People

Ming Xu, PhD

My long-term research interest is to understand mechanisms underlying drug addiction and to find possible treatment. We use behavioral, genetic, anatomical and molecular biological methods. One major research project is to identify mechanisms and neuronal circuits associated with reconsolidation and extinction of cocaine-induced reward memory. Another project is to develop a novel method of using skin stem cells to deliver therapeutic genes to combat the abuse of cocaine, ethanol, nicotine and their co-abuse.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Boston, MA
postdoc - Neurobiology
1995

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, TX
Ph.D. - Molecular Biology
1989

Peking University
Beijing, P.R. China
BS - Chemistry
1982

Reducing alcohol and/or cocaine-induced reward and toxicity via an epidermal stem cell-based gene delivery platform.
Reducing alcohol and/or cocaine-induced reward and toxicity via an epidermal stem cell-based gene delivery platform. Mol Psychiatry. 2021 09; 26(9):5266-5276.
PMID: 33619338

An autophagy-related protein Becn2 regulates cocaine reward behaviors in the dopaminergic system.
An autophagy-related protein Becn2 regulates cocaine reward behaviors in the dopaminergic system. Sci Adv. 2021 02; 7(8).
PMID: 33608268

Human intestinal microbiota derived metabolism signature from a North American native botanical Oplopanax horridus with UPLC/Q-TOF-MS analysis.
Human intestinal microbiota derived metabolism signature from a North American native botanical Oplopanax horridus with UPLC/Q-TOF-MS analysis. Biomed Chromatogr. 2020 Oct; 34(10):e4911.
PMID: 32496571

Fecal metabolomic dataset of American ginseng-treated DSS mice: Correlation between ginseng enteric inflammation inhibition and its biological signatures.
Fecal metabolomic dataset of American ginseng-treated DSS mice: Correlation between ginseng enteric inflammation inhibition and its biological signatures. Data Brief. 2018 Dec; 21:1403-1408.
PMID: 30456264

Genome-edited skin epidermal stem cells protect mice from cocaine-seeking behaviour and cocaine overdose.
Genome-edited skin epidermal stem cells protect mice from cocaine-seeking behaviour and cocaine overdose. Nat Biomed Eng. 2019 Feb; 3(2):105-113.
PMID: 30899600

American ginseng microbial metabolites attenuate DSS-induced colitis and abdominal pain.
American ginseng microbial metabolites attenuate DSS-induced colitis and abdominal pain. Int Immunopharmacol. 2018 Nov; 64:246-251.
PMID: 30212750

Targeting c-FOS and DUSP1 abrogates intrinsic resistance to tyrosine-kinase inhibitor therapy in BCR-ABL-induced leukemia.
Targeting c-FOS and DUSP1 abrogates intrinsic resistance to tyrosine-kinase inhibitor therapy in BCR-ABL-induced leukemia. Nat Med. 2017 Apr; 23(4):472-482.
PMID: 28319094

Dopamine D3 Receptor Modulates l-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesia by Targeting D1 Receptor-Mediated Striatal Signaling.
Dopamine D3 Receptor Modulates l-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesia by Targeting D1 Receptor-Mediated Striatal Signaling. Cereb Cortex. 2017 01 01; 27(1):435-446.
PMID: 26483399

Dopamine D2-Like Receptors and Behavioral Economics of Food Reinforcement.
Dopamine D2-Like Receptors and Behavioral Economics of Food Reinforcement. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2016 Mar; 41(4):971-8.
PMID: 26205210

Dopamine D1 and D3 receptors mediate reconsolidation of cocaine memories in mouse models of drug self-administration.
Dopamine D1 and D3 receptors mediate reconsolidation of cocaine memories in mouse models of drug self-administration. Neuroscience. 2014 Oct 10; 278:154-64.
PMID: 25149631

View All Publications