Biography
Elaine is an Assistant Professor at UCLA, where she is interested in all things microbial, neural and immune. She completed her B.S. in Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics at UCLA, which sparked her love for molecular biology and bacteria. She went on to complete her Ph.D. in Neurobiology at Caltech, where she studied the neurobiological bases of autism and schizophrenia, with a focus on maternal effects on fetal development, and neuroimmune and microbial contributions to behavioral disorders. Inspired by the amazing and complex interactions between body systems, the Hsiao laboratory is investigating how “peripheral” changes in the immune system and resident microbiota impact the nervous system.
Publications
A selected list of publications:
Hsiao Elaine Y Gastrointestinal issues in autism spectrum disorder Harvard review of psychiatry, 2015; 22(2): 104-11.
Yano Jessica M, Yu Kristie, Donaldson Gregory P, Shastri Gauri G, Ann Phoebe, Ma Liang, Nagler Cathryn R, Ismagilov Rustem F, Mazmanian Sarkis K, Hsiao Elaine Y Indigenous bacteria from the gut microbiota regulate host serotonin biosynthesis Cell, 2015; 161(2): 264-76.
Hsiao Elaine Y, McBride Sara W, Hsien Sophia, Sharon Gil, Hyde Embriette R, McCue Tyler, Codelli Julian A, Chow Janet, Reisman Sarah E, Petrosino Joseph F, Patterson Paul H, Mazmanian Sarkis K Microbiota modulate behavioral and physiological abnormalities associated with neurodevelopmental disorders Cell, 2013; 155(7): 1451-63.
Hsiao Elaine Y Immune dysregulation in autism spectrum disorder International review of neurobiology, 2013; 113(7): 269-302.
Garay Paula A, Hsiao Elaine Y, Patterson Paul H, McAllister A K Maternal immune activation causes age- and region-specific changes in brain cytokines in offspring throughout development Brain, behavior, and immunity, 2013; 31(7): 54-68.
Hsiao Elaine Y, Patterson Paul H Placental regulation of maternal-fetal interactions and brain development Developmental neurobiology, 2012; 72(10): 1317-26.
Hsiao Elaine Y, McBride Sara W, Chow Janet, Mazmanian Sarkis K, Patterson Paul H Modeling an autism risk factor in mice leads to permanent immune dysregulation Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2012; 109(31): 12776-81.
Malkova Natalia V, Yu Collin Z, Hsiao Elaine Y, Moore Marlyn J, Patterson Paul H Maternal immune activation yields offspring displaying mouse versions of the three core symptoms of autism Brain, behavior, and immunity, 2012; 26(4): 607-16.
Hsiao Elaine Y, Patterson Paul H Activation of the maternal immune system induces endocrine changes in the placenta via IL-6 Brain, behavior, and immunity, 2011; 25(4): 604-15.
Ito Hiroshi T, Smith Stephen E P, Hsiao Elaine, Patterson Paul H Maternal immune activation alters nonspatial information processing in the hippocampus of the adult offspring Brain, behavior, and immunity, 2010; 24(6): 930-41.
Biography
Research efforts in the Micevych laboratory involve understanding the cellular and molecular events underlying estrogen action on neurons and glial cells. Estrogen has profound effects on cognitive function and neuroprotection, as well as, reproductive functions. Estrogen affects the expression and activity of various neuropeptides and sex steroids. In particular they have focused on regulation mu-opioid and nociceptin receptors in the CNS regulation of sexual behavior. Recent experiments have demonstrated the synthesis of progesterone in the brain, its regulation by estrogen and physiologic functions of neuroprogesterone. RT-PCR and calcium imaging experiments in neurons and astrocytes have been used to elucidate the mechanisms of estrogen rapid signaling in both glial cells and neurons. The Micevych laboratory has demonstrated that estrogen can modulate nociceptive signaling through rapid actions on primary sensory neurons demonstrating a novel mechanism of estrogen modulation of pain. Additionally, the Micevych Laboratory has been studying the neuroprotective action of estrogen in the nigrostriatal dopamine system. Estrogen activates the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) to ameliorate a hallmark of ParkinsonA?s disease A? the neurodegeneration of dopamine neurons. Significantly, estrogen or IGF-1 is efficacious after either central or peripheral administration. Together these experiments underscore the broad range of estrogen signaling influencing both physiology and pathology.