This study shows that SOX4 reprograms adipose stromal cells into CAF-like cells in obesity, promoting metabolic disease through TGFβ and MDK signaling.

bioRxiv · Sep 28, 2026 · PreprintCell Biology

Intrasegmental and propriospinal pre-phrenic interneuron circuitry in intact CNS and following cervical spinal cord injury

Pauline Michel‐Flutot, Angela Harbeck, Lan Cheng, Khalil Rust, Megan A. Lyttle, Samantha J. Thomas, David A. Jaffe, Kallon Crowther, Gabriela Daszewska-Smith, George M. Smith, Shuxin Li, Angelo C. Lepore

The paper maps pre-phrenic interneuron (PP-IN) connectivity to phrenic motor neurons in uninjured and injured spinal cord, revealing intrasegmental and propriospinal pathways and their plasticity after injury.

bioRxiv · Sep 14, 2026 · PreprintNeuroscience

Neuronal EphB2 signaling drives persistent neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury

Nicolette M. Heinsinger, David A. Jaffe, Kolluru D. Srikanth, Megan A. Lyttle, Madison S. Smith, Samantha J. Thomas, Brittany A. Charsar, Lan Cheng, Pauline Michel‐Flutot, Rachel E. Cain, Jaime L. Watson, Duran Bao, Jia Fan, Aditi Falnikar, Wei Zhou, , Angelo C. Lepore

This study identifies EphB2 signaling in neurons as a mechanism maintaining neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury.

bioRxiv · Apr 22, 2026 · PreprintNeuroscience

PTEN inhibition promotes robust growth of bulbospinal respiratory axons and partial recovery of diaphragm function in a chronic model of cervical contusion spinal cord injury

Pauline Michel‐Flutot, Lan Cheng, Samantha J. Thomas, Brianna Lisi, Harrison Schwartz, Sandy Lam, Megan A. Lyttle, David A. Jaffe, George M. Smith, Shuxin Li, Megan C. Wright, Angelo C. Lepore

This study shows that PTEN inhibition promotes partial diaphragm function recovery and axon growth in chronic cervical spinal cord injury, while PTPσ inhibition does not.

bioRxiv · Jan 10, 2024Neuroscience

Aging impairs cold-induced beige adipogenesis and adipocyte metabolic reprogramming

Corey D. Holman, Alexander P. Sakers, Ryan P. Calhoun, Lan Cheng, Ethan C. Fein, Christopher L. Jacobs, Linus T.-Y. Tsai, Evan D. Rosen, Patrick Seale

This study shows aging impairs beige adipogenesis and adipocyte metabolic responses to cold, identifies Npr3 as a marker gene, and provides insights into age-related adipose tissue dysfunction.

eLife · May 31, 2023Peer-reviewedDevelopmental Biology

Defining the lineage of thermogenic perivascular adipose tissue

Anthony R. Angueira, Alexander P. Sakers, Corey D. Holman, Lan Cheng, Michelangella N. Arbocco, Farnaz Shamsi, Matthew D. Lynes, Rojesh Shrestha, Chihiro Okada, Kirill Batmanov, Katalin Suszták, Yu‐Hua Tseng, Lucy Liaw, Patrick Seale

This study identifies the cellular origins of perivascular adipose tissue using single-cell transcriptomics, fate mapping, and adipogenesis assays, revealing fibroblastic and smooth muscle progenitors.

Nature Metabolism · Apr 12, 2021Peer-reviewedDevelopmental Biology