Research

The nervous and immune systems are two relatively independent and separate systems based on reductionism and research of disciplines. Based on the holistic view and system theory, the neural and immune biological systems have effective synergies and can actively participate in two-way communication. The neuro-immune interaction research will help us to obtain the unprecedented and elusive mysteries of life in this field. In the doctoral stage, Dr. Xiao was focusing on pathogen infection and immunity-related research. During her post-doctoral work, Dr. Xiao was focusing on the cross-research of neurogenetics and immunology. She carried out research related to neuro-immune interaction with pathogenic infection by using single-cell sequencing technology, spatial transcriptome technology, three-dimensional genomics technology, etc. In the current stage, Dr. Xiao and her group focus on neuro-immune interaction to explore the relationship between inflammation and depression. As well as, investigate the pathogenesis of depression related to inflammation. Further to screen and use immune biomarkers for early precision medicine, active treatment of patients with "depression-inflammation" comorbidities, and finally realize the clinical transformation of those small immune biomarkers to target drugs.

Current research directions include:

(1) Neuro-immune interactions in the regulation of pathogen infection

(2) The relationship between inflammation and the development of depression

Biography

2022-present, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute of Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Associate Investigators

2016-2022, Huazhong Agricultural University, State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Postdoc

2011-2016, Huazhong Agricultural University, successive postgraduate and doctoral programs of study, PhD

2007-2011, Henan University of Science and Technology

Selected publications

(1) Jinsong Yu^#, Ke Xiao^#, Lulu Deng, Yue Li, Anran Gao, Chengchao Wu, Lu Zhang, Qiudi Zhou, Junjun Gao, Jiaji Jiao, Sheng Cheng, Zhiqing Guo, Xinmei Yang, Weize Xu, Zheng Guo, Jinxia Dai, Ji Hu, Zhenfang Fu, Gang Cao^*. Neuron-derived neuropeptide Y finetunes the splenic immune responses. Neuron, (2022) 110 (8): 1327-1339. (Highlighted by Nat. Rev. Neurosci. & Neuron)

(2) Ke Xiao^#, Dan Xiong^#, Gong Chen, Jinsong Yu, Yue Li, Kening Chen, Lu Zhang, Yangyang Xu, Qian Xu, Xi Huang, Anran Gao, Keji Yan, Jinxia Dai, Xueying Hu, Yijun Ruan, Zhenfang Fu^*, Guoliang Li^*, Gang Cao^*. RUNX1-mediated alphaherpesvirus-host trans-species chromatin interaction promotes viral transcription. Science Advances, (2021) 7: eabf8962.

(3) Zhewei Zhang^#, Ke Xiao^#, Sheng Wang, Abdur Rahman Ansari, Xiaoyu Niu, Wenjie Yang, Mengqi Lu, Weicheng Bei and Hui Song^*. Visfatin is a multifaceted molecule that exerts regulation effects on inflammation and apoptosis in RAW264.7 cells and mice immune organs. Frontiers in Immunology, 2022 Nov.

(4) Danmei Xiao, Yu He, Qin Xiao, Luxia Cai, Haoqi Wang, Aikebaier Reheman^* and Ke Xiao^*. The Activity of Plant-Derived Ren’s Oligopeptides-1 against the Pseudorabies Virus. Animals, 2022, 12(11): 1341.

(5) Ke Xiao, Keli Yang, Jing Wang, Pengpeng Sun, Haibo Huang, Khaliq Haseeb, Muhammad Ahsan Naeem, Juming Zhong, Kemei Peng^*. Transcriptional Study Revealed That Boron Supplementation May Alter the Immune-Related Genes Through MAPK Signaling in Ostrich Chick Thymus. Biological Trace Element Research, (2019) 189:209–223.

(6) Ke Xiao, Ying Zhou, Huairui Yuan, Zhi Yang, Zia ur Rehman, Ansari Abdur Rahman, Huairui Yuan, Lu Cui, Kemei Peng, Hui Song^*. The regulation mechanism of apoptosis by visfatin in the mesenteric lymph nodes of LPS-treated rats. Histology and Histopathology, 2016, 31(9): 987-1000.

(7) Ke Xiao, Weihua Zou, Zhi Yang, Zia ur Rehman, Ansari Abdur Rahman, Huairui Yuan, Ying Zhou, Lu Cui, Ke-Mei Peng, Hui Song^*. The role of visfatin on the regulation of inflammation and apoptosis in the spleen of LPS-treated rats. Cell and Tissue Research, 2015, 359(2):605-618.

(8) Ke Xiao, Ansari Abdur Rahman, Ke-Mei Peng^*. Effect of boric acid supplementation of ostrich water on the expression of Foxn1 in thymus. Histology and Histopathology, 2015, 30(11):11595.

(9) He W^#, You J^#, Wan Q^#, Xiao K, Chen K, Lu Y, Li L, Tang Y, Deng Y, Yao Z, Yue J, Cao G. The anatomy and metabolome of the lymphatic system in the brain in health and disease. Brain Pathology. 2020 Mar;30(2):392-404.

(10) Sun L^#, Tang Y^#, Yan K, Yu J, Zou Y, Xu W, Xiao K, Zhang Z, Li W, Wu B, Hu Z, Chen K, Fu ZF, Dai J, Cao G. Differences in neurotropism and neurotoxicity among retrograde viral tracers. Molecular Neurodegeneration. 2019 Feb 8;14(1):8.