主要研究中枢神经系统疾病的发病机制，围绕转录因子PPARgamma在中枢神经系统的作用，研究神经元存活和死亡的分子机制，以及代谢综合征和神经退行性疾病、抑郁症等共发病的机制。研究结果以第一作者（含共同第一）或者通讯作者发表在Gastroenterology、J. Neurosci、J Biol Chem、Mol Neurobiol、Neuropharmacology等国际刊物上。

1. 神经退行性疾病神经元死亡的机制

2. 抑郁症的发病机制

3.代谢性疾病和神经系统疾病共发病机制

1. Fu CC, Zhang XY, Xu Liu, Huang HX, Xu S, Wu QQ, Wang Z, Gu X, Lin LF, Lin S, Fang YY, Cao X, Wang X* PPARγ dysfunction in the medial prefrontal cortex mediates high-fat diet-induced depression. Molecular Neurobiology.  2022; 59(7): 4030-4043.

2. Su X, Gu X, Zhang Z, Li W, Wang X*. Retinoic acid receptor gamma is targeted by microRNA-124 and inhibits neurite outgrowth. Neuropharmacology, 2020, 163:107657.

3. Xu L#, Xu S#, Lin L, Gu X, Fu C, Fang Y, Li X, Wang X*. High-fat diet mediates anxiolytic-like behaviors in a time-dependent manner through the regulation of SIRT1 in the brain. Neuroscience，2018, 372:237-245.

4. Gu X, Fu C, Lin L, Liu S, Su X, Li A, Wu Q, Jia C, Zhang P, Chen L, Zhu X, Wang X*. miR-124 and miR-9 mediated downregulation of HDAC5 promotes neurite development through activating MEF2C-GPM6A pathway. Journal of Cellular Physiology. 2018，233(1):673-687.

5. Gu X#, Li A#, Liu S, Lin L, Xu S, Zhang P, Li S, Li X, Tian B, Zhu X, Wang X* . MicroRNA124 Regulated Neurite Elongation by Targeting OSBP. Molecular Neurobiology，2016，53(9):6388-6396.

6. Qin X#, Wu Q#, Lin L, Sun A, Liu S, Li X, Cao X, Gao T, Luo P, Zhu X, Wang X*. Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Deficiency or Inhibition Attenuates MPTP-Induced Parkinsonism. Molecular Neurobiology，2015, 52(1):187-195.

7. Wang X#，She H#，Mao Z*. Phosphorylation of Neuronal Survival Factor MEF2D by Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta in Neuronal Apoptosis. Journal of Biological Chemistry，2009，284（47）：32619-32626.

8. Tang X#，Wang X#，Gong X，Tong M，Park D，Mao Z*. Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 mediates neurotoxin-induced degradation of the transcription factor myocyte enhancer factor 2. Journal of Neuroscience，2005，25（19）：4823-4834.

9. Wang X#，Tang X#，Li M，Marshall J，Mao Z*. Regulation of Fu CC, Zhang XY, Xu Liu, Huang HX, Xu S, Wu QQ, Wang Z, Gu X, Lin LF, Lin S, Fang YY, Cao X, Wang X* PPARγ dysfunction in the medial prefrontal cortex mediates high-fat diet-induced depression. Molecular Neurobiology.activity of myocyte-enhancer factor 2 by cAMP-protein kinase A signaling pathway in neuronal survival. Journal of Biological Chemistry，2005，280（17）：16705-16713.

10. Xuemin Wang, Xiaoli Tang, Xiaoming Gong, Efsevia Albanis, Scott L Friedman, Zixu Mao. Regulation of hepatic stellate cell activation and growth by transcription factor myocyte enhancer factor 2. Gastroenterology, 2004 Oct;127(4):1174-88.