Dr. Xianyuan Xiang is an AssistantProfessor at the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology. She specializes in neuroimmunology, with a focus on microglial function in health and disease. After earning her Ph.D. from LMU Munich under the supervision ofProf. Christian Haass, she conducted postdoctoral research on neurodegenerative disorders.She joined Prof. Helmut Kettenmann’s lab (Shenzhen) asan Associate investigator in2021.Dr. Xiang has securedseveralresearch funding, including grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission. Her work aims to unravel microglial mechanisms inneurological diseasesand develop microglia-targeted therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Xiang’s research explores the role of microglia in brain function and neurodegenerative diseases. Microglia are highly dynamic immune cells that regulate homeostasis, synaptic pruning, and neuroinflammation. Genetic studies have linked microglial-specific genes, such asTREM2andCD33, to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), underscoring their role in pathology.

Her research integrates advanced biochemical, molecular, behavioral, and imaging techniques to elucidate microglial functions in both murine and human iPSC-derived models. Her work aims to uncover the immunological underpinnings of various neurological disorders, identifying potential therapeutic targets to modulate brain immune functions. She previously demonstrated that the AD risk variantTREM2 R47Himpairs splicing in mice but not in humans, revealing species-specific differences. Her work also showed that TREM2 deficiency reduces the efficacy of amyloid-targeting immunotherapy, emphasizing the importance of microglia in therapeutic responses.

Beyond TREM2, Dr. Xiang investigates microglial metabolism and its impact on disease progression. She uncovered that microglial activation states influence glucose uptake and FDG-PET imaging, providing new insights into neurodegeneration biomarkers.

Currently, her lab is expanding research on microglial calcium signaling, inflammatory responses, and neuron-glia communication in AD and related disorders. Ina closecollaboration with Prof. Helmut Kettenmann, she aims to identify novel microglia-targeted therapies, bridging fundamental research with translational applications.

Education

·2013-2019: Ph.D. in Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany.

·2011-2013: M.S. in Biology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.

·2004-2008: B.S. in Biotechnology, Shenzhen University, China.

Professional Experience

·2023–Present:AssistantProfessor, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology.

·2021-2023: Assistant Professor, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

2019-2020: Postdoctoral Fellow, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany.

Selected publications

1.Chen X, Zhao Y, Huang Y, Zhu K, Zeng F, Zhao J, Zhang H, Zhu X, Kettenmann H*,Xiang X*. TREM2 promotes glioma progression and angiogenesis mediated by microglia/brain macrophages.Glia. 2023 Nov;71(11):2679-2695.

2.Xiang X,et al. Microglial activation states drive glucose uptake and FDG-PET alterations in neurodegenerative diseases.ScienceTranslationalMedicine. 2021 Oct 13;13(615):eabe5640.

3.Xiang X, Tahirovic S, Ziegler S, Haass C, Brendel M*. Response to Comment on "Microglial activation states drive glucose uptake and FDG-PET alterations in neurodegenerative diseases".ScienceTranslationalMedicine. 2022 Aug 24;14(659):eabn5104

4.Xiang X,et al. The Trem2 R47H Alzheimer's risk variant impairs splicing and reduces Trem2 mRNA and protein in mice but not in humans.MolecularNeurodegeneration. 2018 Sep 6;13(1):49.

5.Xiang X, Werner G, Bohrmann B, Liesz A, Mazaheri F, Capell A, Feederle R, Knuesel I, Kleinberger G, Haass C. TREM2 deficiency reduces the efficacy of immunotherapeutic amyloid clearance.EMBO MolecularMedicine. 2016 Sep 1;8(9):992-1004.

6.Zhu K,Xiang X, Filser S,et al. Beta-Site Amyloid Precursor Protein Cleaving Enzyme 1 Inhibition Impairs Synaptic Plasticity via Seizure Protein 6.BiologicalPsychiatry. 2018 Mar 1;83(5):428-437.

7.Zatcepin A, Gnörich J, Rauchmann BS, Bartos LM, Wagner S, Franzmeier N, Malpetti M,Xiang X, Shi Y, Parhizkar S,et al. Regional desynchronization of microglial activity is associated with cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.MolecularNeurodegeneration. 2024 Sep 5;19(1):64.

8.LM Bartos, ST Kunte, P Beumers,X Xiang, K Wind, S Ziegler, P Bartenstein, H Choi, DS Lee, C Haass, L von Baumgarten, S Tahirovic, NL Albert, S Lindner, M Brendel*. Single cell radiotracer allocation via immunomagentic sorting (scRadiotracing) to disentangle PET signals at cellular resolution..Journal of Nuclear Medicine. 2022 Oct

9.G Biechele, T Blume, M Deussing, B Zott, Y Shi,X Xiang, N Franzmeier, G Kleinberger, et al. Pre-therapeutic microglia activation and sex determine therapy effects of chronic immunomodulation.Theranostics. 2021, Aug

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