Department of Neurology

Weidong Le, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor of Neurology

Co-Director, Parkinson's Disease Research Laboratory

 

Medical School

M.D. (1978) Suzhou Medical College, China

Graduate School

Ph.D. (1987) Shanghai Second Medical University, China

Clinical Interests

Neurodegenerative Diseases: Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Research Interests

Cellular and molecular basis of neuronal injury in these neurodegenerative diseases. Main focuses are genetic and environmental factors contributing to nigral dopamine neuron degeneration, and novel target therapy for Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. Other research interests also include the role of oxidative stress and inflammatory in ß-amyloid metabolism relevant to Alzheimer's disease; and dysfunction of diencephalic-spinal cord dopaminergic pathway in restless leg syndrome.

Publications

• Deng H, Le W, Shahed J, Xie W, Jankovic J. Mutation analysis of the parkin and PINK1 genes in American Caucasian early-onset Parkinson disease families. Neurosci Lett 2008;430:18-22.
• Pan T, Kondo S, Le W, Jankovic J. The role of autophagy-lysosome pathway in neurodegeneration associated with Parkinson's disease. Brain 2008;:.
• Wang W, Le WD, Pan T, Stringer JL, Jaiswal AK. Association of NRH:quinone oxidoreductase 2 gene promoter polymorphism with higher gene expression and increased susceptibility to Parkinson's disease. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2008;63:127-34.
• Zhu W, Xie W, Pan T, Jankovic J, Li J, Youdim MB, Le W. Comparison of neuroprotective and neurorestorative capabilities of rasagiline and selegiline against lactacystin-induced nigrostriatal dopaminergic degeneration. J Neurochem 2008;:.
• Deng H, Le W, Huang M, Xie W, Pan T, Jankovic J. Genetic analysis of LRRK2 P755L variant in Caucasian patients with Parkinson's disease. Neurosci Lett 2007;419:104-7.
• Deng H, Le W, Jankovic J. Genetics of essential tremor. Brain 2007;130:1456-64.
• Deng H, Le WD, Hunter CB, Mejia N, Xie WJ, Jankovic J. A family with Parkinson disease, essential tremor, bell palsy, and parkin mutations. Arch Neurol 2007;64:421-4.
• Ondo WG, Zhao HR, Le WD. Animal models of restless legs syndrome. Sleep Med 2007;8:344-8.
• Qu S, Le W, Zhang X, Xie W, Zhang A, Ondo WG. Locomotion is increased in a11-lesioned mice with iron deprivation: a possible animal model for restless legs syndrome. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2007;66:383-8.
• Zhao H, Zhu W, Pan T, Xie W, Zhang A, Ondo WG, Le W. Spinal cord dopamine receptor expression and function in mice with 6-OHDA lesion of the A11 nucleus and dietary iron deprivation. J Neurosci Res 2007;85:1065-76.
• Zhu W, Xie W, Pan T, Xu P, Fridkin M, Zheng H, Jankovic J, Youdim MB, Le W. Prevention and restoration of lactacystin-induced nigrostriatal dopamine neuron degeneration by novel brain-permeable iron chelators. Faseb J 2007;21:3835-44.
• Chu Y, Le W, Kompoliti K, Jankovic J, Mufson EJ, Kordower JH. Nurr1 in Parkinson's disease and related disorders. J Comp Neurol 2006;494:495-514.
• Deng H, Le W, Davidson AL, Xie W, Jankovic J. The LRRK2 I2012T, G2019S and I2020T mutations are not common in patients with essential tremor. Neurosci Lett 2006;407:97-100.
• Deng H, Le W, Guo Y, Hunter CB, Xie W, Huang M, Jankovic J. Genetic analysis of LRRK2 mutations in patients with Parkinson disease. J Neurol Sci 2006;251:102-6.
• Deng H, Le WD, Hunter CB, Ondo WG, Guo Y, Xie WJ, Jankovic J. Heterogeneous phenotype in a family with compound heterozygous parkin gene mutations. Arch Neurol 2006;63:273-7.
• Deng H, Le WD, Xie WJ, Jankovic J. Examination of the SLITRK1 gene in Caucasian patients with Tourette syndrome. Acta Neurol Scand 2006;114:400-2.
• Deng H, Xie W, Guo Y, Le W, Jankovic J. Gene dosage analysis of alpha-synuclein (SNCA) in patients with Parkinson's disease. Mov Disord 2006;21:728-9.
• Deng H, Xie WJ, Le WD, Huang MS, Jankovic J. Genetic analysis of the GABRA1 gene in patients with essential tremor. Neurosci Lett 2006;401:16-9.
• Qu S, Ondo WG, Zhang X, Xie WJ, Pan TH, Le WD. Projections of diencephalic dopamine neurons into the spinal cord in mice. Exp Brain Res 2006;168:152-6.
• Cai W, Khaoustov VI, Xie Q, Pan T, Le W, Yoffe B. Interferon-alpha-induced modulation of glucocorticoid and serotonin receptors as a mechanism of depression. J Hepatol 2005;42:880-7.
• Deng H, Jankovic J, Guo Y, Xie W, Le W. Small interfering RNA targeting the PINK1 induces apoptosis in dopaminergic cells SH-SY5Y. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2005;337:1133-8.
• Deng H, Le W, Guo Y, Hunter CB, Xie W, Jankovic J. Genetic and clinical identification of Parkinson's disease patients with LRRK2 G2019S mutation. Ann Neurol 2005;57:933-4.
• Deng H, Le WD, Guo Y, Huang MS, Xie WJ, Jankovic J. Extended study of A265G variant of HS1BP3 in essential tremor and Parkinson disease. Neurology 2005;65:651-2.
