Adjunct Faculty
Adjunct faculty typically have an academic or research appointment at another institution and contribute or collaborate with one or more School of Medicine faculty members or programs.
Adjunct rank detailsZhongwu Liu, MD
Assistant Professor AdjunctDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Assistant Professor Adjunct
Appointments
Comparative Medicine
Assistant Professor AdjunctPrimary
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Education & Training
- MD
- Tongji Medical University Yunyang Medical College, Clinical Medicine (1982)
Research
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Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Zhongwu Liu's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Zhongwu Liu's research output by year.
Tamas Horvath, DVM, PhD
Xiao-Bing Gao, PhD
Bernardo Stutz Xavier, PhD
Marina Picciotto, PhD
Matthias Tschoep, MD
Marya Shanabrough
Former YSM
40Publications
6,126Citations
Publications
2025
UCP2 mediates mitochondrial dynamics to induce AgRP neuronal activity
Jin S, Yoon N, Liu Z, Menale C, Kim J, Diano N, Diano S. UCP2 mediates mitochondrial dynamics to induce AgRP neuronal activity. Molecular Metabolism 2025, 99: 102215. PMID: 40683468, PMCID: PMC12328681, DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2025.102215.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsDynamin-related protein 1Mitochondrial dynamicsAgRP neuron activityExpression level of uncoupling protein 2AgRP neuronsFeeding behaviorWhole-body energy homeostasisLevel of uncoupling protein 2AgRP neuronal functionMitochondrial fatty acid utilizationMRNA expression levelsWhole-body energy metabolismMitochondrial proteinsMitochondrial fissionMitochondrial morphologyFatty acid oxidationAgouti-related protein (AgRP)-expressing neuronsNeuronal activityFatty acid utilizationHypothalamic AgRP neuronsAcid utilizationEnergy homeostasisUCP2Fasting-induced food intakeEnergy metabolism
2022
TET3 epigenetically controls feeding and stress response behaviors via AGRP neurons
Xie D, Stutz B, Li F, Chen F, Lv H, Sestan-Pesa M, Catarino J, Gu J, Zhao H, Stoddard CE, Carmichael GG, Shanabrough M, Taylor HS, Liu ZW, Gao XB, Horvath TL, Huang Y. TET3 epigenetically controls feeding and stress response behaviors via AGRP neurons. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2022, 132: e162365. PMID: 36189793, PMCID: PMC9525119, DOI: 10.1172/jci162365.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAgRP neuronsNeuropeptide YExpression of AgRPControl of feedingHypothalamic agoutiAnxiolytic effectsNeurotransmitter GABAMouse modelLeptin signalingStress-like behaviorsGenetic ablationNeuronsAgRPCritical central regulatorsEnergy expenditureGABAEnergy metabolismAppetiteFeedingCentral regulatorMetabolismCentral controlHuman cellsTET3ObesityLINE-1 activation in the cerebellum drives ataxia
Takahashi T, Stoiljkovic M, Song E, Gao XB, Yasumoto Y, Kudo E, Carvalho F, Kong Y, Park A, Shanabrough M, Szigeti-Buck K, Liu ZW, Kristant A, Zhang Y, Sulkowski P, Glazer PM, Kaczmarek LK, Horvath TL, Iwasaki A. LINE-1 activation in the cerebellum drives ataxia. Neuron 2022, 110: 3278-3287.e8. PMID: 36070749, PMCID: PMC9588660, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.08.011.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsLINE-1 activationL1 activationAtaxia telangiectasia patientsNuclear element-1Transposable elementsEpigenetic silencersHuman genomeL1 promoterMolecular regulatorsDNA damagePurkinje cell dysfunctionElement 1First direct evidenceTelangiectasia patientsDirect targetingCerebellar expressionNeurodegenerative diseasesDisease etiologyCalcium homeostasisVentromedial hypothalamic OGT drives adipose tissue lipolysis and curbs obesity
Wang Q, Zhang B, Stutz B, Liu ZW, Horvath TL, Yang X. Ventromedial hypothalamic OGT drives adipose tissue lipolysis and curbs obesity. Science Advances 2022, 8: eabn8092. PMID: 36044565, PMCID: PMC9432828, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn8092.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsVentromedial hypothalamusWhite adipose tissueVMH neuronsAdipose tissueBody weightLipid metabolismRapid weight gainCounterregulatory responsesSympathetic activitySympathetic innervationAdipocyte hypertrophyTissue lipolysisNeuronal excitabilityFood intakePhysical activityObesity phenotypesGenetic ablationWeight gainHomeostatic set pointEnergy expenditureNeuronsInnervationLipolysisSignificant changesCellular sensorsAgRP neurons control structure and function of the medial prefrontal cortex
