caixiang@ojlab.ac.cn
1994 B.S. Shaanxi Normal University
1997 M.S. Shaanxi Normal University
2000 Ph.D. Sun Yat-sen University
2007-2009 Research Associate
Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine
2009-2011 Assistant Professor (non-tenure track)
Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine
2011-2018 Assistant Professor (tenure track)
Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
2018-2020 Associate Professor (with tenure)
Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
2022- present Professor
Oujiang Laboratory
My research primarily focuses on the pathology of depression and the pharmacology of antidepressant drugs, with a particular emphasis on the targets and mechanisms of the fast antidepressant actions of ketamine and its metabolites. Based on the recent finding from my laboratory, we are engaged in development of new rapid-acting antidepressant drugs with fewer side effects. My research interests include, but are not limited to:
1. How chronic stress leads to depression and the cellular targets and signaling of fast-acting antidepressants, particularly ketamine and its metabolites.
2. The role of glial cells in the fast antidepressant actions of ketamine and its metabolites.
3. How emotional disorders modify the functions of various types of voltage-gated ion channels that are situated on the dendritic harbour of the neuron and are involved in information flow.
The Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Lee Peterson Southwest Florida NARSAD Young Investigator.
Outstanding Supervisor of “the Graduate Academic Star” of Oujiang Laboratory
1. Brager DH, Cai X, and Thompson SM. Activity-dependent activation of protein kinase C mediates post-tetanic potentiation. Nature Neuroscience, 6: 551-552, 2003. PMID: 12754518.
2. Cai X, Kallarackal AJ, Kvarta MD, Goluskin S, Gaylor K, Bailey AM, Lee HK, Huganir RL, Thompson SM. Local potentiation of excitatory synapses by serotonin and its dysregulation in rodent models of depression. Nature Neuroscience, 16:464-72, 2013. PMID: 23502536.
3. Cai X, Liang CW, Muralidharan S, Kao JP Y, Tang CM, and Thompson SM. Unique roles of SK and Kv4.2 potassium channels in dendritic integration. Neuron, 44: 351-364, 2004. PMID: 15473972.
4. Thompson SM, Kallarackal AJ, Mark D, Kvarta MD, Van Dyker AM, LeGates TA, and Cai X. An excitatory synapse hypothesis of depression. Trends in Neuroscience, 38:279-294, 2015. PMID: 25887240.
5. Zhang K, Xu T, Yuan ZM, Wei ZS, Yamaki VN, Huang MF, Huganir RL, and Cai X. The Essential Roles of GluR1 Phosphorylation and Presynaptic NMDA Receptor Inhibition in Fast-acting Antidepressant Responses of Ketamine. Science Signaling， 9(458): ra123, 2016. PMID: 27965425. (Cover Story)
