Xu Chen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor at the Department of Neurosciences
University California, San Diego
Seminar Information
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) are intricately linked with metabolic alterations in the brain. Why and how these changes occur, and whether they contribute to disease pathophysiology, remains elusive. In AD, a notable shift from glucose to lipid metabolism occurs in the brain, accompanied by the pathological accumulation of lipid droplets (LDs). In collaboration with Dr. Lingyan Shi, we used SRS imaging to visualize LDs in tauopathy brain cells in vitro and in vivo. We further elucidated the mechanism of LD accumulation in neurons and microglia, shedding light on how this process contributes to disease development. On the other hand, we have explored the therapeutic potential of ketone body supplementation in mitigating tau pathology and microgliosis in tauopathy models. Collectively, our findings underscore the pivotal role of lipid metabolism in tau-mediated neurodegeneration and suggest targeting lipid pathophysiology as a promising avenue for intervention in AD and related tauopathies.
Dr. Xu Chen is an Associate Professor at the Department of Neurosciences, UC San Diego. Dr. Chen received her PhD from University of Wisconsin-Madison and completed her postdoctoral training as a K99 fellow at the Gladstone Institutes, UC San Francisco. Her laboratory at Department of Neurosciences, UCSD is focused on the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD). Her research aims to use interdisciplinary approaches to understand the disease from unique perspectives, in particular, metabolism and inflammation, and to uncover new therapeutic avenues. Dr. Chen's contributions to the field have been recognized with the Awards for Excellence in Alzheimer's Research from the Alzheimer's Association, and the Stephen I. Katz Early-Stage Investigator Research Award from the National Institute on Aging.