN | Ph.D | 1991 | Physiology
Duke
University Medical Center | Durham, NC | Postdoctoral | 1992 |
Neuroimmunology
National Institute of Mental Health | MD | Postdoctoral | 1998 |
Neuroimmunology
Appointments
1998-2003 | Assistant Professor, Oral Biology, The Ohio State
University, Columbus, OH
2003-2009 | Associate Professor, Oral Biology, The Ohio State
University, Columbus, OH
2009 -
Present | Professor, Oral Biology, and Institute of Behavior
Medicine,
The
Ohio State University
Contact Information
Office Address:
4179 Postle Hall
305 W.
12th Ave
Columbus, OH 43210
Phone: (614) 292 1657
Email:
quan.14@osu.edu
223
Murray Hall
Medical Center Dr.
Columbus, OH 43210
Phone:
(614) 336 1037
Affiliations &
Memberships
The
Institute of Behavior Medicine
The Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society
The Society of Neuroscience
Area of Expertise
Neuroimmunology
Neuroscience
molecular biology
cytokine biology
neuroimmune communication
Teaching
-
Immunology
-
Neuroimmunology
-
Molecular Biology
-
Biochemistry
-
Neuroscience
Research Interests
Research Summary
Recent
research has established that the nervous system and the immune
system interact with each other. These interactions play
important roles in the physiology and pathophysiology of the
human body. For example, psychological stress can significantly
influence immune responses, altering body’s defense mechanisms
against pathological infection. On the other hand, inflammatory
activities initiated in the immune system can influence neural
circuitries in the brain, causing disorders related to emotion,
cognition, learning and memory.
Work in our lab focuses on the pathways by which immune
activities are relayed to the brain and the functions of
molecules in neuroimmune communication. We found that
inflammatory cytokines can activate neuronal activities in the
brain via cells of the blood-brain barrier or via sensory nerve
pathways that relay location specific immune activities to the
brain. We also discovered that cell type specific activities of
interleukin-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 underline complex functions
of these critical signaling molecules that mediate neuroimmune
communication. We are investigating these activities in the
context of brain injury and neurodegenerative conditions.
Publications
Ching,
S., Zhang H., Belevych, N., He, L., Lai, W., Pu, X. Jaeger, L.
B., Chen Q., Quan N (2007). Endothelial-Specific Knockdown of
Interleukin-1 (IL-1) Type 1 Receptor Differentially Alters CNS
Responses to IL-1 Depending on Its Route of Administration. J.
Neuroscience, 27(39):10476-10486
Zhang,
H., Ching, S., Chen Q., Li Q , An, Y. Quan, N (2008). Localized
inflammation in peripheral tissue signals the CNS for sickness
response in the absence of interleukin-1 and Cyclooxygenase-2 in
the blood and brain. Neuroscience, 157(4):895-907
Chen, Q., Zhang, H., Li Q., An, Y., Herkenham, M., Lai, W.,
Popovich, P., Agarwal, S. and Quan, N (2009). Three promoters
regulate tissue- and cell type-specific expression of murine
IL-1R1. JBC 2009 Mar 27;284(13):8703-13
Belevych, N., Buchanan, K., Chen, Q., Bailey, M. and Quan, N.
Location-specific activation of the paraventricular nucleus of
the hypothalamus by localized inflammation. Brain, Behavior, and
Immunity. 24 (2010) 1137–1147
Li Q., Powell, N., Zhang, H., Belevych, N., Ching, S. Chen, Q.,
Sheridan, J., Whitacre, C, Quan, N. Endothelial IL-1R1 is a
critical mediator of EAE pathogenesis. Brain, Behavior, and
Immunity 25 (2011) 160–167.
Quan, N. Immune-to-brain signaling: how important are the
blood-brain barrier independent pathways? Molecular
Neurobiology. 37: 142-152, 2008.
