Lab Website: https://medicine.uiowa.edu/pathology/profile/zizhen-kang

Innate immune signaling pathways in health and disease

My laboratory has two major research interests: Neuroimmunology and Mucosal Immunology. In neuroimmunology, we focus on the immunobiology of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) in Multiple Sclerosis by using animal models; we also study the immune function of LRRK2 in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease. In mucosal Immunology, we focus on the role of LRRK2-mediated innate immunity in host defense and intestinal inflammation including inflammasome activation; In addition, we study LKB1-driven gut microbiota dysfunction (dysbiosis) in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal polyposis and tumorigenesis. To integrate these two research interests, our long-term goal is to understand how gut-brain axis modulates the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Our research will open novel avenues for the therapy of related diseases.

PubMed link

Department/Program Affiliations:
Pathology