Research
My research interests fall into three categories: a) The neuroprotective effects of natural products in neurodegenerative diseases and CNS regeneration. b) Neurotrophic Factors in Development, Regeneration and Degeneration. Neurotrophic factors such as NGF influence the survival, structural appearance and chemical phenotype of specific neurons during critical periods of development. The roles of these molecules regarding developing, mature or aging neurons in the central nervous system (CNS), are less well understood. My research is focused on four questions: (1) what functions do target-derived neurotrophic factors such as NGF and their respective receptors plays in developing, mature or aging neuronal circuits: (2) to what degree might dysfunction of neuron-target interactions and neurotrophic mechanisms lead to neurodegeneration and neuronal death? (3) to what degree can pharmacological administration and clinical application of specific neurotrophic factors protect neurons from neurodegenerative insults? (4) what are the best means of delivering therapeutically effective doses of neurotrophic factors to specific sites in the CNS? c) Neuron-glial interactions. Recent studies suggested that it is no longer tenable to consider glial cells just as support cells which provide a passive framework that supports, nourishes, and insulates neurons. These studies have shown that interactions between neurons and glial cells control neurogenesis, myelination, synapse formation, and probably even neuronal signaling. My work focuses on understanding the role of glial cells in the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in (1) guiding axonal outgrowth during development and regeneration; (2) the differences between CNS and PNS glia affect the success of axonal regeneration.
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Selected Publications
- So K.F., and Yip, H.K. (1998) "Regenerative capacity of retinal ganglion cells in mammals", Vision Research, 38:1525-1535.
- Hu, B., Yip, H.K., and So, K.-F. (1998) "Localization of p75 neurotrophin receptor in the retina of the adult SD rat: An immunocytochemical study at light and electron microscopic levels", Glia, 24:187-197.
- Cui, Q., So, K.-F., and Yip, H.K. (1998) "Major biological effects of neurotrophic factors on retinal ganglion cells in Mammals", Biological Signal, 7:220-226.
- Q. Cui, K.-F. So, and H.K. Yip. (1999) "CNTF, but not other trophic factors, promotes axonal regeneration of distally axotomized retinal ganglion cells in adult hamsters", Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 40:760-766.
- Bing Hu, Henry K. Yip and K.-F. So (1999). "Expression of p75 neurotrophin receptor in the injured and regenerating rat retina", NeuroReport 10:1293-1297.
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