个人简介

        叶小菁，博士，教授，博士生导师，国家重大人才计划青年项目引进人才，国际精神疾病研究领域权威奖项大脑和行为研究基金会NARSAD Young Investigator Award获得者，广东省“珠江人才”引进青年拔尖人才，WilliamHill中文百人计划引进人才及逸仙学者。叶小菁教授的研究主要关注于精神损伤的调控机制：（1）从个体易感性层面，研究脑膜淋巴管损伤及脑循环障碍对情绪和认知障碍的促进效应；（2）从致伤因子作用，探究创伤性事件引发的非适应性记忆增强和泛化导致情绪障碍的神经生物学机制；（3）从躯体-精神共病视角，解析躯体病损与精神障碍相互作用的机制。研究成果以通讯作者或第一作者身份（含共同）发表于Nature Neuroscience、Nature Communications、PNAS、Translational Neurodegeneration、Neuropsychopharmacology等国际高水平学术期刊，被Nature Reviews Neuroscience、Neuron等国际顶尖学术期刊他引多次，被评选为研究亮点及专门评述；获国家发明专利2项。参编《Memory Reconsolidation》、《高级法医学》等书。获国家科技创新2030-脑科学与类脑研究重大项目、国家自然科学基金面上项目、省市项目支持。

 

研究方向

        据估计，中国13亿人口中患神经精神疾病和神经退行性疾病的人口比例达20%，而中国脑计划的一个重要目标则是研究脑疾病的病理机制、研发早期诊断方法和有效的治疗手段。不能适应情境改变地调适情绪记忆，会引发抑郁症、焦虑症等神经精神疾病。这些疾病不仅影响脑健康，近年来研究发现它们还会增加患癌症、心脏病等生理疾病的风险。叶小菁的课题组结合行为学、神经环路追踪和分子生物学技术等多种研究手段，探讨情绪和记忆的神经机制，以开发可服务于法医精神损伤鉴定的客观指标，发展有效策诊断和防治情绪和认知障碍。研究团队目前关注的方向包括：

     1. 脑-免疫互作在抑郁、焦虑等神经精神疾病发生发展中的作用机制

       抑郁症和焦虑症是当前全球最主要的神经精神疾病，致残率高，疾病负担重。研究认为，神经系统和免疫系统之间的相互作用可能介导了这些精神疾病的发展，但其互作机制尚不清楚。我们关注于脑膜淋巴管、自主神经系统和脑情绪环路之间的结构连接和功能通讯，尝试解析脑和外周免疫系统是通过怎么样的方式共同促进精神疾病的发展，以及与精神疾病共病的躯体疾病（例如胰腺癌、关节病损等躯体疾病）的进展。

      2. 记忆的神经环路、神经编码和分子机制及认知障碍的干预机制

       记忆衰退常见于衰老和痴呆症；非可适应性记忆与创伤后应激障碍、抑郁、焦虑等密切相关。过去几十年的研究在认识记忆的早期巩固机制方面取得了卓越的进展，但仍有许多重要问题尚未解答，例如：记忆是如何储存在大脑皮层？不同情绪效价的记忆之间如何整合？记忆的精确度是如何被调节的？我们关注于前额叶相关环路，尝试回答上述问题。同时，我们与临床展开密切交流与合作，研究慢性脑损伤和老年痴呆症中认知障碍发生发展的机制及临床干预的神经机制，为诊断、延缓和治疗认知障碍提供新思路。

         实验室网站：https://emotionmemory.wordpress.com/

 

