Huasheng Yu, Ph.D.
Research Associate of Neuroscience
Department: Neuroscience
Contact information
3610 Hamilton Walk
145 Johnson Pavilion
Philadelphia, PA 19104
145 Johnson Pavilion
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Office: 2158215984
Education:
B.S. (Life Sciences & Technologies)
Lanzhou University, 2013.
Ph.D. (Neurobiology)
Peking University, 2019.
Permanent linkB.S. (Life Sciences & Technologies)
Lanzhou University, 2013.
Ph.D. (Neurobiology)
Peking University, 2019.
Description of Research Expertise
I specialize in somatosensory neuroscience, with a focus on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying chronic pain and itch in both humans and animal models. My expertise includes:Sensory Neuron Transcriptomics: Development and application of laser capture microdissection (LCM)-based single-soma RNA sequencing to profile human peripheral sensory neurons.
Molecular Mechanisms of Itch and Pain: Identified MRGPRX4 as a bile acid receptor linked to cholestatic itch, uncovering new therapeutic targets.
Neural Circuit Manipulation & Functional Studies: Utilization of mouse genetics and behavioral assays to investigate somatosensory neuron function.
Selected Publications
Yang J, Zhao T, Fan J, Zou H, Lan G, Guo F, Shi Y, Ke H, Yu H, Yue Z, Wang X, Bai Y, Li S, Liu Y, Wang X, Chen Y, Li Y, Lei X.: Structure-guided discovery of bile acid derivatives for treating liver diseases without causing itch. Cell 187: 7164-7182, Dec 2024.Gautam M, Yamada A, Yamada AI, Wu Q, Kridsada K, Ling J, Yu H, Dong P, Ma M, Gu J, Luo W.: Distinct local and global functions of mouse Aβ low-threshold mechanoreceptors in mechanical nociception. Nat Commun 15: 2911, Apr 2024.
Yu H, Nagi SS, Usoskin D, Hu Y, Kupari J, Bouchatta O, Yan H, Cranfill SL, Gautam M, Su Y, Lu Y, Wymer J, Glanz M, Albrecht P, Song H, Ming GL, Prouty S, Seykora J, Wu H, Ma M, Marshall A, Rice FL, Li M, Olausson H, Ernfors P, Luo W.: Leveraging deep single-soma RNA sequencing to explore the neural basis of human somatosensation. Nat Neurosci 2024.
Bouchatta O, Brodzki M, Manouze H, Carballo GB, Kindström E, de-Faria FM, Yu H, Kao AR, Thorell O, Liljencrantz J, Ng KKW, Frangos E, Ragnemalm B, Saade D, Bharucha-Goebel D, Szczot I, Moore W, Terejko K, Cole J, Bonnemann C, Luo W, Mahns DA, Larsson M, Gerling GJ, Marshall AG, Chesler AT, Olausson H, Nagi SS, Szczot M.: PIEZO2-dependent rapid pain system in humans and mice. bioRxiv Dec 2023.
Yu H, Xiong J, Ye AY, Cranfill SL, Cannonier T, Gautam M, Zhang M, Bilal R, Park JE, Xue Y, Polam V, Vujovic Z, Dai D, Ong W, Ip J, Hsieh A, Mimouni N, Lozada A, Sosale M, Ahn A, Ma M, Ding L, Arsuaga J, Luo W.: Scratch-AID, a deep learning-based system for automatic detection of mouse scratching behavior with high accuracy. Elife 11: e84042, Dec 2022.
Yu H, Cranfill SL, Luo W.: ErbB4(+) spinal cord dorsal horn neurons process heat pain. Neuron 110: 2206-2208, Jul 2022.
Qian C, Wu Z, Sun R, Yu H, Zeng J, Rao Y, Li Y.: Localization, proteomics, and metabolite profiling reveal a putative vesicular transporter for UDP-glucose. Elife 10: e65417, Jul 2021.
Yu H, Wangensteen K, Deng T, Li Y, Luo W.: MRGPRX4 in Cholestatic Pruritus. Semin Liver Dis 2021.
Yu H, Zhao T, Liu S, Wu Q, Johnson O, Wu Z, Zhuang Z, Shi Y, Peng L, He R, Yang Y, Sun J, Wang X, Xu H, Zeng Z, Zou P, Lei X, Luo W, Li Y.: MRGPRX4 is a bile acid receptor for human cholestatic itch. Elife 8: e48431, Sep 2019.