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My lab investigates how neurons and glial cells in the hypothalamus interact to regulate body weight and food intake. We focus on intercellular communication, intracellular metabolism, and organelle dynamics to understand the cellular mechanisms underlying energy balance.

A key area of interest is the role of microglia as immune regulators within the hypothalamic microenvironment. We study how neurotransmission shapes their phagocytic activity and inflammatory responses across a range of physiological and pathological states.

To bridge molecular mechanisms with human health, we analyze postmortem brain tissue from individuals with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and Prader-Willi Syndrome. We also assess brain cell function in living patients using advanced imaging techniques such as MRI and PET.

Our long-term goal is to identify therapeutic targets in microglia and neurons that can restore hypothalamic function in hypercaloric environments and offer new treatment strategies for obesity and type 2 diabetes.

• Neurons and microglia in hypothalamus of type 2 diabetic patients

  https://www.chun-xia-yi.nl/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/JCI-new-01.jpg

  Martin Kalsbeek et al., JCI Insight, 2020

• Nanoparticles-siRNA targeting microglia in vivo

  https://www.chun-xia-yi.nl/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Nano-siRNA-edited-01.jpg

  Guo S. et al., ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2022

• No clock is better than a bad clock

  https://www.chun-xia-yi.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Bmal1-01.jpg

  Wang XL et al., Mol Psychiatry. 2021

• Loss of AVP and VIP-containing neurons and glial cells in the SCN of type 2 diabetic patients

  https://www.chun-xia-yi.nl/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/VIP-01.jpg

  Hogenboom et al., Diabetologia. 2019

• Microglia, POMC neurons & vasculature

  https://www.chun-xia-yi.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/MICROGLIA-POMC-NEURONS-VASCULATURE-01.jpg

  Yi Lab, unpublished data.

• Mitochondria in microglia lacking LPL

  https://www.chun-xia-yi.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CellRep-EM-01.jpg

  Gao Y et al., Cell Reports, 2017

• Lipid Droplets in the Hypothalamus

  https://www.chun-xia-yi.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/PLIN2-01.jpg

  Maya-Monteiro CM et al., Neuroendocrinology, 2021.

• Cell type-targeting nanoparticles in treating central nervous system diseases: Challenges and hopes

  https://www.chun-xia-yi.nl/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Nano-review-2.jpg

  Guo and Yi, Nanotechnology Reviews. 2023

• Microglial phagolysosome dysfunction in Prader‑Willi Syndrome with larger deletion

  https://www.chun-xia-yi.nl/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/PWS-Mg.png

  Correa‑da‑Silva et al. Acta Neuropathologica. 2024