1. Review of Disciplinary Development History
The Cell Biology discipline of Xuzhou Medical University was approved as a master’s degree authorization point in 2010. As an important component of the first-level discipline of Biology, it undertakes undergraduate teaching and cultivates postgraduate students (masters and doctoral candidates) majoring in Cell Biology.
The Department of Cell Biology and Neurobiology was restructured from the former Department of Biology in 2015. It governs the Neurobiology Research Center (municipal and university-level key laboratory) and Xuzhou Engineering Research Center for the Research and Development of Biologics for Diagnosis and Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases.
2. Main Research Directions of the Discipline
The discipline focuses on how the cellular growth microenvironment regulates intracellular signaling, antigen-specific TCR recognition, and the effects of epigenetic regulation on cellular biological behaviors. Three relatively stable research directions have been established:
(1) Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies of Central White Matter Lesions
Central white matter lesions (WMLs) are prevalent degenerative disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), pathologically manifested as myelin damage, loss and developmental abnormalities of nerve fibers. WMLs commonly occur in stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), epilepsy and schizophrenia. Their pathogenesis involves infection, intoxication, ischemia, genetic abnormalities, tumors and trauma, while hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and metabolic disorders also promote WML progression. Early WMLs are usually asymptomatic, whereas progressive lesions cause motor, cognitive and emotional impairments. Currently, the detailed mechanisms of WMLs remain poorly defined, and specific therapeutic targets are unavailable. Accumulating evidence suggests that injury and defective differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are key contributors to impaired myelin regeneration.
This study focuses on the regulatory mechanisms of OPC injury and differentiation, serum samples from preterm infants (23–32 weeks of gestation) and children with cerebral palsy are collected for metabolomic analysis and clinical follow-up, aiming to identify biomarkers for abnormal cerebral white matter development. A neonatal hypoxia-ischemia mouse model is used to simulate preterm white matter injury (PWMI). We further investigate PWMI-induced oligodendrovascular unit dysfunction and its regulatory mechanism on OPC differentiation. Moreover, clinically translational human OPC transplantation and small-molecule interventions are applied to optimize the local microenvironment and facilitate myelination.
This study clarifies the mechanisms underlying abnormal myelin development and repair after CNS injury, providing novel potential targets for clinical diagnosis and treatment of WMLs.
(2) Screening and recognition of cell antigen-specific TCRs
T cell receptor-T cell (TCR-T) therapy enables specific recognition of intracellular antigen epitopes presented by major histocompatibility complexes (MHC). Compared with CAR-T therapy, TCR-T therapy recognizes a broader spectrum of antigens, achieves higher specificity and exhibits lower off-target effects. This research direction aims to establish a high-throughput specific screening method between TCR libraries and neoantigen libraries. Based on this platform, we explore the cross-recognition capacity of neoantigen-specific TCRs and the underlying antigen recognition mechanisms. Integrating cell biology and immunology with interdisciplinary emerging technologies such as microfluidics, this research addresses key scientific issues in tumors and neuroimmune diseases and promotes interdisciplinary research and technology innovation.
(3) Epigenetic regulation governing glioma cell fate
Glioma represents the most common primary intracranial tumor with an increasing incidence in recent years. Malignant gliomas account for approximately 77.5% of all gliomas. They rank the second in mortality among tumor patients under 34 years old in China, and the 5-year mortality rate ranks third among all systemic tumors. Nevertheless, the etiology and pathogenic mechanisms remain incompletely elucidated.
On one hand, this direction explores the biological functions of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) during glioma initiation and progression. On the other hand, it investigates the molecular mechanisms by which GDNF facilitates glioma progression from the perspective of epigenetic regulation and glutamine-glutamate crosstalk between glioblastoma (GBM) cells and astrocytes.
3. Discipline Leader and Team Introduction
The discipline has 14 faculty members, including 3 professors and 8 associate professors. All 14 members hold doctoral degrees, among whom 2 are doctoral supervisors and 6 are master’s supervisors; 8 researchers have overseas study experience.
There are 3 Tier-3 talents of Jiangsu Provincial “333 High-level Talent Training Project”, 4 high-level talents of Jiangsu Provincial “Six Talent Peaks” Program, 3 Young and Middle-aged Academic Leaders and 2 Outstanding Young Backbone Teachers of Jiangsu Provincial “Qinglan Project”. A high-quality research team has been formed.