• Deng H, Le WD, Xie WJ, Pan TH, Zhang X, Jankovic J. Genetic analysis of parkin co-regulated gene (PACRG) in patients with early-onset parkinsonism. Neurosci Lett 2005;382:297-9.
• Deng H, Le WD, Zhang X, Pan TH, Jankovic J. G309D and W437OPA PINK1 mutations in Caucasian Parkinson's disease patients. Acta Neurol Scand 2005;111:351-2.
• Grider MH, Mamounas LA, Le W, Shine HD. In situ expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor or neurotrophin-3 promotes sprouting of cortical serotonergic axons following a neurotoxic lesion. J Neurosci Res 2005;82:404-12.
• Imam SZ, Jankovic J, Ali SF, Skinner JT, Xie W, Conneely OM, Le WD. Nitric oxide mediates increased susceptibility to dopaminergic damage in Nurr1 heterozygous mice. Faseb J 2005;19:1441-50.
• Jankovic J, Chen S, Le WD. The role of Nurr1 in the development of dopaminergic neurons and Parkinson's disease. Prog Neurobiol 2005;77:128-38.
• Jiang C, Wan X, He Y, Pan T, Jankovic J, Le W. Age-dependent dopaminergic dysfunction in Nurr1 knockout mice. Exp Neurol 2005;191:154-62.
• Pan T, Li X, Xie W, Jankovic J, Le W. Valproic acid-mediated Hsp70 induction and anti-apoptotic neuroprotection in SH-SY5Y cells. FEBS Lett 2005;579:6716-20.
• Pan T, Xie W, Jankovic J, Le W. Biological effects of pramipexole on dopaminergic neuron-associated genes: relevance to neuroprotection. Neurosci Lett 2005;377:106-9.
• Yang JH, Le WD, Basinger SF, Wu SM, Yang CY. Mechanisms of apoptosis in human retinal pigment epithelium induced by TNF-alpha in conditions of heavy metal ion deficiency. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2005;46:1039-46.
• Zhang X, Xie W, Qu S, Pan T, Wang X, Le W. Neuroprotection by iron chelator against proteasome inhibitor-induced nigral degeneration. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2005;333:544-9.
• Deng H, Le W, Jankovic J. Premutation alleles associated with Parkinson disease and essential tremor. Jama 2004;292:1685-6.
• Jiang C, Wan X, Jankovic J, Christian ST, Pristupa ZB, Niznik HB, Sundsmo JS, Le W. Dopaminergic properties and experimental anti-parkinsonian effects of IPX750 in rodent models of Parkinson disease. Clin Neuropharmacol 2004;27:63-73.
• Le W, Appel SH. Mutant genes responsible for Parkinson's disease. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2004;4:79-84.
• Pan T, Le W, Jankovic J. Slowing Parkinson's disease progression: recent dopamine agonist trials. Neurology 2004;62:343; author reply 343-4.
• Rachakonda V, Pan TH, Le WD. Biomarkers of neurodegenerative disorders: how good are they?. Cell Res 2004;14:347-58.
• Thomas M, Le WD. Minocycline: neuroprotective mechanisms in Parkinson's disease. Curr Pharm Des 2004;10:679-86.
• Zhao W, Xie W, Le W, Beers DR, He Y, Henkel JS, Simpson EP, Yen AA, Xiao Q, Appel SH. Activated microglia initiate motor neuron injury by a nitric oxide and glutamate-mediated mechanism. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2004;63:964-77.
• He Y, Imam SZ, Dong Z, Jankovic J, Ali SF, Appel SH, Le W. Role of nitric oxide in rotenone-induced nigro-striatal injury. J Neurochem 2003;86:1338-45.
• Le WD, Xu P, Jankovic J, Jiang H, Appel SH, Smith RG, Vassilatis DK. Mutations in NR4A2 associated with familial Parkinson disease. Nat Genet 2003;33:85-9.
• Pan T, Fei J, Zhou X, Jankovic J, Le W. Effects of green tea polyphenols on dopamine uptake and on MPP+ -induced dopamine neuron injury. Life Sci 2003;72:1073-83.
• Pan T, Jankovic J, Le W. Potential therapeutic properties of green tea polyphenols in Parkinson's disease. Drugs Aging 2003;20:711-21.
• Thomas M, Le WD, Jankovic J. Minocycline and other tetracycline derivatives: a neuroprotective strategy in Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. Clin Neuropharmacol 2003;26:18-23.
• He Y, Le WD, Appel SH. Role of Fcgamma receptors in nigral cell injury induced by Parkinson disease immunoglobulin injection into mouse substantia nigra. Exp Neurol 2002;176:322-7.
• Mohamed HA, Mosier DR, Zou LL, Siklos L, Alexianu ME, Engelhardt JI, Beers DR, Le WD, Appel SH. Immunoglobulin Fc gamma receptor promotes immunoglobulin uptake, immunoglobulin-mediated calcium increase, and neurotransmitter release in motor neurons. J Neurosci Res 2002;69:110-6.
• Xu PY, Liang R, Jankovic J, Hunter C, Zeng YX, Ashizawa T, Lai D, Le WD. Association of homozygous 7048G7049 variant in the intron six of Nurr1 gene with Parkinson's disease. Neurology 2002;58:881-4.
• He Y, Appel S, Le W. Minocycline inhibits microglial activation and protects nigral cells after 6-hydroxydopamine injection into mouse striatum. Brain Res 2001;909:187-93.
• Le W, Rowe D, Xie W, Ortiz I, He Y, Appel SH. Microglial activation and dopaminergic cell injury: an in vitro model relevant to Parkinson's disease. J Neurosci 2001;21:8447-55.
