Assistant Professor
Module 1 Director, P30 Vision Research Core
Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy
James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute
icon Carl T. Sanders Research& Education Building, CB2815
icon 706-721-7286
icon phone-office icon 706-721-0876
envelope-o icon jwang1@augusta.edu
Post-doc Retinal Biology: Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 2013-2015
Post-doc Molecular Biology: Peking University, Beijing, China, 2004-2006
PhD: China Agricultural University, Beijing, China, 2004
M.S: Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China, 2001
B.A: Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China, 1998
2023
2020
2017
2015
2011
2009
2008
2007
Title: Targeting Sigma 1 receptor as a novel therapy for limiting neurovascular injury in ROP
Type: R01
Agency: NIH/NEI
Period: 09/01/2023-05/31/2028
Role: Principle Investigator
Title: Center Core Grant for Vision Research
Type: P30
Agency: NIH/NEI
Period: 09/01/2020-8/31/2025
Role: Module 1 Director of the core (PI: Dr. Yutao Liu)
My research interest focuses on retinal neurovascular biology and mechanisms of immune, neuron and vascular interaction that control retinal neurovascular function during health and disease. Ischemic retinopathies, such as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), are blinding ocular disorders that damage the vasculature and neurons of the retina. However, the existing treatments for neovascularization, which is invasive, have multiple side effects and limited recovery. Our research seeks to develop novel strategies by creating a favorable retinal environment for cell survival, vascular repair and revascularization. One leading research project of our group investigates the role of sigma 1 receptor (Sig1R), a unique molecular chaperone, in normal retinal vascular development, and immune, neuron and vascular protection in ROP. The potential translational significance is exceptional as success of our work could lead to novel treatment of neuronal and vascular aspects of ROP.
Wang J, Barwick, SR, Xiao H, Smith SB. Evaluation of the role of Sigma 1 receptor and Cullin3 in retinal photoreceptor cells. Free Radic Biol Med. 2023, 205:214-223.
Barwick SR, Siddiq MS, Wang J, Xiao H, Marshall B, Perry E, Smith SB. Sigma 1 Receptor Co-Localizes with NRF2 in Retinal Photoreceptor Cells. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Jun 19; 10(6):981.
Navneet S, Zhao J, Wang J, Mysona B, Shannon B, Bollinger K, Smith SB. Hyperhomocysteinemia-induced death of retinal ganglion cells: the role of Müller glial cells and NRF2. Redox Biology. 2019, 24:101199.
Wang J, Zhao J, Cui X, Mysona BA, Navneet S, Saul A, Ahuja M, Lambert N, Gazaryan IG, Thomas B, Bollinger KE, Smith SB. The molecular chaperone sigma 1 receptor mediates rescue of retinal cone photoreceptor cells via modulation of NRF2. Free Radic Biol Med. 2019, 134:604-616.
Wang J*, Smith SB. A novel mechanism of Sigma 1 receptor neuroprotection: modulation of miR-214-3p. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2019, 1185:463-467.
Smith SB, Wang J, Cui X, Mysona BA, Zhao J, Bollinger KE. Sigma 1 receptor: A novel therapeutic target in retinal disease. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2018, 67:130-149.
Wang J, Saul A, Cui X, Roon P, Smith SB. Absence of Sigma 1 Receptor accelerates photoreceptor cell death in a murine model of retinitis pigmentosa. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2017 Sep 1; 58(11):4545-4558.
Wang J, Saul A, Roon P, Smith, SB. Activation of the molecular chaperone, sigma 1 receptor, preserves cone function in a mouse model of inherited retinal degeneration. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.2016, 113(26): E3764-3772.
Wang J, Shanmugam AK, Markand S, Zorrilla E, Ganapathy V, Smith SB. Sigma 1 receptor regulates the oxidative stress response in primary retinal Müller glial cells via NRF2 signaling and system xc-, the Na+-independent glutamate-cystine exchanger. Free Radic Biol Med. 2015, 86:25-36.
Shanmugam A, Wang J, Markand S, Perry RL, Tawfik A, Zorrilla E, Ganapathy V, and Smith SB. Sigma Receptor 1 activation attenuates release of inflammatory cytokines MIP1γ, MIP2, MIP3α and IL12 (p40/p70) by retinal Müller glial cells. J Neurochem. 2015, 132 (5): 546-558.
Wang J, Aung L HH, Prabhakar B S, Li PF. The mitochondrial ubiquitin ligase plays an anti-apoptotic role in cardiomyocytes by regulating mitochondrial fission. J Cell Mol Med.2016, 20(12):2278-2288.
Shan Q, Wang J*, Huang F, Lv X, Ma M, Du Y. Augmented atherogenesis in ApoE-null mice co-exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls and 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2014, 276(2):136-146.
Wang J,* Yu S, Jiao S, Lv X, Ma M, Du Y. κ-Selenocarrageenan prevents microcystin-LR-induced hepatotoxicity in BALB/c mice. Food Chem Toxicol.2013, 59:303-310.
Wang J, Wu S, Jin X, Li M, Chen S, Teeling JL, Perry VH, and Gu J. Retinoic acid-inducible gene-I mediates late phase induction of TNFα by lipopolysaccharide. J Immunol. 2008, 180(12): 8011-8019.
Wang J*, Lv X, Hu X, Shi J. Ceramide induces apoptosis via a peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ-dependent pathway. Apoptosis, 2006, 11(11): 2043-2052.
