Neuroimmune Psychiatry Group

Research topic: Neuroimmune crosstalk in mental disorders

Mind-immune connection has been an increasingly attended research theme in neuroscience in recent years. My group focuses on the crosstalk between glial cells and neurons in regulation of normal brain development and behaviors, as well as their roles in neuropsychiatric disorders. The overarching aim of our study is to find out immune-related biomarkers and risk genes in neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression, and to depict the underlying biological mechanisms on their patho-etiologies. We study both human patients and rodent disease models and use cutting-edge genetic and laboratorial approaches to holistically evaluate the brain-immune crosstalk. Our research methods include transgenic animal models and various animal and laboratory experiments, such as in vivo and in vitro imaging, cellular and molecular assays, behavioral tests, bioinformatics, as well as various clinical approaches including genetic data to explore the role of candidate immune genes in regulation of the biological mechanism of mental disorders. 

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Grant

Estonian Research Council: Unravelling mind-immune connection for mental disorders (SMVBS17528T, 01.01.2018−31.12.2022) 

Main publications

• Piirainen S, Chithanathan K, Bisht K, Piirsalu M, Savage JC, Tremblay ME, Tian L* (2021) Microglia contribute to social behavioral adaptation to chronic stress. Glia. 69: 2459-2473.
• Tong J, Zhou Y, Huang J, Zhang P, Fan F, Chen S, Tian B, Cui Y, Tian L, Tan S, Wang Z, Feng W, Yang F, Hare S, Goldwaser E, Bruce HA, Kvarta M, Chen S, Kochunov P, Tan Y, Hong LE (2021) N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptor antibody and white matter deficits in schizophrenia treatment-resistance. Sch Bullet. 47: 1463-1472.
• Tan YL, Yuan Y, Tian L* (2020) Microglial regional heterogeneity and its role in the brain. [Review] Mol Psychiatry. 25: 351–367.
• Pollak TA, Lennox B, Müller S, Benros ME, Prüss H, van Elst LT, Klein H, Steiner J, Frodl T, Bogerts B, Tian L, Groc L, Hasan A, Baune BT, Endres D, Haroon E, Yolken R, Benedetti F, Halaris A, Meyer J, Stassen H, Leboyer M, Fuchs D, Otto M, Brown DA, Vincent A, Najjar S, Bechter K (2019) Autoimmune psychosis: an international consensus on an approach to the diagnosis and management of psychosis of suspected autoimmune origin. [Review] Lancet Psychiatry. 7: 93-108.
• Ma L, Piirainen S, Kulesskaya N, Rauvala H, Tian L* (2015) Association of brain immune genes with social behavior in inbred mouse strains. J Neuroinflammation. 12: 75-84.
• Piirainen S., Youssef A., Song C., Kalueff AV., Landreth G., Malm T., and Tian L.* (2017) Psychosocial stress on neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunctions in Alzheimer’s disease: the emerging role of microglia? Neurosci. & Biobehav. Rev. 77:148-164.
• Xiu MH.^#, Tian L. ^#*, Chen S., Tan YL., Chen DC., Chen J., Yang FD., Licinio J., Kosten TR., Soares JC., and Zhang XY.* (2016) Contribution of IL-10 and its -592 A/C polymorphism to cognitive functions in first-episode drug-naive schizophrenia. Brain Behav. Immun. 57: 116-24.
• Li ZL., Ma L., Kulesskaya N., Voikar V., and Tian L.* (2014) Microglia are polarized to M1 type in high anxiety inbred mice in response to lipopolysaccharide challenge. Brain Behav. Immun. 38: 237-48.

