Na Xu, PhD
Assistant Research Professor of Medical & Molecular Genetics
- Address
-
IB 428
MMGE
Indianapolis, IN
Bio
Dr. Na Xu joined the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics and the Cardiovascular Genetics Program in the Wells Center for Pediatric Research at the Indiana University School of Medicine in 2025. She earned her PhD in Genetics from the Model Animal Research Center at Nanjing University in China, where she studied the role of protein prenylation in the cardiovascular system. She then started her postdoctoral training in 2015 under the mentorship of Dr. Jeffrey Robbins at the Heart Institute of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, where her research was focused on protein quality control in cardiomyocytes. She later joined Dr. Katherine Yutzey’s laboratory, where she investigated molecular mechanisms contributing to heart valve disease and was promoted to Instructor.
Dr. Xu has received several awards, including Thomas Force Young Investigator Award from Journal of the American College of Cardiology Basic to Translational Science, Melvin L. Marcus Early Career Investigator Award Finalist in Basic Cardiovascular Sciences, and Career Development Award from American Heart Association.
Dr. Xu’s current research program is centered on elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying cardiovascular disease associated with Marfan syndrome and related disorders, with particular emphasis on immune regulation and the interactions between immune cells, valve interstitial cells, and valve endothelial cells within heart valve microenvironment. Dr. Xu’s research aims to uncover the underlying mechanisms driving cardiovascular pathology and to identify novel therapeutic targets.
Key Publications
Gaspar LS, Pyakurel S, Xu N, D'Souza SP, Koritala BSC. Circadian Biology in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Associated Cardiovascular Disease. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2025 May;202:116-132. doi: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2025.03.008. Epub 2025 Mar 17. PMID: 40107345
Xu N, Alfieri CM, Yu Y, Guo M, Yutzey KE. Wnt signaling inhibition prevents postnatal inflammation and disease progression in congenital myxomatous valve disease. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2024 Jul;44(7):1540-1554. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.123.320388. Epub 2024 Apr 25. PMID: 38660802 (Featured article)
Xu N, Gonzalez BA, Yutzey KE. Macrophage lineages in heart development and regeneration. Curr Top Dev Biol. 2024;156:1-17. doi: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.01.004. Epub 2024 Feb 24. PMID: 38556420
Xu N, Yutzey KE. Therapeutic CCR2 Blockade Prevents Inflammation and Alleviates Myxomatous Valve Disease in Marfan Syndrome. JACC Basic Transl Sci. 2022 Oct 12;7(11):1143-1157. doi: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2022.06.001. eCollection 2022 Nov. PMID: 36687269 (Accompanying Editorial).
Chong D, Gu Y, Zhang T, Xu Y, Bu D, Chen Z, Xu N, Li L, Zhu X, Wang H, Li Y, Zheng F, Wang D, Li P, Xu L, Hu Z, Li C. Neonatal ketone body elevation regulates postnatal heart development by promoting cardiomyocyte mitochondrial maturation and metabolic reprogramming. Cell Discov. 2022 Oct 11;8(1):106. doi: 10.1038/s41421-022-00447-6. PMID: 36220812
Chong D, Chen Z, Guan S, Zhang T, Xu N, Zhao Y, Li C. Geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate-mediated protein geranylgeranylation regulates endothelial cell proliferation and apoptosis during vasculogenesis in mouse embryo. J Genet Genomics. 2021 Apr 20;48(4):300-311. doi: 10.1016/j.jgg.2021.03.009. Epub 2021 Apr 27. PMID: 34049800
Kim AJ, Xu N, Yutzey KE. Macrophage lineages in heart valve development and disease. Cardiovasc Res. 2021 Feb 22;117(3):663-673. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvaa062. PMID: 32170926
Xu N, Gulick J, Osinska H, Yu Y, McLendon PM, Shay-Winkler K, Robbins J, Yutzey KE. Ube2v1 Positively Regulates Protein Aggregation by Modulating Ubiquitin Proteasome System Performance Partially Through K63 Ubiquitination. Circ Res. 2020 Mar 27;126(7):907-922. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.119.316444. Epub 2020 Feb 21. PMID: 32081062
Kim AJ, Xu N, Umeyama K, Hulin A, Ponny SR, Vagnozzi RJ, Green EA, Hanson P, McManus BM, Nagashima H, Yutzey KE. Deficiency of Circulating Monocytes Ameliorates the Progression of Myxomatous Valve Degeneration in Marfan Syndrome. Circulation. 2020 Jan 14;141(2):132-146. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.119.042391. Epub 2020 Jan 13. PMID: 31928435
| Year | Degree | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | PhD | Nanjing University |
| 2010 | MS | Nanjing Normal University |
| 2007 | BS | Nanjing Normal University |
Dr. Xu’s research focuses on understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying cardiovascular disease associated with Marfan syndrome and related connective tissue disorders, with the goal of identifying critical pathways that contribute to cardiovascular pathogenesis and developing effective therapeutic strategies for prevention and treatment.
Heart valve disease is an increasingly significant cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. While it can be acquired with age, heart valve disease is commonly linked to inherited connective tissue disorders. Currently, there are no medical therapies to treat this condition, and valve surgical intervention remains the only option, which is highly invasive and often requires reoperation.
A central focus of our research is the immune regulation within the heart valve microenvironment, with particular emphasis on the roles of macrophages and mast cells. We investigate how immune cells interact with valve interstitial cells and valve endothelial cells to define the cellular and molecular circuits that drive inflammation, extracellular matrix remodeling and valve degeneration. We utilize both genetic animal models and human patient samples, manipulating gene expression in vivo and integrating techniques such as histological analysis, immunostaining, RNAscope, lineage tracing, and transcriptomics (bulk, single-cell, spatial) to investigate the pathogenesis of heart valve insufficiency.
Our research aims to provide deep mechanistic insight into cardiovascular pathology and to identify novel immune-modulatory and molecular therapeutic targets to improve clinical outcomes for patients affected by genetic connective tissue disorders.
Dr. Xu's clinical interests include Congenital Heart Disease, Heart Valve Disease, and Marfan syndrome.