Prof. Wenhua ZHENG

Education
PhD	McGill University, Canada
MSc	Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences, China
BSc	Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences, China

Position
2017.8-present	Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau
2015-2017.8	Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau
2006-2015	Head of Neuro/ocular Pharmacology lab, Sun Yat-Sen University
2002-2005	Research Associate, Douglas Hospital, McGill University
1993-1995	Visiting Follow, NIH
1992	Visiting Scientist, University of Rochester

Research Interests

Neuro pharmacology; aging, neuronal degenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease and degenerative retinal diseases; molecular mechanisms of neuronal death and survival; new drug developments. Specific current research interests: the alteration of signaling pathways (new biomarkers) in aging and degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease and degenerative retinal diseases and identification of new biomarkers the role of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and FoxO transcription factors in aging and degenerative disorders and the identification of new functions and downstream targets of FoxO. interactions of glutamate and growth factors and their significance in the treatment of neuronal disorders and eye disorders new drug developments. IPSC/ESC and their applications in the treatment neuronal degenerative disease and drug screen. The role of FoxO in IPSC/ESC growth, differentiation and death.

Representative Publications
Selected publications (Total >100 papers, cited more than 4000 times. 12 papers cited >100 times, coresspoding author*) Zeng, Z.; Xu, J.; Zheng, W*., Artemisinin protects PC12 cells against β-amyloid-induced apoptosis through activation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Redox biology 2017, 12, 625-633. IF 9.04. Chong, C.-M.; Zheng, W*., Artemisinin protects human retinal pigment epithelial cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damage through activation of ERK/CREB signaling. Redox biology 2016, 9, 50-56. IF 9.04. Zheng, W*.; Meng, Q.; Wang, H.; Yan, F.; Little, P. J.; Deng, X.; Lin, S., IGF-1-mediated survival from induced death of human primary cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells is mediated by an Akt-dependent signaling pathway. Molecular neurobiology 2018, 55 (3), 1915-1927. IF 6.17 Liao, R.; Yan, F.; Zeng, Z.; Wang, H.; Qiu, K.; Xu, J.; Zheng, W*., Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 activates PI3K/Akt signalling to protect human retinal pigment epithelial cells from amiodarone‐induced oxidative injury. British Journal of Pharmacology 2018, 175 (1), 125-139. IF 6.85 Afroz, R.; Cao, Y.; Rostam, M. A.; Ta, H.; Xu, S.; Zheng, W.; Osman, N.; Kamato, D.; Little, P. J., Signalling pathways regulating galactosaminoglycan synthesis and structure in vascular smooth muscle: Implications for lipoprotein binding and atherosclerosis. Pharmacology & therapeutics 2018, 187, 88-97. IF 10.6 Zheng, W*; Chong, C.-M.; Wang, H.; Zhou, X.; Zhang, L.; Wang, R.; Meng, Q.; Lazarovici, P.; Fang, J., Artemisinin conferred ERK mediated neuroprotection to PC12 cells and cortical neurons exposed to sodium nitroprusside-induced oxidative insult. Free Radical Biology and Medicine 2016, 97, 158-167. IF 6.34. Liao, R.; Yan, F.; Zeng, Z.; Farhan, M.; Little, P.; Quirion, R.; Srivastava, L. K.; Zheng, W*., Amiodarone-induced retinal neuronal cell apoptosis attenuated by IGF-1 via counter regulation of the PI3k/Akt/FoxO3a pathway. Molecular neurobiology 2017, 54 (9), 6931-6943.  IF 6.17 Kamato, D.; Mitra, P.; Davis, F.; Osman, N.; Chaplin, R.; Cabot, P.; Afroz, R.; Thomas, W.; Zheng, W.; Kaur, H.; Brimble, M.; Little, P., Gaq proteins: molecular pharmacology and therapeutic potential. Cell Mol Life Sci, 2017, 74(8): 1379-1390. IF 6.721 Zeng, Z.; Wang, D.; Gaur, U.; Rifang, L.; Wang, H.; Zheng, W*., H2O2 attenuates IGF-1R tyrosine phosphorylation and its survival signaling properties in neuronal cells via NR2B containing NMDA receptor. Oncotarget 2017, 8 (39), 65313.  IF 5.168 Zeng, Z.; Wang, X.; Bhardwaj, S. K.; Zhou, X.; Little, P. J.; Quirion, R.; Srivastava, L. K.; Zheng, W*., The atypical antipsychotic agent, clozapine, protects against corticosterone-induced death of PC12 cells by regulating the Akt/FoxO3a signaling pathway. Molecular neurobiology 2017, 54 (5), 3395-3406. IF 6.17 Yan, F.; Wang, H.; Gao, Y.; Xu, J.; Zheng, W*., Artemisinin Protects Retinal Neuronal Cells against Oxidative Stress and Restores Rat Retinal Physiological Function from Light Exposed Damage. ACS chemical neuroscience 2017, 8 (8), 1713-1723. IF 4.3 Wang, B.; Bao, S.; Zhang, Z.; Zhou, X.; Wang, J.; Fan, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Li, Y.; Chen, L.; Jia, Y.; Li, J.; Li, M.; Zheng, W., et al. A rare variant in MLKL confers susceptibility to ApoE ɛ4-negative Alzheimer’s disease in Hong Kong Chinese population. Neurobiology of Aging 2018, 68, 160.e1-160.e7. IF 5.15 PJ, Little.; MD, Hollenberg.; D, Kamato.; W, Thomas.; J, Chen.; T, Wang.; Zheng, W.; N, Osman., Integrating the GPCR transactivation‐dependent