• Pan S, Zhou Y, Yan L, Xuan FL, Tong J, Li Y, Huang J, Feng W, Chen S, Cui Y, Yang F, Tan S, Wang Z, Tian B, Hong LE, Tan Y*, Tian L* (2022) TGF-β1 associates with deficits in cognition and cerebral cortical thickness in first episode schizophrenia. J Psychiatry Neurosci. 47: E86-E98.
• Li N, Huang J, Zhang P, Tong J, Chen S, Cui Y, Tan S, Wang Z, Yang F, Hong LE, Li CS, Tian L, Tan Y (2022) Dysfunctional monocytic toll-like receptor 4 signaling pathway and cognitive deficits in chronic schizophrenia patients with tardive dyskinesia. Neurosci Lett. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2022.136581.
• Tremblay ME, Madore C, Bordeleau M, Tian L, Verkhratsky A (2022) Role of Neuroinflammation in the Neuropsychiatric and Neurological Aspects of COVID-19 [Review] Front Cell Neurosci. 16: 840121.
• Yan L, Jayaram M*, Chithanathan K, Zharkovsky A, Tian L*. (2021) Sex-specific microglial activation and SARS-CoV-2 receptor expression induced by chronic unpredictable stress. Front Cell Neurosci. 15: 750373.
• Huang J, Zhang P, Zhou Y, Tong J, Cui Y, Tan S, Wang Z, Yang F, Kochunov P, Tian B, Hong LE, Tian L, Tan Y. (2021) Serum kynurenine metabolites might not be associated with risk factors of treatment-resistant schizophrenia. J Psychiatry Res. 145: 339-346.
• Li N, Huang J, Zhang P, Tong J, Chen S, Cui Y, Tan S, Wang Z, Tian B, Li CS, Hong LE, Tian L, Tan Y. (2021) N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptor Antibody and the Choroid Plexus in Schizophrenia Patients with Tardive Dyskinesia. J Psychiatry Res. 142: 290-298.
• Wang L, Yin Y, Zhou Y, Huang J, Zhang P, Chen S, Fan H, Cui Y, Luo X, Tan S, Wang Z, Li CR, Tian B, Tian L, Hong LE, Tan Y. (2021) The mediating effect of brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels on childhood trauma and psychiatric symptoms in patients with first-episode schizophrenia. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 48674211031478.
• Ma R, Guo H, Zhao M, Chen N, Liu P, Liu S, Shi J, Tan Y, Tan S, Yang F, Tian L, Wang Z (2021) The relationship between facial expression and cognitive function in patients with depression. Front Psychology. 12: 648346.
• Piirainen S, Chithanathan K, Bisht K, Piirsalu M, Savage JC, Tremblay ME, Tian L* (2021) Microglia contribute to social behavioral adaptation to chronic stress. Glia. DOI: 10.1002/glia.24053
• Yan L, Gu MQ, Yang ZY, Xia J, Li P, Vasar E, Tian L, Cai Song (2021) Endogenous n-3 PUFAs attenuated olfactory bulbectomy-induced behavioral and metabolomic abnormalities in Fat-1 mice. Brain Behav. Immun. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.05.024
• Ma R, Zhao M, Chen N, Liu P, Guo H, Liu S, Shi J, Zhao K, Tan Y, Tan S, Yang F, Tian L, Wang Z (2021) Differences in facial expression recognition between unipolar and bipolar depression. Frontiers in Psychology. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.619368 
• Su YA, Bousman CA, Liu Q, Lv XZ, Li JT, Lin JY, Yu X, Tian L, Si TM (2021) Anxiety symptom remission is associated with genetic variation of PTPRZ1 among patients with major depressive disorder treated with escitalopram. Pharmacogenetics and Genomics. doi: 10.1097/FPC.0000000000000437 
• Huang J, Tong J, Zhang P, Zhou Y, Cui Y, Tan S, Wang Z, Yang F, Kochunov P, Chiappelli J, Tian B, Tian L, Tan Y, Hong LE (2021) Effects of neuroactive metabolites of the tryptophan pathway on working memory and cortical thickness in schizophrenia. Transl. Psychiatry. 11:198. doi: 10.1038/s41398-021-01311-z.
• Gou M, Pan S, Tong J, Zhou Y, Han J, Xie T, Yu T, Feng W, Li Y, Chen S, Cui Y, Tian B, Tan S, Wang Z, Luo X, Li CS, Zhang P, Huang J, Hong LE, Tan Y, Tian L (2021) Effects of microRNA-181b-5p on cognitive deficits in first-episode patients with schizophrenia: mediated by BCL-2. J. Psych. Res. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.02.003.
