Education

  • PhD, Biophysics, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, 2012
  • BS, Biomedicine, Nanchang University, Jiangxi, China, 2007

Research Interests

Dr. He’s research focuses on identifying novel ion channels, neural circuits, and neurotransmitters in neurons and adipocytes that are critical for glucose sensing, diet regulation, energy expenditure, physical activity, and body weight control. He brings to Pennington Biomedical expertise in both neuroscience and ion channel biology. Using the Cre-loxP/Flp-frt strategy, his lab generates unique mouse models in which genes of interest (e.g., vGLUT2, vGAT, KCNN3, Adiponectin, ERα/β, 5-HT2CR, AgRP, POMC, etc.) are manipulated in specific populations of neurons and adipocytes at precise developmental or experimental stages. Combining these models with electrophysiology, fiber photometry, and chemogenetic/optogenetic approaches, Dr. He establishes the physiological relevance of defined neural networks in regulating glucose balance, energy homeostasis, dietary responses, and obesity.

  1. Voltage-gated ion channels activity in glucose-sensing neurons.
  2. Hunger hormone asprosin and metabolism control.
  3. The 5-HT neural circuits and addiction behavior.

Lab: Brain Glycemic and Metabolism Control

Selected Publications

  1. Yu M, Feng B, Bean J.C, Yang He, Yang YJ, Liu HL, Li YX, Eappen BP, Liu HS, Tu LL, Conde KM, Wang MJ, Chen X, Yin N, Han JY, Zhu Y, Hadsell DL, Gao PY, Xu PW, He YL and Wang CM. Supression of the hypothalamic estrogenic signal sustains lactational hyperprolactinemia and metabolic adaptations. 2025. Nature Metabolism. Apr;7(4):759-777. PMID: 40211044

  2. Mishra I, Feng B, Basu B, Bournat JC, Poulton C, Kim B, Langsner A, He YL, Chopra A. The Cerebellum Modulates Thirst. Nature Neuroscience. 2024 Jul 10, PMID: 38987435.

  3. Feng B, Liu H, Mishra I, Duerrschmid C, Gao P, Xu P, Wang C, He Y. Asprosin promotes feeding through SK channel-dependent activation of AgRP neurons. Science Advances. 2023 Feb 22;9(8):eabq6718. PMID: 36812308.

  4. Cai X, Liu H, Feng B, Yu M, He Yang, Liu H, Yang Y, Tu L, Zhang N, Wang L, Yin B, Han J, Yan Z, Wang C, Xu P, Wu Q, Tong Q, He Y#, Yong Xu#. A D2 to D1 shift in dopaminergic inputs to midbrain 5-HT neurons causes anorexia. Nature Neuroscience. 2022 May;25(5):646-658. PMID: 35501380

  5. Ding G, Li X, Hou X, Zhou W, Gong Y, Liu F, He Y, Song J, Wang J, Basil P, Li W, Qian S, Saha P, Wang J, Cui C, Yang T, Zou K, Han Y, Amos CI, Xu Y, Chen L, Sun Z. REV-ERB in GABAergic neurons controls diurnal hepatic insulin sensitivity.Nature. 2021 Mar 24. PMID: 33762728

Google Scholar Publications