LiLian Yuan, Ph.D.
Professor, Physiology and Pharmacology
Additional Roles
Professor, Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences Program
Professor, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Program
Professor, Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences Program
Areas of Expertise
Our research is dedicated to understanding the complex mechanisms that underlie neuronal connectivity and plasticity. We’re particularly interested in how these processes can be affected by environmental and genetic factors, as well as how they’re impacted by various diseases and drug treatments. To explore these questions, we use a range of techniques including behavioral assays, physiological measurements, pharmacological manipulations, and genomic analyses.
1. Discovering fast-acting antidepressants. Depression is a common and varied mood disorder that affects around 16% of people worldwide. Despite the availability of antidepressant medications, there is still a pressing need for more effective treatments. Ketamine has shown promise as a rapid-acting antidepressant, with unique clinical benefits, but it also has some significant drawbacks as a long-term treatment, including the risk of inducing psychosis and the possibility of abuse. In order to develop a new generation of fast-acting antidepressants with minimal or no side effects, it is crucial that we continue to deepen our understanding of the brain mechanisms underlying ketamine’s antidepressant effects and identify new therapeutic targets.
2. Beneficial effects of exercise on mental health. It is well established that engaging in voluntary exercise can have a number of positive effects on the brain. These effects include the activation of neurogenesis, neuroadaptive processes, and neuroprotective mechanisms. These processes work together to produce a range of benefits for human health. On the other hand, a sedentary lifestyle characterized by insufficient physical activity has been linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases. Our ultimate goal is to better understand how exercise impacts the central nervous system and how we can use this knowledge to promote physical and mental well-being through regular exercise.
3. Gut microbiota in mood regulation. Recent research has revealed a complex, bidirectional communication system between the brain, the gut, and the microbiota that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract, known as the brain-gut-microbiota axis. Using advanced techniques such as shotgun sequencing and metagenomic analysis, we have been exploring the role of the gut microbiome in the regulation of mood and the stress response in individuals experiencing chronic stress or chronic pain. Our findings suggest that the gut microbiome may play a significant role in these processes and may offer potential targets for therapeutic intervention in conditions related to mood and stress regulation.
Kaye A, Rusling M, and Yuan LL (2023) Maximize microbiome research in neurotrauma and other fields: a proposal to require microbiome abundance data accessibility for publication. J. Neurotrauma. http://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2023.0278.
Lampeter T, Love C, Tang TT, Marella A, Lee HY, Oganyan A, Moffat D, Karim A, Rusling M, Massmann A, Orr M, Bongiorno C, and Yuan LL (2023) Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Systematic Review and Metanalysis of the Gut Microbiome. Gut Microbiome. 4, E13. doi:10.1017/gmb.2023.12
Buhr TJ, Reed CH, Wee OM, Lee JH, Yuan L-L, Fleshner M, Valentine RJ and Clark PJ (2023) The persistence of stress-induced physical inactivity in rats: an investigation of central monoamine neurotransmitters and skeletal muscle oxidative stress. Front. Behav. Neurosci. 17:1169151. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1169151
Wegman-Points L, K Alganem, V Mathis, A Imami, J Creeden, R McCullumsmith, LL Yuan (2022). Subcellular partitioning of kinase activity revealed by functional kinome profiling. Scientific Reports. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21026-5
Fung, C, M Rusling, T Lampeter, C Love, A Karim, C Bongiorno, LL Yuan (2021). Automation of QIIME2 Metagenomic Analysis Platform. Current Protocols in Bioinformatics. DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.254
Parent MA, A Lockridge, LL Yuan (2021). Forced swim stress dynamically alters neural activity and bi-directionally modulates NMDA receptors in the prefrontal cortex. BioRxiv. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.10.434848
Khasabov SG, VM Rogness, MB Beeson, L Vulchanova-Hart, LL Yuan, DA Simone, F Tran (2021). TMEM35a (NACHO) modulates heat and mechanical pain sensitivity in mice. Neuroscience. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.12.027
Geiger Z, VanVeller B, Lopez Z, Harrata AK, Battani K, Wegman-Points L and Yuan L-L (2021). Determination of Diffusion Kinetics of Ketamine in Brain Tissue: Implications for in vitro Mechanistic Studies of Drug Actions. Front. Neurosci. 15:678978. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2021.678978
Points L, B Pope, A Zobel, L Winter, E Wauson, V Duric, LL Yuan (2020).