Stutz B, Waterson MJ, Šestan-Peša M, Dietrich MO, Škarica M, Sestan N, Racz B, Magyar A, Sotonyi P, Liu ZW, Gao XB, Matyas F, Stoiljkovic M, Horvath TL. AgRP neurons control structure and function of the medial prefrontal cortex. Molecular Psychiatry 2022, 27: 3951-3960. PMID: 35906488, PMCID: PMC9891653, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01691-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsMedial prefrontal cortexAgRP neuronsNon-selective dopamine receptor antagonistBrain functionPrefrontal cortexHypothalamic AgRP neuronsMedial thalamic neuronsAdministration of clozapineDopamine receptor antagonistVentral tegmental areaOscillatory network activityHigher-order brain functionsHypothalamic agoutiThalamic neuronsChemogenetic inhibitionDopaminergic neuronsReceptor antagonistTegmental areaNeuronal pathwaysSensorimotor gatingAdult miceModulatory impactAmbulatory behaviorConstitutive impairmentNeuronsCorrection: Drp1 is required for AgRP neuronal activity and feeding
Jin S, Yoon NA, Liu ZW, Song JE, Horvath TL, Kim JD, Diano S. Correction: Drp1 is required for AgRP neuronal activity and feeding. ELife 2022, 11: e80570. PMID: 35763333, PMCID: PMC9239674, DOI: 10.7554/elife.80570.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersAgRP neurons control feeding behaviour at cortical synapses via peripherally derived lysophospholipids
Endle H, Horta G, Stutz B, Muthuraman M, Tegeder I, Schreiber Y, Snodgrass IF, Gurke R, Liu ZW, Sestan-Pesa M, Radyushkin K, Streu N, Fan W, Baumgart J, Li Y, Kloss F, Groppa S, Opel N, Dannlowski U, Grabe HJ, Zipp F, Rácz B, Horvath TL, Nitsch R, Vogt J. AgRP neurons control feeding behaviour at cortical synapses via peripherally derived lysophospholipids. Nature Metabolism 2022, 4: 683-692. PMID: 35760867, PMCID: PMC9940119, DOI: 10.1038/s42255-022-00589-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsFasting-induced hyperphagiaCortical excitabilityAgRP neuronsLysophosphatidic acidPeripheral metabolismHigher Body Mass IndexFasting-induced elevationHypothalamic AgRP neuronsEffects of LPABody mass indexHigher cortical excitabilityBrain lipid levelsCentral nervous systemPrevalence of typeGlutamatergic transmissionHypothalamic agoutiMass indexOvernight fastingPeptide neuronsCortical synapsesLipid levelsFood intakeCerebrospinal fluidNervous systemPhospholipid levels
2021
Astrocytic lipid metabolism determines susceptibility to diet-induced obesity
Varela L, Kim JG, Fernández-Tussy P, Aryal B, Liu ZW, Fernández-Hernando C, Horvath TL. Astrocytic lipid metabolism determines susceptibility to diet-induced obesity. Science Advances 2021, 7: eabj2814. PMID: 34890239, PMCID: PMC11323787, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj2814.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsDiet-induced obesityHypothalamic astrocytesPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gammaHypothalamic neuronal circuitsProliferator-activated receptor gammaControl of feedingFatty acid homeostasisSystemic glucoseMetabolic milieuGlucose homeostasisBody weightReceptor gammaSynaptic plasticityNeuronal circuitsNutrient sensingLipid metabolismCellular adaptationObesityAstrocytesAcid homeostasisUnidentified roleFA metabolismEnergy metabolismElevated susceptibilityAvailability of FADrp1 is required for AgRP neuronal activity and feeding
Jin S, Yoon NA, Liu ZW, Song JE, Horvath TL, Kim JD, Diano S. Drp1 is required for AgRP neuronal activity and feeding. ELife 2021, 10: e64351. PMID: 33689681, PMCID: PMC7946429, DOI: 10.7554/elife.64351.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAgRP neuronal activityFatty acid oxidationAgRP neuronsNeuronal activityAgRP neuronal functionHypothalamic AgRP neuronsBody weight regulationMitochondrial fatty acid utilizationWhole-body energy homeostasisHypothalamic orexigenic agoutiFatty acid utilizationAcid oxidationFat massCKO miceNeuronal activationPeptide-1Body weightNeuronal functionOrexigenic agoutiEnergy homeostasisMitochondrial fissionSignificant decreaseEnergy expenditureNeuronsAcid utilization
2020
MC4R Signaling in Dorsal Raphe Nucleus Controls Feeding, Anxiety, and Depression
Bruschetta G, Jin S, Liu ZW, Kim JD, Diano S. MC4R Signaling in Dorsal Raphe Nucleus Controls Feeding, Anxiety, and Depression. Cell Reports 2020, 33: 108267. PMID: 33053350, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108267.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsDorsal raphe nucleusNeuronal activationR neuronsDepressive-like behaviorMajor depressive disorderChemogenetic activationR miceChemogenetic inhibitionRaphe nucleusSerotonin levelsDepressive disorderMood behaviorΑ-MSHDRN infusionsControl feedingMiceWeight lossNeuronsSelective knockdownDepressionBehavioral phenotypesAnxietyActivationFeedingPRCP
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