Zheng published in Journal of Physiology

Jing Zheng, PhD, professor in the Division of Reproductive Sciences, recently published an article in the Journal of Physiology. Division of Reproductive Sciences trainees Ying-Jie Zhao, MD, PhD, and Chi Zhou, PhD, are co-first authors on the article. Sathish Kumar, PhD, is also co-author. 

In “An endogenous aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligand induces preeclampsia-like phenotypes in rats”, the authors reveal that a tryptophan metabolite induced preeclampsia-like symptoms in pregnant rats. These symptoms are associated with fetal sex-specific disruption of gene expression and biological pathways in placentas. These suggest a novel mechanism underlying preeclampsia. Furthermore, these disrupted genes and pathways might represent therapeutic and fetal sex-specific targets for preeclampsia-induced impairment of vascular functions in placentas.

This article was selected as Editor's Choice by the Journal of Physiology and featured on the journal's X (formerly Twitter) account in January 2025. Read the whole article here!