• Le WD, Jankovic J. Are dopamine receptor agonists neuroprotective in Parkinson's disease?. Drugs Aging 2001;18:389-96.
• Xu P, Liang X, Jankovic J, Le W. Identification of a high frequency of mutation at exon 8 of the ATP7B gene in a Chinese population with Wilson disease by fluorescent PCR. Arch Neurol 2001;58:1879-82.
• Engelhardt JI, Le WD, Siklos L, Obal I, Boda K, Appel SH. Stereotaxic injection of IgG from patients with Alzheimer disease initiates injury of cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain. Arch Neurol 2000;57:681-6.
• Le WD, Jankovic J, Xie W, Appel SH. Antioxidant property of pramipexole independent of dopamine receptor activation in neuroprotection. J Neural Transm 2000;107:1165-73.
• Ondo WG, He Y, Rajasekaran S, Le WD. Clinical correlates of 6-hydroxydopamine injections into A11 dopaminergic neurons in rats: a possible model for restless legs syndrome. Mov Disord 2000;15:154-8.
• Zou L, Xu J, Jankovic J, He Y, Appel SH, Le W. Pramipexole inhibits lipid peroxidation and reduces injury in the substantia nigra induced by the dopaminergic neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine in C57BL/6 mice. Neurosci Lett 2000;281:167-70.
• Le W, Conneely OM, He Y, Jankovic J, Appel SH. Reduced Nurr1 expression increases the vulnerability of mesencephalic dopamine neurons to MPTP-induced injury. J Neurochem 1999;73:2218-21.
• Le W, Conneely OM, Zou L, He Y, Saucedo-Cardenas O, Jankovic J, Mosier DR, Appel SH. Selective agenesis of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons in Nurr1-deficient mice. Exp Neurol 1999;159:451-8.
• Le WD, Rowe DB, Jankovic J, Xie W, Appel SH. Effects of cerebrospinal fluid from patients with Parkinson disease on dopaminergic cells. Arch Neurol 1999;56:194-200.
• Le WD, Xie WJ, Appel SH. Protective role of heme oxygenase-1 in oxidative stress-induced neuronal injury. J Neurosci Res 1999;56:652-8.
• Zou L, Jankovic J, Rowe DB, Xie W, Appel SH, Le W. Neuroprotection by pramipexole against dopamine- and levodopa-induced cytotoxicity. Life Sci 1999;64:1275-85.
• Chen S, Le WD, Xie WJ, Alexianu ME, Engelhardt JI, Siklos L, Appel SH. Experimental destruction of substantia nigra initiated by Parkinson disease immunoglobulins. Arch Neurol 1998;55:1075-80.
• Rowe DB, Le W, Smith RG, Appel SH. Antibodies from patients with Parkinson's disease react with protein modified by dopamine oxidation. J Neurosci Res 1998;53:551-8.
• Kalman J, Engelhardt JI, Le WD, Xie W, Kovacs I, Kasa P, Appel SH. Experimental immune-mediated damage of septal cholinergic neurons. J Neuroimmunol 1997;77:63-74.
• Le W, Jankovic J, Xie W, Kong R, Appel SH. (-)-Deprenyl protection of 1-methyl-4 phenylpyridium ion (MPP+)-induced apoptosis independent of MAO-B inhibition. Neurosci Lett 1997;224:197-200.
• Le WD, Xie WJ, Kong R, Appel SH. Beta-amyloid-induced neurotoxicity of a hybrid septal cell line associated with increased tau phosphorylation and expression of beta-amyloid precursor protein. J Neurochem 1997;69:978-85.
• Appel SH, Smith RG, Le WD. Immune-mediated cell death in neurodegenerative disease. Adv Neurol 1996;69:153-9.
• Le W, Yang K, Whitson JS, Clifton GL, Hayes RL. Liposome-mediated NGF gene transfection increases ChAT activity in CNS cell cultures. Neuroreport 1996;7:710-2.
• Le W, Xie WJ, Nyormoi O, Ho BK, Smith RG, Appel SH. beta-Amyloid1-40 increases expression of beta-amyloid precursor protein in neuronal hybrid cells. J Neurochem 1995;65:2373-6.
• Le WD, Colom LV, Xie WJ, Smith RG, Alexianu M, Appel SH. Cell death induced by beta-amyloid 1-40 in MES 23.5 hybrid clone: the role of nitric oxide and NMDA-gated channel activation leading to apoptosis. Brain Res 1995;686:49-60.
• Le WD, Engelhardt J, Xie WJ, Schneider L, Smith RG, Appel SH. Experimental autoimmune nigral damage in guinea pigs. J Neuroimmunol 1995;57:45-53.
• Le WD, Xie WJ, Smith RG, Appel SH. Vimentin-crossreactive antibodies induce cell death in primary cultures of embryonic spinal cord. J Neuroimmunol 1993;42:15-22.
• Appel SH, Le WD, Tajti J, Haverkamp LJ, Engelhardt JI. Nigral damage and dopaminergic hypofunction in mesencephalon-immunized guinea pigs. Ann Neurol 1992;32:494-501.
• Crawford GD, Jr., Le WD, Smith RG, Xie WJ, Stefani E, Appel SH. A novel N18TG2 x mesencephalon cell hybrid expresses properties that suggest a dopaminergic cell line of substantia nigra origin. J Neurosci 1992;12:3392-8.
• Le WD, Bostwick JR, Appel SH. Use of [3H]-GBR12935 to measure dopaminergic nerve terminal growth into the developing rat striatum. Brain Res Dev Brain Res 1992;67:375-7.
• Rabinovsky ED, Le WD, McManaman JL. Differential effects of neurotrophic factors on neurotransmitter development in the IMR-32 human neuroblastoma cell line. J Neurosci 1992;12:171-9.
• Bostwick JR, Le WD. A tyrosine hydroxylase assay in microwells using coupled nonenzymatic decarboxylation of dopa. Anal Biochem 1991;192:125-30.

