Professor, Department of Neuroscience
Faculty Affiliate, Chronic Brain Injury
Graves Hall 4066D
333 W. 10th Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43210
614-688-5433
lin.492@osu.edu
Research Focus
Our research focuses on studying the role of glutamate transporter EAAT2 in the regulation of synaptic function and plasticity and in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. Over the past few years, we have been greatly engaged in a drug discovery project and have successfully translated our basic findings to potential therapeutic agents. We discovered a series of novel small-molecules that can increase EAAT2 expression via a novel translational activation mechanism. These small-molecules have great potential for multiple neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. This project is currently at the pre-clinical development phase. In addition, we have been focusing on uncovering the molecular mechanism of action of these small-molecules and have identified a novel pathway regulating the structural and functional plasticity of tripartite glutamatergic synapses.
Approaches
We (1) use animal models for the study of human diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, epilepsy, Gulf War illness, and anxiety/depression, (2) apply many behavioral tests to assess cognition, anxiety, depression, and fatigue, (3) generate transgenic mice to investigate the molecular mechanism of action of our small-molecules, and (4) utilize many techniques to uncover the underlying mechanisms of the disease, including transcriptome analysis, proteomic analysis, Western blotting, dissociated primary culture, iPSC culture, and immunohistochemistry.
Current Publications
- Foster JB, Lashley R, Zhao F, Wang X, Kung N, Askwith CC, Lin L, Shultis MW, Hodgetts KJ, Lin CG. Enhancement of tripartite synapses as a potential therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer's disease: a preclinical study in rTg4510 mice. Alzheimers Res Ther. 2019; 11(1):75.
PMCID: PMC6706914 - Foster JB, Zhao F, Wang X, Xu Z, Lin K, Askwith CC, Hodgetts KJ, Lin C.-L. G. (2018) Pyridazinederivatives Enhance Structural and Functional Plasticity of Tripartite Synapse Via Activation of Local Translation in Astrocytic Processes. Neuroscience. 388:224-238.
PMCID: PMC6667176 - Takahashi K, Kong Q, Lin Y, Stouffer N, Schulte D, Lai L, Liu Q, Chang L, Dominguez S, Xing X, Seyb KI, Cuny GD, Glicksman MA, Lin C.-L. G. (2015) Restored Glial Glutamate Transporter EAAT2 Function as a Potential Therapeutic Approach for Alzheimer’s Disease. J of Experimental Medicine, 212(3):319-32
PMCID: PMC4354363 - Kong Q, Chang L, Takahashi K, Liu Q, Schulte D, Lai L, Ibabao B, Lin Y, Stouffer N, Mukhopadhyay C, Xing X, Seyb K, Cuny G, Glicksman M, and Lin C.-L. G. (2014) Small-molecule activator of glutamate transporter EAAT2 translation provides neuroprotection. J of Clinical Investigation 124(3):1255-67
PMCID: PMC3938250
Education and Training
PhD: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Johns Hopkins University
Postdoctoral: Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University