Changlin Li
Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Email: licl@@gdiist.cn
Personal Profile
Changlin Li is the head of the Lab of Somatosensory Development and Diseases at Guangdong Institute of Intelligent Science and Technology. After receiving his Ph.D. in 2011, he continued to working as an assistant investigator and then associate investigator at Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences. In 2018, he worked as an associate investigator and co-PI at Institute of Brain-Intelligence Science and Technology, Zhangjiang Lab. In 2021, he joined Guangdong Institute of Intelligent Science and Technology and worked as a principal investigator and lab head.
Laboratory of Somatosensory Development and Diseases
Our lab is dedicated to exploring the mechanisms underlying somatosensory development and diseases. Previously, we identified the distinct types of sensory neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) by single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq). In 2021, we used 10× Genomics scRNA-seq to reveal the transcriptomic changes in DRG neuron types after peripheral nerve injury, and to study the mechanisms of neuropathic pain. Based on our scRNAseq data, we established establish the bioinformatics analysis pipeline to screen for and validate the genes that contribute to sensory functions and diverse diseases. We identified the peripheral innervations of Zcchc12-positive DRG neurons, and their functions in noxious heat sensation. We revealed the specific role of fibroblastic SMOC2, a SPARC family protein, in suppressing mechanical nociception through inhibiting the communication of adjacent DRG neurons. Presently, we focus on the transcriptional regulations that control the differentiation and specification of neural crest cells into DRG neurons by single cell technology. We are also devoted to the study of pathological pain, and interested in exploring molecular targets for novel analgesics.
Representative publications
1.Chen Y#, Song YR#, Wang HD#, Zhang YY, Hu XY, Wang KK, Lu YJ, Zhang ZT, Li S, Li AA, Bao L, Xu FQ, Li CL*, and Zhang X*. Distinct neural networks derived from galanin-containing nociceptors and neurotensin-expressing pruriceptors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Aug 16;119(33):e2118501119. (*, co-corresponding authors)
2.Zhang S, Cai B, Li Z, Wang KK, Bao L, Li CL*, and Zhang X*. Fibroblastic SMOC2 suppresses mechanical nociception by inhibiting coupled activation of primary sensory neurons. J Neurosci. 2022; 42 (20):4069-4086. (*, co-corresponding authors) (Featured Article)
3.Wu D#, Chen Y#, Li Z, Xie H, Wang SS, Lu YJ, Bao L, Zhang X*, and Li CL*. Zcchc12-containing nociceptors are required for noxious heat sensation. J Neurosci. 2022;42(13):2690-2700. (*, co-corresponding authors)
4.Wang KK#, Wang SS#, Chen Y, Wu D, Hu XY, Lu YJ, Wang LP, Bao L, Li CL*, and Zhang X*. Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis of Somatosensory Neurons Uncovers Temporal Development of Neuropathic Pain. Cell Research. 2021;31(8):904-918. (*, co-corresponding authors)
5.Li CL#, Li KC#, Wu D, Chen Y, Luo H, Zhao JR, Wang SS, Sun MM, Lu YJ, Zhong YQ, Hu XY, Hou R, Zhou BB, Bao L, Xiao HS, Zhang X. Somatosensory neuron types identified by high-coverage single-cell RNA-sequencing and functional heterogeneity. Cell Research. 2016;26:83-102. (#, co-first authors)
6.Li KC#, Zhang FX#, Li CL#, Wang F#, Yu MY, Zhong YQ, Zhang KH, Lu YJ, Wang Q, Ma XL, Yao JR, Wang JY, Lin LB, Han M, Zhang YQ, Kuner R, Xiao HS, Bao L, Gao X* and Zhang X*. Follistatin-like 1 suppresses sensory afferent transmission by activating Na+,K+-ATPase. Neuron. 2011; 69: 974-987. (#, co-first authors)
