Biography

Dr. Yuanzhong Xu is currently an Assistant Professor at the Center for Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology (CNG), The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM), McGovern Medical School, UTHealth-Houston. Dr. Xu received his B.S. (equivalent to a U.S. M.D.) from Xinxiang Medical University in China, and Ph.D. from a joint program between Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University in China, and the University of Verona in Italy. In 2010, he joined Dr. Qingchun Tong’s lab at UTHealth Houston as a postdoctoral fellow. During his postdoctoral training, Dr. Xu used intersectional mouse genetics and multidisciplinary, cutting-edge techniques to study how brain neurocircuits control energy balance ang glucose homeostasis related in the context of obesity and diabetes. His findings were published in high-impact journals, including Cell Metabolism, Neuron, Nature Metabolism, and Nature Communications.

With recently awarded grants from NIMH, Dr. Xu has expanded his research focus to understand how feeding-driving hypothalamic GABAergic neurons directly regulate stress responses, and how PVH prodynorphin neurocircuits integrate defensive behaviors using ethologically relevant animal models.

Professional Highlights

NARSAD Young Investigators Award, Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, 2019.

Education

B.S. in Medicine
Xinxiang Medical University
Ph.D. in Neuroscience
Central South University/University of Verona (joint Program)
Postdoctoral Fellowship
UTHealth Houston

Areas of Interest

Research Interests

Utilizing cutting-edge techniques and multidisciplinary approaches, including chemogenetics, optogenetics, in vivo fiber photometry, microendoscopic recording at single-cell resolution, Cre-LoxP/FRT-FlpO mouse genetics, Tet-On/Off method, and ethologically relevant test models, my current studies focus on the neural mechanisms that regulate nutritional homeostasis, feeding behaviors, emotional responses, and reward approach versus risk-avoidance conflicts.

Ongoing research projects in my lab including:

  • How feeding-driving hypothalamic GABAergic neurons directly regulate stress responses
  • How PVH prodynorphin neurocircuits integrate defensive behaviors
  • Brain mechanisms underlying food choices and diet-induced obesity

Grant support:

Title: The direct regulation of feeding-driving hypothalamic GABAergic neurons on stress responses.     

R21 MH133228   Date: 12/08/23 – 11/30/25

Title: Hypothalamic prodynorphin neurocircuits integrating defensive behaviors.

R01 MH139750   Date: 04/15/25 – 02/28/30

Publications

Visit the PubMed profile page

First and corresponding author papers (*: co-first author.)

  1. Xu YZ, O’Brien WG 3rd, Lee CC, Myers MG Jr, Tong QC. Role of GABA Release From Leptin Receptor-Expressing Neurons in Body Weight Regulation. Endocrinology, 153(5):2223-2233, 2012.
  2. Xu YZ, Kim ER, Zhao RJ, Myers MG Jr., Muenzberg-Gruening H, Tong QC. Glutamate Release Mediates Leptin Action on Energy Expenditure. Molecular Metabolism, 2(2): 109-115, 2013.
  3. Xu YZ, Wu ZF, Sun H, Zhu YM, Kim ER, Lowell BB, Arenkiel BB, Xu Y, Tong QC. Glutamate mediates the function of melanocortin receptor 4 on Sim1 neurons in body weight regulation. Cell Metabolism, 18(6): 860-870, 2013.
  4. Xu Y, Kim ER, Fan S, Xia Y, Xu Y, Huang C, Tong Q. Profound and rapid reduction in body temperature induced by the melanocortin receptor agonists. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 451(2):184-189, 2014.
  5. Xu YZ, Myers MG, Jr, Chang J, Xu Y, Tong QC. Euglycemia Restoration by Central Leptin in Type 1 Diabetes Requires STAT3 Signaling but Not Fast-Acting Neurotransmitter Release, Diabetes, 65(4):1040-1049, 2016.
  6. Xu YZ, Lu YG, Xu PW, Mangieri LR, Isingrini E, Xu Y, Giros B, Tong QC. VMAT2-meidated Neurotransmission from Midbrain Leptin Receptor Neurons in Feeding Regulation. eNeuro, 0083-17, 2017.
  7. Xu Y, Lu Y, Cassidy RM, Mangieri LR, Zhu C, Huang X, Jiang Z, Justice NJ, Xu Y, Arenkiel BR, Tong Q. Identification of a neurocircuit underlying regulation of feeding by stress-related emotional responses. Nature Communications, 10(1):3446, 2019.
  8. Kim ER*, Xu Y*, Cassidy RM, Lu Y, Yang Y, Tian J, Li DP, Van Drunen R, Ribas-Latre A, Cai ZL, Xue M, Arenkiel BR, Eckel-Mahan K, Xu Y, Tong Q. Paraventricular hypothalamus mediates diurnal rhythm of metabolism. Nature Communications, 11(1):3794, 2020.
  9. Fan S, Xu Y*, Lu Y, Jiang Z, Li H, Morrill JC, Cai J, Wu Q, Xu Y, Xue M, Arenkiel BR, Huang C, Tong Q. A neural basis for brain leptin action on reducing type 1 diabetic hyperglycemia (co-first author). Nature Communications, 12(1):2662, 2021.
  10. Li H, Xu Y*, Jiang Y, Jiang Z, Otiz-Guzman J, Morrill JC, Cai J, Mao Z, Xu Y, Arenkiel BR, Huang C, Tong Q. The melanocortin action is biased toward protection from weight loss in mice. Nature Communications. 14(1):2200. 2023.
  11. Xu Y, Jiang Z, Li H, Cai J, Jiang Y, Otiz-Guzman J, Xu Y, Arenkiel BR, Tong Q. Lateral septum as a melanocortin downstream site in obesity development (co-corresponding author). Cell Reports. 42(5):112502, 2023.