Corticosterone as a potential confounding factor in delineating mechanisms underlying ketamine’s rapid antidepressant actions. Frontiers in Pharmacology. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2020.590221
Qu W, KF Suazo, W Liu W, S Cheng, A Jeong, D Hottman, LL Yuan, MD Distefano, L Li (2020). Neuronal Protein Farnesylation Regulates Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity and Cognitive Function. Molecular Neurobiology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-020-02169-w
Rusling MR, J Johnson, A Shoskes, C Jie, LL Yuan (2019). Perceived stress in first-year medical students and its effect on gut microbiota. bioRxiv. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/854174
Wang JZ, C Long, KY Li, HT Xu, LL Yuan, GY Wu (2018). Potent block of potassium channels by MEK inhibitor U0126 both in primary cultures and brain slices. Scientific Reports. 8: 8808. DOI:10.1038/s41598-018-27235-1
Hottman D, S Chen, K LeBlanc, LL Yuan, L Ling (2018). Systemic or Forebrain Neuron Specific Deficiency of Geranylgeranyltransferase-1 Impairs Synaptic Plasticity and Reduces Dendritic Spine Density. Neuroscience. 373: 207-217
Yuan LL, E Wauson, V Duric (2016). Kinase-Mediated Signaling Cascades in Mood Disorders and Antidepressant Treatment. J. Neurogenet. 30: 178-184
Kennedy BC, JG Dimova, S Dakoji, LL Yuan, P Tran, JC Gewirtz (2016). Requirement of Novel Factor TMEM35 for Hippocampal Long-Term Potentiation and Memory. Am. J. Phys. 311(1): R166-78
Duric V, S Clayton, ML Leong, LL Yuan (2016). Comorbidity Factors and Brain Mechanisms Linking Chronic Stress and Systemic Illness,” Neural Plasticity, vol. 2016, Article ID 5460732. doi:10.1155/2016/5460732
Parent MA, DA Hottman, S Cheng, W Zhang, LL McMahon, LL Yuan*, L Li* (* corresponding authors) (2014). Simvastatin treatment enhances NMDAR-mediated synaptic transmission by upregulating the surface distribution of the GluN2B subunit. Cell. Mol. Neurobiol. 34(5): 693-705
Cheng S, D Cao, DA Hottman, LL Yuan, M Bergo, L Li (2013). Farnesyl transferase haplodeficiency reduces neuropathology and rescues cognitive function in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s Disease. J. Bio. Chem. 288(50): 35952-60, 2013
Pisansky MT, RJ Wickham, J Su, S Fretham, JC Gewirtz, LL Yuan, M Sun, M Georgieff (2013). Iron deficiency impairs pre-pulse inhibition of the startle reflex. Hippocampus. 23:952–962, 2013
Lockridge A, Newland B, Printen S, Romero GE, Yuan LL. Head movement: a novel serotonin-sensitive behavioral endpoint for tail suspension test analysis. Behav Brain Res 246:168-178., 2013
Lockridge A, Romero G, Harrington J, Newland B, Gong Z, Cameron A, Yuan LL . Timing-dependent reduction in ethanol sedation and drinking preference by NMDA receptor co-agonist d-serine. Alcohol 46:389-400., 2012
Meehan AL, Yang X, Yuan LL, Rothman SM. Levetiracetam has an activity-dependent effect on inhibitory transmission. Epilepsia 53:469-476., 2012
Parent M, Yuan LL. Automated detection and analysis of neuronal persistent activity. J Neurosci Methods 201:361-367., 2011
Meehan AL, Yang X, McAdams BD, Yuan L, Rothman SM. A new mechanism for antiepileptic drug action: vesicular entry may mediate the effects of levetiracetam. J Neurophysiol 106:1227-1239., 2011
Lockridge A, Yuan LL. Spatial learning deficits in mice lacking A-type K(+) channel subunits. Hippocampus 21:1152-1156., 2011
Zhao C, Wang L, Netoff T, Yuan LL. Dendritic mechanisms controlling the threshold and timing requirement of synaptic plasticity. Hippocampus 21:288-297., 2011
Kong F, J Zhu, J Wu, J Peng, Y Wang, Q Wang, S Fu, LL Yuan, T Li. dbCRID: A Database of Chromosomal Rearrangements in Human Diseases. Nucleic Acids Res 39: D895-900, 2011
Hoover BR, Reed MN, Su J, Penrod RD, Kotilinek LA, Grant MK, Pitstick R, Carlson GA, Lanier LM, Yuan LL, Ashe KH, Liao D. Tau mislocalization to dendritic spines mediates synaptic dysfunction independently of neurodegeneration. Neuron 68:1067-1081., 2010