Profile of Discipline Leader
Ruiqin Yao, born in September 1975, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor. She serves as the academic leader of the Cell Biology discipline and Director of the Department of Cell Biology and Neurobiology. She is a Tier-3 talent of Jiangsu Provincial “333 High-level Talent Training Project”, a high-level talent of Jiangsu Provincial “Six Talent Peaks” Program, and a Young and Middle-aged Academic Leader of Jiangsu Provincial “Qinglan Project”. She is a committee member of the Basic and Translational Medicine Committee under Jiangsu Stroke Society, and a reviewer for projects supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation.
Her research centers on the mechanisms, prevention and treatment strategies of central white matter injury. She has presided over 4 projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and participated in one key project supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology. She has published more than 80 peer-reviewed papers as the corresponding author.
She has won the Third Prize of Natural Science Award from Jiangsu Provincial Universities and Xuzhou City respectively, and obtained 2 authorized national invention patents. She presided over the construction project of high-quality postgraduate teaching resources in Jiangsu Province (2022). Currently, she supervises 3 doctoral candidates and 12 master’s students.
She teaches Cell Biology and Neurobiology. She has served as the chief editor for 3 textbooks, associate chief editor for 1 textbook, and co-authored one English textbook. She has hosted one postgraduate education reform project of Jiangsu Province and one of Xuzhou Medical University, and published 10 teaching research papers.
4. Scientific Research Status
In recent years, faculty of this discipline have undertaken more than 30 research projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and provincial-level agencies, together with 3 provincial teaching reform projects. Over 130 SCI-indexed research papers and 16 teaching papers have been published.
Research achievements have won 2 Second Prizes and 1 Third Prize of the Science and Technology Research Achievement Award (Natural Science) for Jiangsu Provincial Universities, 1 Second Prize and 1 Third Prize of Xuzhou Science and Technology Progress Award, and 1 Third Prize of Huaihai Science and Technology Progress Award. Six national invention patents have been authorized.
5. Strength of the Disciplinary Research Platform
As a discipline supported by Jiangsu Provincial Advantageous Discipline Program, Cell Biology carries out research relying on Xuzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology. Founded in 1996, the laboratory has undertaken more than 20 provincial and NSFC projects in the past five years and is equipped with advanced experimental facilities.
Covering an area of 1800 square meters, the laboratory has built integrated platforms for molecular biology, cell biology and morphological research, providing solid support for scientific research.
Furthermore, the discipline jointly trains master’s and doctoral students with the School of Medicine, Drexel University and University of Texas Medical Branch in the United States. Substantial research collaborations have also been established domestically with Navy General Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Institute of Neuroscience at Zhejiang University and other institutions.
6. Situation of Discipline Talent Cultivation
The discipline has established a complete talent training system covering undergraduate, master and doctoral education. It delivers undergraduate courses including Cell Biology, Medical Cell Biology and Introduction to Life Sciences, postgraduate courses including Neurobiology and Cell Biology for master candidates, and Cell Biology for doctoral candidates.
Up to now, more than 30 master’s students and 3 doctoral students have graduated from this discipline. Faculty have guided students to carry out 12 projects supported by Jiangsu Provincial Postgraduate Innovation Program and 5 National College Students’ Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Programs.
Undergraduates supervised by our team have won six Second Prizes and six Third Prizes in the National College Students’ Life Science Competition. Postgraduate trainees have obtained 3 Second Prizes and 1 Third Prize at Jiangsu Provincial Postgraduate Academic Innovation Forum, as well as 1 Special Prize in Jiangsu Provincial Postgraduate Biological Testing Research Innovation Competition. Close academic links have been built with prestigious universities and laboratories at home and abroad.
7. Disciplinary Social Services
Oriented toward social demands, the discipline adopts an integrated model combining teaching, scientific research and social services. We attach great importance to teaching reform and rely on high-level research and innovative academic ideas to boost teaching quality. In addition, extensive cooperation has been carried out with outstanding universities and institutions worldwide to contribute to talent cultivation for the university and society.
8. Enrollment and Employment
The discipline recruits graduates with bachelor’s degrees in Biology, Medicine, Pharmacy and other related majors. Postgraduates enjoy favorable employment prospects. They are employed by universities, hospitals, biotech enterprises and other institutions, while some pursue further doctoral studies at well-known universities at home and abroad. The scientific research capability and practical operational skills of our graduates are highly recognized by employers.