and biased signalling paradigms in the context of PAR‐1 signalling. British journal of pharmacology 2016,173(20):2992-3000 IF 6.84. Wang, H.; Farhan, M.; Xu, J.; Lazarovici, P.; Zheng, W*., The involvement of DARPP-32 in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Oncotarget 2017, 8(32), 53791-53803. IF 5.168 Wang, H.; Quirionc, R.; Littled, P. J.; Cheng, Y.; Feng, Z. P.; Sun, H.S.; Xu, J.; Zheng, W*, Forkhead box O transcription factors as possible mediators in the development of major depression. Neuropharmacology 2015, 99; 527-537. IF 5.03 (Invited review to WH) Wang, H.; Zhang. Q; Wen, Q.; Lazarovici, P.; Jiang, H and Zheng, W*.,  Proline-rich Akt substrate of 40 kDa (PRAS40): A novel downstream target of PI3k/Akt signaling pathway. Cell signal 2012, 24:17-24 IF 3.844 (“The 100 Most Influential International Academic Paper in China in 2012” by “Institute of Scientific and Technical information of China”, cited 105 times). Zeng, ZW.; Wang, HT.; Fu, Shang.; Zheng, LH.; Peter, J.; Remi, Quirion and Zheng, W*., Lithium ions attenuate serum-deprivation-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells through regulation of the Akt/FoxO1 signaling pathways [J] . Psychopharmacology, 2015, 1-10. IF 3.56 Wang, H.; Duan, X.; Ren, Y.; Liu, Y.; Huang, M.; Liu, P.;  Wang, R.; Gao, G.; Zhou, L.; Feng, Z.; Zheng, W*., FoxO3a negatively regulates nerve growth factor-induced neuronal differentiation through inhibiting the expression of neurochondrin in PC12 cells. Mol Neurobiol 2013, 47(1):24-36. IF 5.73 (Major Research paper of the year by Glover medical study). Zheng, W*.; Wang, H.; Zeng, Z.; Lin, J.; Little, P. J.; Srivastava, L. K,.; Quirion, R., The possible role of the Akt signaling pathway in schizophrenia. Brain Research 2012, 1470:145-158 IF 2.929 (Invited review to WH). Burch, ML.; Zheng, W.; Little, PJ., Smad linker region phosphorylation in the regulation of extracellular matrix synthesis.Cell Mol Life Sci. 2011, 68:97-107. IF 7.04 Zheng, W.;  Quirion, R., Glutamate acting on N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors attenuates insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor tyrosine phosphorylation and its survival signaling properties in rat hippocampal neurons. J Biol Chem 2009, 284:855-61. IF 4.279 Zheng, W.; Quirion R., Comparative intercellular signaling of IGF-1 and BDNF in hippocampal neurons and the role of PI3K/Akt pathway in cell survival. J. Neurochem 2004, 89:844-852. IF 4.834 Zheng, W.; Kar S, Quirion R., Insulin-like growth factor-1-induced phosphorylation of transcription factor FKHRL1 (FoxO3a) is mediated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt kinase and role of this pathway in insulin-like growth factor-1-induced survival of cultured hippocampal neurons. Mol Pharmacol 2002, 62:225-233. IF 5.297 Zheng, W.; Kar, S.; Quirion R., Insulin-like growth factor-1-induced phosphorylation of the forkhead family transcription factor FKHRL1 (FoxO3a) is mediated by Akt kinase in PC12 cells. J Biol Chem. 2000, 275:39152-39158. IF 7.258 Zheng, W.; Kar, S.; Quirion, R., Stimulation of protein kinase C modulates insulin-like growth factor-1-induced Akt activation in PC12 cells. J Biol Chem 2000, 275:13377-13385. IF 7.258 Bastianetto, S.; Zheng, W.; Quirion, R., Neuroprotective abilities of resveratrol and other red wine constituents against nitric oxide‐related toxicity in cultured hippocampal neurons. British journal of pharmacology 2000, 131 (4), 711-720. IF 6.84 Zheng, W.; Bastianetto, S.; Mennicken, F.; Ma, W.; Kar, S., Amyloid β peptide induces tau phosphorylation and loss of cholinergic neurons in rat primary septal cultures. Neuroscience 2000,115 (1), 201-211. IF 3.504 Bastianetto, S.; Zheng, W.; Quirion, R., The Ginkgo biloba Extract (EGb 761) Protects and Rescues Hippocampal Cells Against Nitric Oxide‐Induced Toxicity: Involvement of Its Flavonoid Constituents and … Journal of neurochemistry 2000, 74 (6), 2268-2277. IF 4.87 Zheng, W.; Kar. S.; Quirion, R., FKHRL1 and its homologs are new targets of nerve growth factor Trk receptor signaling. Journal of neurochemistry 2002, 80 (6), 1049-1061 IF 4.89 Wang, H.; Lazarovici, P.; Zheng, W*., Forkhead box protein O, a family of transcription factors integrating diverse biological functions. Encyclopedia of Signaling Molecules, 2nd Edition 2018, 1821-1836  (Invited book for WH)
Full publications list

Research Grants

Active grants: (more than 20 grants in total including 6 NSFC grants) FDCT 0113/2018/A3 (in charge, 2019-2023) MYRG2018-00134-FHS (in charge, 2019-2022) National Natural Science Fund of China (NSFC 31771128, in charge, 2018-2022) FHS competition grant (in charge, 2017- 2019) FDCT 016/2016/A1 (in charge, 2017-2019) MYRG2016-00052-FHS (in charge, 2017-2019) FSH allocation fund (in charge, 2015-2023) NFSC 31371088 (in charge-2020).

Awards
A paper published in 《Cell Signaling》was chosen as “The 100 Most Influential International Academic Paper in China in 2012” by “Institute of Scientific and Technical information of China” last year

Professional Activities
Member of American Society of Neuroscience, Adjunct Professor at RMIT university, Editor 《Chinese J of Biology》