On the morning of July 27, Prof. Li Xiaojiang from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration (GHMICR) of Jinan University was invited to theSZBL Hong Shu Lin Seminar Series. As the speaker, Prof. Lipresented a reporton researching brain diseases based ongene-edited large animal models.The event attracted more than 100 participants from SZBL and other external institutions over the onsite and cloud session.
In the report, Professor Li pointed out that genetically modified animal models have been widely used to study the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases associated with aging, such as Alzheimer's (AD), Parkinson's (PD), Huntington's disease and Ayotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). A common feature of these diseases is the acceleration of randomly aging misfolded proteins in brain tissues, and such factors are shown in mice models affected by various neurodegenerative diseases. However,there is no significant sign of neuronal loss or degeneration inthe brains of genetically modifiedmice models of AD, PD, and HD, which is different from thosetypical pathological characteristicsof thepatients’. These results might be explained by the dissimilarities between species as well as the aging pathogenesis.
Prof. Li and his collaborators therefore used CRISPR/Cas9 to modify endogenous disease genes in large animals (e.g. pigs and monkeys). In 2008, they established the world’s first nonhuman primate model of HD using genetically modified methods and ten years later in Guangzhou, the world’s first gene knock-in model of HD based on pigs.In the following years, Prof. Li and his collaborators continued to establish monkey model for diseases like PD, ALS, AD, autism, ASPM and macrocephaly. These had unravel that the brain of large animals can be used to better simulate the typical neuropathological characteristics in the human’s. Furthermore, it is stressed by these findings that large mammal models are essential for research in aging and age-related disease pathogenesis and treatment.
The SZBL Hong Shu Lin Seminar Series is a well-developed platform for academic exchanges that brings together experts and scholars from different scientific fields. It strives to promote sharing of academic thinking, explore hotspots in science and boost research cooperation.
By far, seven sessions have been successfully held. Famous scholars and entrepreneurs from well-known universities and companies were invited as guest speakers.
ProfessorXiao-Jiang Lireceived his PhD at Oregon Health Sciences University postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University. He is currently a Professor at GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University and Distinguished Professor of Human Genetics at Emory University. Prof. Li received Chang-Jiang Scholar Professor awarded by Ministry of Education, China in 2008 and Professor of “Thousand talent program” in 2010 at Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His projects in China have been supported by The National Key Research and Development Program of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China Key Project, and Strategic project of Chinese Academy of Sciences. His research work in China has led to the generation of transgenic Parkinson disease monkey model and gene targeted monkey models of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Autism. Prof. Li has published a large number of papers in high quality journals with the cumulative impact factor 1388, H index 78, and the total number of citations more than 23096.