• Pan S, Feng W, Li Y, Huang J, Chen S, Cui Y, Tian B, Tan S, Wang Z, Yao S, Chiappelli J, Kochunov P, Chen S, Yang F, Li CS, Tian L, Tan Y, Hong LE (2021) The microRNA-195 - BDNF pathway and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia patients with minimal antipsychotic medication exposure. Transl. Psychiatry. doi: 10.1038/s41398-021-01240-x.
• Tong J, Zhou Y, Huang J, Zhang P, Fan F, Chen S, Tian B, Cui Y, Tian L, Tan S, Wang Z, Feng W, Yang F, Hare S, Goldwaser E, Bruce HA, Kvarta M, Chen S, Kochunov P, Tan Y, Hong LE (2021) N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptor antibody and white matter deficits in schizophrenia treatment-resistance. Sch. Bullet. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbab003.
• Zhou Y, Huang J, Zhang P, Tong J, Fan F, Gou M, Cui Y, Luo X, Tan S, Wang Z, Feng W, Yang F, Tian B, Tian L, Savransky B, Hare S, Ryan MC, Goldwaser E, Chiappelli J, Chen S, Kochunov P, Tan Y, Hong LE (2021) Allostatic load effects on cortical and cognitive deficits in essentially normotensive, normoweight patients with schizophrenia. Sch. Bullet. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbaa196.
• Wang L, Yin Y, Bian Q, Zhou Y, Huang J, Zhang P, Chen S, Fan H, Cui Y, Luo X, Tan S, Wang Z, Li C, Tian B, Tian L, Hong LE, Tan Y (2020) Immature defense mechanisms mediate the relationship between childhood trauma and onset of bipolar disorder. J. Aff. Dis. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.10.029.
• Yin Y, Tong J, Huang J, Tian B, Chen S, Cui Y, An H, Tan S, Wang Z, Yang F, Tian L, Tong Y, Hong LE, Tan Y (2020) Suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and neurocognitive dysfunctions among patients with first-episode schizophrenia. Suicide Life Threat Behav. doi: 10.1111/sltb.12689.
• Tremblay ME, Madore C, Bordeleau M, Tian L, Verkhratsky A (2020) Neuropathobiology of COVID-19: The role for glia. [Review] Front. Cell. Neurosci. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2020.592214.
• Yu T, Li Y, Li N, Huang J, Fan F, Luo X, Tan S, Yang F, Tian B, Tian L, Hong LE, Tan Y (2020) Abnormal functional connectivity of motor circuit in the schizophrenic patients with tardive dyskinesia: a resting-state fMRI study. Neurosci. Lett. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135548.
• Piirsalu M, Taalberg E, Lilleväli K, Tian L, Zilmer M, Vasar E (2020) Treatment with lipopolysaccharide induces distinct changes in metabolite profile and body weight in 129Sv and Bl6 mouse strains. Front. Pharmacol. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00371.
• Tan, Y., Yuan Y., and Tian L.* (2019) Microglial Regional Heterogeneity and Its Role in The Brain. Mol. Psychiatry. doi: 10.1038/s41380-019-0609-8.
• Xuan FL., Chinthanathan K., Lilliväli K., Yuan XD. and Tian L.* (2019) Differences of Microglia in the Brain and the Spinal Cord. [Review] Front. Cell. Neurosci. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00504.
• Pollak TA., Lennox B., Müller S., Benros ME., Prüss H., van Elst LT., Klein H., Steiner J., Frodl T., Bogerts B., Tian L., Groc L., Hasan A., Baune BT., Endres D., Haroon E., Yolken R., Benedetti F., Halaris A., Meyer J., Stassen H., Leboyer M., Fuchs D., Otto M., Brown DA., Vincent A., Najjar S., and Bechter K. (2019) Autoimmune psychosis: an international consensus on an approach to the diagnosis and management of psychosis of suspected autoimmune origin. Lancet Psychiatry. doi: S2215-0366(19)30290-1.
• Bleck D., Ma L., Erdene-Bymbadoo L., Brinks R., Schneider M., Tian L.*, and Pongratz G.* (2019) Introduction and validation of a new semi-automated method to determine sympathetic fiber density in target tissues. PLoS One. 14(5): e0217475.
