Xin Wu, MD

Education and Training

• Nantong Medical College, MD, Medicine, 1985
• Suzhou Medical College, MS, Medical Physiology, 1993

Research Interests

• Mechanical forces are known to stimulate a number of cell signaling pathways, including those initiated by or resulting in ion channel activation. Wu's recent research in cardiovascular and neuronal systems 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; and (4) epilepsy study, neurosteroids and new drug development.
• Wu's 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, stereology, 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; (6) imaging, and cardiovascular and nervous systems implanting and real-time monitoring (e.g., EEG/ECG and behaviors) to deal with systemic functional changes in animal models; and (7) LC-MS/MS to study drug structure, pharmacokinetics and potential drug development.
• Wu's study will provide an important connection between extracellular matrix and cardiovascular and neuronal regulation in tissue injury and remodeling.