学术论著

代表性学术论文：

  1. Cheng X, Hu Y, Zhao Y, Zhao P, Chen J, Bai X, Chen Y, Kong D, Xiao C, Xu Y, Zheng S, Zheng Y, Wang Y, Zhao H, Zeng Y*, Lin WJ*, Ye X*. Generalization of negative memories drives the development of psychological distress-related behaviors, The Innovation, 2026, 7(7) (In press)
  2. Zhang Z#, Li S#, Xu L#, Xiao S#, Li Y#, Huang J, Huang J, Zuo Y, Wen W, Dai Q, Xiao C, Zhang X, Chen J, Deng F, Li J, Xu Y, Hu X, Deng Z, Luo Y, Xie X, Ye X*, Lin W.J*, Tang Y*. Amyloid-β-driven glymphatic dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease model mice is driven by Ca2+-mediated increases in astrocytic cholesterol. Nature Neuroscience. 2026 (Accepted) 
  3. Wu W#, Zhao Y#, Cheng X#,Xie X, Zeng Y, Tao Q, Yang Y, Xiao C, Zhang Z, Pang J, Jin J, He H, Lin Y, Li B, Ma J*,Ye X* and Lin WJ*. Modulation of glymphatic system by visual circuit activation alleviates memory impairment and apathy in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Nature Communications. 2025 Jan 2;16(1):63. 
  4. Huang S#, Xia P#, Chen Q#, Zeng Y, Cheng X, Cao Q, Cai W, Yang Y, Ouyang Y, Wang X, Li Y, Chen J, Lin WJ*, Ye X*. VGF-Derived TLQP-21 Ameliorates Tumor Progression, Pain, and Depression-Like Behaviors in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.FASEB J. 2025 Jul 31;39(14):e70802. 
  5. Hu Y#, Li Z#, Zhu Y#, Xing M, Xie X, Zhao P, Cheng X, Xiao C, Xia Y, Wu J, Luo Y, Ko H, Tang Y*, Ye X* and Lin WJ*. Microglial repopulation reverses radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction by restoring medial prefrontal cortex activity and modulating leukotriene-C4 synthesis.Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2025 May 19;13(1):105. 
  6. Wu P#, Li W#, Lv R#, Cheng X, Lian F, Cai W, Hu Y, Zeng Y, Ke B, Chen Y, Ma Z, Ma M, Dai W, Xia P, Lin Y*, Lin WJ*, Ye X*. Hyperactive lateral habenula mediates the comorbidity between rheumatoid arthritis and depression-like behaviors. Brain Behav Immun. 2024, 117:412-427. 
  7. Zhang M#, Zhang Z#, Li H, Xia Y, Xing M, Xiao C, Cai W, Bu L, Li U, Park TE, Tang Y* Ye X*, Lin WJ*. Blockage of VEGF function by bevacizumab alleviates early-stage cerebrovascular dysfunction and improves cognitive function in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Transl Neurodegener. 2024, 13(1):1. 
  8. Hu Y, Deng X, Liu L, Cao CC, Su YW, Gao ZJ, Cheng X, Kong D, Li Q, Shi YW, Wang XG, Ye X*, Zhao H*. Distinct roles of excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex in the expression and reconsolidation of methamphetamine-associated memory in male mice, Neuropsychopharmacology, 2024, 49: 1827-1838.
  9. Dai W#, Yang M#, Xia P#, Xiao C, Huang S, Zhang Z, Cheng X, Li W, Jin J, Zhang J, Wu B, Zhang Y, Wu PH, Lin Y, Wu W, Zhao H, Zhang Y*, Lin WJ*, Ye X*. A functional role of meningeal lymphatics in sex difference of stress susceptibility in mice. Nature Communication 2022; Aug 16;13(1):4825.
  10. Cheng X#, Zhao Y#, Zheng S, Zhao P, Zou JL, Lin WJ, Wu W, Ye X*.  Plexin-A1 expression in the inhibitory neurons of infralimbic cortex regulates the specificity of fear memory in male mice. Neuropsychopharmacology  2022; May;47(6):1220-1230.
  11. Dai W#, Huang S#, Luo Y, Cheng X, Xia P, Yang M, Zhao P, Zhang Y, Lin WJ*, Ye X*. Sex-Specific Transcriptomic Signatures in Brain Regions Critical for Neuropathic Pain-Induced Depression. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience 2022; 15:886916.
  12. Lin WJ*, Zhao Y, Li Z, Zheng S, Zou J, Warren NA, Bali P, Wu J, Xing M, Jiang C, Tang Y, Salton SR*, Ye X*. An increase in VGF expression through a rapid, transcription-independent, autofeedback mechanism improves cognitive function. Translational Psychiatry 2021 Jul 8;11(1):383.  
  13. Lin Y#, Jin J#, Lv R, Luo Y, Dai W, Li W, Tang Y, Wang Y*, Ye X*, Lin WJ*. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation increases the brain's drainage efficiency in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol. Commun. 2021 Jun 2;9(1):102. 
  14. Ye X, Kapeller-Libermann D, Travaglia A, Inda MC, Alberini CM*. Direct dorsal hippocampal-prelimbic cortex connections strengthen fear memories.  Nat Neurosci. 2017 Jan;20(1):52-61.
  15. Ye X, Kohtz A, Pollonini G, Riccio A, Alberini CM*. Insulin Like Growth Factor 2 Expression in the Rat Brain Both in Basal Condition and following Learning Predominantly Derives from the Maternal Allele.  PLoS One. 2015 Oct 23;10(10):e0141078.
  16. Arguello A A#, Ye X#, Bozdagi O, Pollonini G, Tronel S, Bambah-Mukku D, Huntley GW, Platano D,  Alberini CM*. CCAAT enhancer binding protein delta plays an essential role in memory consolidation and reconsolidation.  J Neurosci. 2013 Feb 20;33(8):3646-58. (# equal contribution)
  17. Ye X, Marina A, Carew TJ*. Local synaptic integration of mitogen-activated protein kinase and protein kinase A signaling mediates intermediate-term synaptic facilitation in Aplysia.  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Oct 30;109(44):18162-7.
  18. Ye X, Carew TJ*. Transsynaptic coordination of presynaptic and postsynaptic modifications underlying enduring synaptic plasticity. Neuron. 2011 May 12;70(3):379-81.
  19. Ye X, Carew TJ*. Small G protein signaling in neuronal plasticity and memory formation: the specific role of ras family proteins.  Neuron. 2010 Nov 4;68(3):340-61. (featured review)

  20. Ye X, Shobe JL, Sharma SK, Marina A, Carew TJ*. Small G proteins exhibit pattern sensitivity in MAPK activation during the induction of memory and synaptic facilitation in Aplysia.  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Dec 23;105(51):20511-6.

     

教材专著

书籍章节：

1. 民事法医精神病学，《高级法医学》第3版（赵虎，刘超主编），2021，郑州大学出版社

2. Alberini CM, Johnson SA, Ye X. Mechanisms and functions of memory reconsolidation: lingering consolidation and the dynamic memory trace. In: Memory reconsolidation (Alberini CM, ed). 2013; New York: Elsevier.