Dr. Wu Wutian - Hong Kong University

Wednesday, 07 December 2005 05:48

Dr. Wu Wutian

B.Med.,
M.Med. (Sun Yat Sen),
Ph.D. (Old Dominion)

Associate Professor

Research Interest:

My long-term research goal is to find a cure for paralysis associated with spinal cord injury and other CNS diseases. My current research is to investigate the mechanism of

neuronal degeneration and to find new approaches to prevent neuronal death and promote neuronal survival and regeneration.

My current research focuses on the following areas:

1. Gene expression changes in CNS neurons in response to axonal injury and their relationship with neuronal death and neuronal regeneration.

2. Effects and mechanisms of peripheral nerve (PN) graft implantation, stem cell transplantation and neurotrophic factor treatment on the survival and regeneration of CNS neurons following axonal injury.

3. Mechanisms underlying neuronal death and regeneration after spinal cord injury.

Selected Publications

1. Wu, W.,: Expression of nitric oxide synthase in injured CNS neurons as shown by NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry. Exp. Neurol. 120:153-159, 1993.

2. Wu, W. and Li, L.: Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase reduces death of spinal motoneu-rons due to avulsion lesion. Neuroscience Letter, 153(2):121-124, 1993.

3. Wu, W., and Scott, D.E.: Increased expression of nitric oxide synthase in hypothalamic neuronal regeneration. Exp. Neurol. 121:279-283, 1993.

4. Wu, W., Scott, D.E., and Reiter, R.J.: Transplantation of mammalian pineal gland: studies of survival, revascularization, reinnervation, and recovery of function. Exp. Neurol. 122:88-99, 1993.

5. Wu, W., Liuzzi,F.J., Schinco,F.P., Depto,A., Li,Y., Mong,J.A., Dawson,T. and Snyder,S.H.: Neuronal nitric oxide synthase is induced in spinal neurons by traumatic injury. Neuros-cience. 61(4):719-726, 1994.

6. Wu, W., Li,Y. and Schinco,F.P.: Expression of c-jun and nitric oxide synthase in rat spinal motoneurons following axonal injury. Neurosci. Lett. 179:157-161, 1994.

7. Wu, W., Han,K., Li,L. and Schinco,F.P.: Implantation of PNS graft inhibits the induction of nitric oxide synthase and enhances the survival of spinal motoneurons due to root avulsion. Exp. Neurol. 129:335-339, 1994.

8. Wu, W.: Potential roles of gene expression changes in adult rat spinal motoneurons following axonal injury: A comparison among c-jun, low affinity nerve growth factor receptor (LNGFR), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Exp. Neurol. 141:190-200, 1996.

9. Gu, Y.M., Spasic, Z and Wu, W.: The effects of remaining axons on motoneuron survival and NOS expression following axotomy in the adult rat. Develop. Neurosci. 19:255-259, 1997. (Wu, W: corresponding author).

10. Yick, L.W., Wu, W., So, K.F., and Wong, S.Y.: Time course of NOS expression and neuronal death in Clarke's nucleus following traumatic injury in adult rat spinal cord. Neurosci. Lett. 241:155-158,1998. (Wu, W: corresponding author).

11. Li,L., Houenou,L.J., Wu, W., Lei,M., Prevette,D.M., and Oppenheim,R.W.: Characterization of spinal motoneuron degeneration following different types of peripheral nerve injury in neonatal and adult mice. J. Comp. Neurol. 396:158-168, 1998.

12. Yick, L.W., Wu,W., and So,K.F.: Additive effect of NOS inhibitor and neurotrophic factors on the survival of injured Clark's neurons. NeuroReport, 10:2569-2573, 1999. (Wu, W: corresponding author).

13. Yick, L.W., Wu,W., So,K.F., and Yip,H.K.: Peripheral nerve graft and neurotrophic factors enhance neuronal survival and expression of nitric oxide synthase in the Clarke's nucleus after hemisection of the spinal cord in adult rat. Exp. Neurol.159:131-138, 1999. (Wu, W: corresponding author).

14. Chai, H., Wu, W., So, K.F., Prevette, D.M., Oppenheim, R.W.: Long-term effects of a single dose of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on motoneuron survival following spinal root avulsion in the adult rat. Neurosci. Lett. 274:147-150, 1999. (Wu, W: corresponding author).

15. Xie, Y.Y., Yao, Z.B., Wu, W. : Survival of motoneurons and expression of b-Amyloid protein in the aged rat spinal cord. NeuroReport, 11:697-700, 2000. (Wu, W: corresponding author).

16. Yick, L.W., Wu, W., So, K-F. Shum,D.K.Y.: Chondroitinase ABC promotes axonal regeneration of Clarke's neurons after spinal cord injury. NeuroReport, 11:1063-1067, 2000. (Wu, W: corresponding author).

17. Chai,H., Wu, W., So, K.F., Yip, H.: Survival and regeneration of motoneurons in adult rats by re-implantation of ventral root following spinal root avulsion. NeuroReport, 11:1249-1252, 2000. (Wu, W: corresponding author).

