Qian Li, Ph.D

Assistant Professor

Education

• M.S. (Biochemistry) 1985 Chongqing University of Medical Science, P.R.China
• Ph.D. (Pharmacology) 1997 Loyola University Chicago.

research interests

Role of serotonergic systems in etiology and therapy of affective disorders: Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter. It has been known that 5-HT is involved in the regulation of emotion. Alteration in the function of serotonergic system may be related to etiology of affective disorders. Furthermore, several serotonin agents have been used to treat psychiatric disorders. However, the mechanisms underlying the effect of 5-HT on mood regulation are still unclear. Understanding these mechanisms will have significant impact in development of better therapeutic approaches for psychiatric disorders. Currently, my research projects focus on 1) mechanisms underlying the effects of alteration in 5-HT transporter function on 5-HT receptor systems. It has been found that constitutive knockout of 5-HT transporters alters the density and function of 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors. We will further determine the mechanisms underlying these changes, including gene expression of these receptors, signal transduction of these receptor systems and the alterations during development. 2) Role of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2C receptors on anxiety behaviors. 5-HT1A and 5-HT2C receptors have known to play a role in anxiety behaviors. However, it is unclear how these receptors involve in the regulation of anxiety behaviors. Recombinant-adenovirus will be used to manipulate expression of these receptors in the certain brain region of mice. Then the anxiety-like behaviors will be tested in these mice. We will determine which the brain regions and what signal transduction pathways are involved in 5-HT1A receptor-mediated regulations of anxiety behaviors. The outcomes of these studies will have significant impact on understanding the etiology of serotonin-related anxiety and in contributing to the development of better therapeutic approaches for anxiety disorders.

Selected Publications

Li, Q., Wichems, C., Heils, A., Van de Kar, L .D., Lesch, K-P and Murphy, D.L. Reduction of 5-HT1A-Mediated Temperature and Neuroendocrine Responses and 5-HT1A Binding Sites in 5-HT transporter Knockout Mice. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 291:999-1007, 1999.

Li, Q., Wichems, C., Heils, A., Lesch, K.P. and Murphy, D.L. Reduction in the density and expression, but not G protein coupling, of 5-HT1A receptors in 5-HT transporter knockout mice: gender and brain region differences Journal of Neuroscience, 20:7888-7895, 2000.

Li, Q., Wichems, C. M., Ma, L., Van de Kar L. D., Garcia F., and Murphy D. L. Brain-region specific alterations of 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors in 5-HT transporter knockout mice. J. Neurochemistry, 84:1256-1265, 2003.