Poster Presentations

• Pan T, Li X, Xie W, Jankovic J, Le WD. Role of Deferoxamine and Autophagy Induction in Rotenone-Induced Apoptosis. American Academy of Neurology (AAN), 60th Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois (April 12-19, 2008).

Contact Information

Weidong Le, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Neurology
Baylor College of Medicine
One Baylor Plaza, MS NB302
Houston, Texas 77030

Tel: 713-798-5142
Fax: 713-798-8307
Email:

• Home
• Patients & Visitors
• Clinical Programs
  • Autonomic Function
  • EMG/NCV
  • Epilepsy
  • Medical Neuromuscular
  • Memory & Dementia
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Neurogenetics
  • Parkinson’s & Movement Disorders
  • Sleep
  • Vascular Neurology
• Research Programs
  • Neurobiology
  • Neuroimmunology
  • Parkinson’s & Movement Disorders
• Education
  • Overview
  • BCM
    Medical Students
  • National & International Students
  • Residency in
    Adult Neurology
  • Residency in
    Pediatric Neurology
  • Residency Training in Neurology
    Slide Show
  • Clinical & Research Fellowships
  • Application Process
  • Clinical Neuroscience
    Grand Rounds
  • Neurology Seminars
  • Case of the Month
• Faculty
  • Neurology
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Adjunct/Voluntary
  • Publications
  • Poster Presentations
  • Activities
• Calendar
  • Seminars & Rounds
  • Administration*
  • On-Call Schedule*
  • Past News & Events
• About Us
  • Neurology Yearbook
  • Texas Medical Center
• Help Us
  In Our Mission
• Links & Resources
• Resources
  *(BCM login required)
• Contact Us
  • Contact Neurology
  • Baylor Secure Messaging
  • BIGFILE Upload
  • Maps & Directions
• Site Map