18. Yaun, Q, Wu, W., So, K-F, Cheung, A, D.M.Prevette, D.M., Oppenheim, R.W.: Effects of neurotrophic factors on motoneuron survival following axonal injury in newborn rats. NeuroReport, 11:2237-2241, 2000 (Wu, W: corresponding author).

19. Wu, W.: Response of NOS to Neuronal Injury. In "Functional Neuroanatomy of Nitric Oxide Synthase" edited by Steinbusch, W.M., De Vente, J., and Vincent, S. Published by Elsevier Science, pp315-354, 2000.

20. Chai, H., Wu, W., So, K.F., Prevette, D.M., Oppenheim, R.W.: Long-term effects of a single dose of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on motoneuron survival following spinal root avulsion in the adult rat. Neurosci. Lett. 274:147-150, 1999. (Wu, W: corresponding author).

21. Xie, Y.Y., Yao, Z.B., Wu, W. : Survival of motoneurons and expression of b-Amyloid protein in the aged rat spinal cord. NeuroReport, 11:697-700, 2000. (Wu, W: corresponding author).

22. Yick, L.W., Wu, W., So, K-F. Shum,D.K.Y.: Chondroitinase ABC promotes axonal regeneration of Clarke's neurons after spinal cord injury. NeuroReport, 11:1063-1067, 2000. (Wu, W: corresponding author).

23. Chai,H., Wu, W., So, K.F., Yip, H.: Survival and regeneration of motoneurons in adult rats by re-implantation of ventral root following spinal root avulsion. NeuroReport, 11:1249-1252, 2000. (Wu, W: corresponding author).

24. Jin, Y., Tay, D., So, K.F., Wu, W.,: Expression of c-jun in the lateral vestibular nucleus following spinal cord injury and peripheral nerve graft transplantation in adult rats. J. of Neurocytology 29(2):91-97, 2000.

25. Yaun, Q, Wu, W., So, K-F, Cheung, A, D.M.Prevette, D.M., Oppenheim, R.W.: Effects of neurotrophic factors on motoneuron survival following axonal injury in newborn rats. NeuroReport, 11:2237-2241, 2000 (Wu, W: corresponding author).

26. Chan, Y.M., Wu, W., Yip, H., So, K-F, Oppenheim, R.: Caspase inhibitors promote the survival of avulsed spinal motoneurons in neonatal rats. NeuroReport, 12:541-545, 2001 (Wu, W: corresponding author).

27. Chan, Y.M., Wu, W., Yip, H., So, K-F.: Development of the regenerative capacity of postnatal axotomized rat spinal motoneurons. NeuroReport, 13:1071-1074, 2002. (Wu, W: corresponding author).

28. Cheung, Z.H., So, K-F, Lu, Q., Yip, H.K., Wu, W., Shan, J.J., Pang, P.K.T. and Chen, C.F.: Enhanced survival and regeneration of axotomied retinal ganglion cells by a mixture of herbal extracts. J. Neurotrauma. 19(3):369-378, 2002.

29. Cheung, Z.H., Yip, H.K., Wu, W. and So, K.-F. Axotomy induces cytochrome c release in retinal ganglion cells. NeuroReport, 14:279-282, 2003.

30. Yick, L.W., Cheung, P.T., So, K-F and Wu,W.: Axonal regeneration of Clarke’s neurons beyond the spinal cord injury scar after treatment with chondroitinase ABC. Experimental Neurology, 182:160-168, 2003. (Wu, W: corresponding author).

31. Chan, Y.M., Yick, L.W., Yip, H.K., So, K-F, Oppenheim, R.W. and Wu, W.: Inhibition of caspases promotes long-term survival and reinnervation by axotomized spinal motoneurons of denervated muscle in newborn rats. Experimental Neurology, 181:190-203, 2003. (Wu, W: corresponding author).

32. Wu, W., Li, L., Yick, L-W, Chai, H., Xie,Y.Y., Yang, Y., Prevette, D.M. and Oppenheim, R.W.: GDNF and BDNF alter the expression of NOS, c-Jun, and p75 and prevent motoneuron death following spinal root avulsion. J. Neurotrauma, 20:603-612, 2003. (Wu, W: corresponding author).

33. Yaun, Q, Wu, W., So, K-F: Inflammatory response of spinal motoneurons to axonal injury in newborn rats. Developmental Neuroscience, 25:65-71, 2003. (Wu, W: corresponding author).

34. Xie, Y.Y., Yao, Z.B., Chai, H., Wong, W.M. and Wu, W.: Re-expression and regulation of low-ffinity nerve growth factor receptor (p75) in spinal motor neurons of aged rats following axonal injury. Developmental Neuroscience, 25:71-78, 2003. (Wu, W: corresponding author).

35. Xie, Y.Y., Yao, Z.B., Chai, H., Wong, W.M. and Wu, W.: Potential roles of Alzheimer precursor protein A4 and b-Amyloid in the survival and function of aged spinal motor neurons following axonal injuries. J. Neuroscience Research, 73:557-564, 2003. (Wu, W: corresponding author).

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