Yu Lab

Current Projects

1. Blood IgG antibodies as biomarkers for multiple sclerosis. There is a great unmet need for a sensitive and specific blood biomarker for early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS), and for evaluating responses to therapeutics. In collaboration with Dr. Vollmer and Dr. Alvarez from the Department of Neurology, we are developing serum antibody-based ELISA assays for MS diagnosis and for monitoring patients’ response to therapies.


2. MS IgG antibodies as therapeutic targets for drug screening. We have demonstrated that MS serum antibodies produced complement-dependent cytotoxicity in neurons and brain tissues. We further showed that levels of MS serum cytotoxicity can be used to monitor patient response to disease-modifying therapies. In collaboration with Dr. LaBarbera of School of Pharmacy, we are screening drug libraries to targeting MS antibody induced neuronal cell death.


3. Phage-displayed random peptide libraries for identification of extracellular vesicles. We have identified high affinity peptides specific for exosomes from brain tumor patients. As multiple PI with Dr. Graner, we are using random peptide approach, we screen and characterize EVs from patients with brain tumors, traumatic brain injuries, MS, and other CNS disorders for identification of EV biomarkers. (See campus news story: A Bait-and-Fish Approach to Netting Deadly Brain Tumor Trigger?).

Representative Publications

Also see: list of publications

Zhou W, Graner M, …Yu X. Plasma IgG Aggregates as Biomarkers for Multiple Sclerosis. Clinical Immunology, 2023. Diagnosis of MS with blood IgG.

Wenbo Zhou, Michael Graner…Xiaoli Yu. Multiple sclerosis plasma IgG aggregates induce complement-dependent neuronal apoptosis. Cell Death & Disease. 2023. MS IgG causes neuron death.

Kennedy, P.G.E., George, W. & Yu, X. The elusive nature of the oligoclonal bands in multiple sclerosis. Journal of Neurology, 2023. Review: the mystery of oligoclonal bands in MS.

Zhou, W., Craft, J., … Yu, X. Glioblastoma Extracellular Vesicle-Specific Peptides Inhibit EV-Induced Neuronal Cytotoxicity. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022.  EV peptides for glioblastoma.

Wenbo Zhou, Michael Graner, Petr Paucek, Cheryl Beseler, Matthew Boisen, Andrew Bubak, Francisco Asturias, Woro George, Arin Graner, David Ormond1, Timothy Vollmer, Enrique Alvarez, Xiaoli Yu. Multiple sclerosis plasma IgG aggregates induce complement-dependent neuronal apoptosis. Cell Death & Disease. 2023 Apr; 14(4): 254. doi:  10.1038/s41419-023-05783-3.

Zhou, W.; Craft, J.; Ojemann, A.; Bergen, L.; Graner, A.; Gonzales, A.; He, Q.; Kopper, T.; Smith, M.; Graner, M.W.; Yu, X. Glioblastoma Extracellular Vesicle-Specific Peptides Inhibit EV-Induced Neuronal Cytotoxicity. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23, 7200. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23137200.

Graner M., Pointon T., Manton S., Green M., Dennison K., Davis M., Braiotta G., Craft J., Edwards T.,  Polonsky B., Fringuello A., Vollmer T., Yu X. Oligoclonal IgG Antibodies in Multiple Sclerosis Target Patient-Specific Peptides.  2020. PLOS ONE 15(2): e0228883.

Yu, X.,Graner, M., Kennedy, PGE., Liu. Y., The Role of Antibodies in the Pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis. Frontiers in Neurology. 2020. 11: 533388. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7606501/.

Beseler C, Vollmer T, Graner M, Yu X. The complex relationship between oligoclonal bands, lymphocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid, and immunoglobulin G antibodies in multiple sclerosis: Indication of serum contribution. 2017. PLOS ONE 12(10): e0186842. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29059249/