DR. XI-LONG ZHENG

M.Sc. (China), Ph.D. (Calgary) - Associate Professor, Department Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. Member - Smooth Muscle Research Group.   Associate Professor, AHFMR Senior Scholar

Research Interests

Proliferation and apoptosis (a programmed cell death) of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play important roles in the development of certain cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. Cell proliferation is governed by the eukaryotic cell cycle, and deregulated cell proliferation can result in apoptosis.

The major research interest of the Zheng laboratory is to understand the signalling mechanisms critical to the regulation of the cell cycle of vascular smooth muscle cells, and to determine how atherogenic factors and certain drugs can influence VSMC proliferation and apoptosis through these mechanisms. The laboratory focuses upon: (1) the functions of some signalling molecules (e.g. phospholipase D) in cell signal transduction, and their roles in the development of atherosclerosis; (2) the roles of the microtubule network, a structural component of smooth muscle cells, in regulating the cell cycle and apoptosis; and (3) the role of TSC2 (tuberous sclerosis complex) in modulating the proliferation and apoptosis of VSMCs. Our studies involve a variety of cellular and molecular approaches, including siRNA, inducible gene expression systems and laser scanning cytometric analysis. Animal models include apoE knockout mice and Eker rats.

Zheng Lab Website

Personnel:

View Pub Med for Recent publications & abstracts

Recent Publications:

• 2009 Shin E.L., Zheng X.L. and Sweeney G. Leptin attenuates hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced activation of the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis in rat H9c2 cells. Journal of Cellular Physiology (In press)
• 2008 Gui Y., Zheng X.L., Zheng J. and Walsh, M.P. Inhibition of rat aortic smooth muscle contraction by 2-methoxyestradiol. American Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology 295:H1935-42
• 2008 Gui Y., Michael P. Walsh, M.P.§, Jankowski, V., Jankowski, J. and Zheng, X.L§. Up4A stimulates endothelium-independent contraction of isolated rat pulmonary. American Journal of Physiology: Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology 294: L733-8§ Corresponding author
• 2008 Tang R*, Zheng, X.L.*, Callis, T.E., Stansfield, W.E., He, J., Baldwin, A.S. and Wang, D.Z. and Selzman, C.H. Myocardin inhibits cellular proliferation by inhibiting NF-κB(p65)-dependent cell cycle progression. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 105: 3362-3367.* Equal contribution
• 2007 Gui, Y., He, G., Walsh, M.P. and Zheng, X.L.§ Predisposition to tetraploidy in pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells derived from the Eker rats. American Journal of Physiology: Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology 293: L702-711.§ Corresponding author
• 2007 Corteling, R., Brett, S., Hao, Y., Zheng, X.L. Walsh, M. and Welsh, D. The functional
  consequence of RhoA knockdown by RNA interference in rat cerebral arteries. American Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology 292: H440-7.
• 2007 Jankowski, V., Meyer, A., Schlattmann, P., Gui, Y., Zheng, X.L., Stamcou, I., Radtke, K., AnhTran, T., van der Giet, M., Zidek, W. and Jankowski, J. Increased uridine adenosine tetraphosphate concentrations in plasma of juvenile hypertensives. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology 27: 1776-81.
• 2007 Zheng, X.L.§, Yuan, S. and Peng, D.Q. The phenotype-specific effects of high glucose on vascular smooth muscle cells. Diabetologia 50: 881-890.§ Corresponding author 2007
• Gui, Y., Yin, H., He, J., Yang, S., Walsh, M.P. and Zheng, X.L.§ Endoreduplication of human
  smooth muscle cells induced by 2-methoxyestradiol: a role for cyclin-dependent kinase 2. American Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology 292: H1313-H1320.
  § Corresponding author

Contact Information:
The University of Calgary,
Room GAA20 Health Research Innovation Centre
 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta
Canada T2N 4N1
Phone: (403) 220-8715
Fax: (403) 270-2211
E-mail: xlzheng [at] ucalgary [dot] ca.