Lockridge A, Su J, Yuan LL. Abnormal 5-HT modulation of stress behaviors in the Kv4.2 knockout mouse. Neuroscience 170:1086-1097., 2010
Parent MA, Wang L, Su J, Netoff T, Yuan LL. Identification of the hippocampal input to medial prefrontal cortex in vitro. Cereb Cortex 20:393-403., 2010
Wang L, Yuan LL. Activation of M2 muscarinic receptors leads to sustained suppression of hippocampal transmission in the medial prefrontal cortex. J Physiol 587:5139-5147., 2009
Chen X*, LL Yuan*, C Zhao, S Birnbaum, A Frick, WE Jung, TL Schwarz, JD Sweatt, D Johnston. ( * Co-first authors) Deletion of Kv4.2 gene eliminates dendritic A-type K+ current and enhances induction of long-term potentiation in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. J. Neurosci. 26: 12143-12151. , 2006
Lauver A, LL Yuan, A Jeromin, BM Nadin, J Rodriguez-Arellano, H Davies, M Steward, G-Y Wu, P Pfaffinger. Manipulating Kv4.2 expression identifies a specific component of hippocampal pyramidal neuron A current that depends upon Kv4.2 expression. J. Neurochem. 99: 1207-1223., 2006
Yuan LL, X Chen. Diversity of potassium channels in neuronal dendrites. Prog. Neurobiol. 8: 374-89., 2006
Yuan LL, X Chen, K Kunjil, P Pfaffinger, and D Johnston. Increase in the rate of inactivation of expressed and native A-type K+ channels by a MEK inhibitor. Am. J. Physiol. (Cell Physiol.) 290:C165-71., 2006
Varga AW*, LL Yuan*, AE Anderson, L Schrader, G-Y Wu, D. Johnston, JD Sweatt. (* Co-first authors) CaMKII modulates Kv4.2 channel expression and upregulates neuronal A-type potassium current. J. Neurosci. 24: 3643-3654. , 2004
Birnbaum S, A Varga, LL Yuan, A Anderson, D Sweatt, L Schrader. Functions and regulation of Kv4-family A-type potassium channels. Physiol. Rev. 84: 803-833., 2004
Johnston D, BR Christie, A Frick, R Gray, DA Hoffman, JC Magee, LK. Schexnayder, S Watanabe, LL Yuan. Active dendrites, K+ channels, and synaptic plasticity. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B 358: 667-674, 2003
Jeromin A, LL Yuan, A Frick, P Pfaffinger, and D Johnston (2003). A modified Sindbis virus for long-term gene expression in neurons. J. Neurophys. 90:2741-2745, 2003
Liang Y, LL Yuan, R Gray and D Johnston. Calcium signaling at single mossy fiber presynaptic terminals in the rat hippocampus. J. Neurophys. 87: 1132-1137., 2002
Yuan LL, JP Adams, M Swank, JD Sweatt and D Johnston. Protein kinase modulation of dendritic transient K+ channels in hippocampus involves a MAPK pathway. J. Neurosci. 22: 4860-4868., 2002
Yuan LL and BS Ganetzky. Searching for molecules mediating glial-neuronal communication. Molecular Psychiatry 4: 408-409., 1999
Yuan LL and BS Ganetzky. A glial-neuronal signaling pathway revealed by mutations in a Neurexin-related protein. Science 283: 1343-1345., 1999
Yuan LL and XL Yang. Selective suppression of rod signal transmission by cobalt ions of low levels in carp retina. Science in China, Ser. C 402: 128-136. , 1997
2022 – Distinguished Research Award, Des Moines University
2020-2021 – Iowa Osteopathic Education and Research (IOER) Foundation award
2019 – Distinguished Researcher Award, Des Moines University
2019 – Gill Travel Award, Gill Center for Biomolecular Science
2018 – President, Iowa Physiological Society
2018-present – NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Award (R21)
2016 – Distinguished Researcher Award, Des Moines University
2015-2019 – NIH Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA)
2009-2010 – Whitehall Foundation Grant Award
2005-2010 – NIH research project grant award (R01)
2005-2006 – NIH small grant award (R03)
1998 – Jerzy Rose Award for best dissertation in Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison
DMU Directories
Email LiLian Yuan