• Demin KA., Sysoev M., Wappler-Guzzetta E., Koshiba M., Oksenkrug G., Song C., Leonard BE., Parker M., Harvey B., Tian L., Vasar E., Strekalova TV., and Kalueff AV (2019) Animal models of major depressive disorder and the implications on drug discovery and development. [Review] Expt. Opin. Drug Disc. 14(4): 365-378.
• Zhang Q., Zhang Q., Jiang X., Ye Y., Liao H., Zhu F., Yan J., Luo L., Tian L., Jiang C., Chen Y., Liang X., Sun Y. (2019) Collaborative ISL1/GATA3 interaction in controlling neuroblastoma oncogenic pathways overlapping with but distinct from MYCN. Theranostics 9(4): 986-1000.
• Chen S., Tian L., Chen N, Xiu MH, Wang ZR, Wang YC, Tan YL, Wang CY. (2018) More dampened monocytic Toll-like receptor 4 response to lipopolysaccharide and its association with cognitive function in Chinese Han first-episode patients with schizophrenia. Schizophr. Res.  doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2018.11.001.
• Jokinen V, Sidorova Y, Viisanen H, Suleymanova I, Tiilikainen H, Li Z, Lilius TO, Mätlik K, Anttila JE, Airavaara M, Tian L, Rauhala PV, Kalso EA. (2018) Differential Spinal and Supraspinal Activation of Glia in a Rat Model of Morphine Tolerance. Neuroscience. 375:10-24.
• Ma L., Demin KA., Kolesnikova TO., Kharsko SL., Zhu XC., Yuan XD., Song C., Leonard BE., Meshalkina DA., Tian L. *, and Kalueff AV* (2017) Animal inflammation-based models of depression and their application to drug discovery. Expt. Opin. Drug Disc. 12:995-1009.
• Piirainen S., Youssef A., Song C., Kalueff AV., Landreth G., Malm T., and Tian L.* (2017) Psychosocial stress on neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunctions in Alzheimer’s disease: the emerging role of microglia? Neurosci. & Biobehav. Rev. 77:148-164.
• Li ZL., Khan MM., Kuja-Panula J., Guo DY., Chen ZJ., Lahesmaa R., Rauvala H., and Tian L.* (2017) AMIGO2 is involved in T cell functions and its deficiency in mice ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Brain Behav. Immun. 62:110-123.
• Tian L.* and Tremblay ME.* (2017) Importance of the immune system in mediating plasticity of the brain and behavior. Prog. Neuropsychopharm. & Biol. Psych. 79:1-2.
• Tian L.,* Hui CW., Kanchan B., Tan YL., Chen S., Zhang XY., and Tremblay ME.* (2017) Microglia under psychosocial stressors along the aging trajectory: consequences on neuronal circuits, behavior, and brain diseases. Prog. Neuropsychopharm. & Biol. Psych. 79:27-39.
• Fan N., Tan YL., Yang FD., Tian L., Chen S., Wang ZR., and Zhang XY. (2017) Effect of risperidone on serum homocysteine levels in first-episode, drug-naïve patients with schizophrenia. Neurosci. Lett. 650:168-173.
• Chen S., Tian L., Chen N., Xiu MH., Wang ZR., Yang GG., Wang CY., Yang FD., and Tan YL. (2017) Cognitive dysfunction correlates with elevated serum S100B concentration in drug-free acutely relapsed patients with schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res.  247: 6-11.
• Okuneva O., Li Z., Körber I., Tegelberg S., Joensuu T., Tian L., and Lehesjoki AE. (2016) Brain inflammation is accompanied by peripheral inflammation in Cstb-/- mice, a model for progressive myoclonus epilepsy. J. Neuroinflam. 13(1): 298-307.
• Rouhiainen A., Zhao X., Vanttola P., Qian K., Kulesskiy E., Kuja-Panula J., Gransalke K., Grönholm M., Unni E., Meistrich M., Tian L., Auvinen P., and Rauvala H. (2016) HMGB4 is expressed by neuronal cells and affects the expression of genes involved in neural differentiation. Sci. Rep. 6: 32960.
• Li ZL.,Wei H., Piirainen S., Chen ZY., Kalso E., Pertovaara A., and Tian L.* (2016) Spinal versus brain microglial and macrophage activation traits determine the differential neuroinflammatory responses and analgesic effect of minocycline in chronic neuropathic pain. Brain Behav. Immun. 58: 107-117.
• Mao Q., Tan YL., Luo XG., Tian L., Wang ZR., Tan SP., Chen S., Yang GG., An HM., Yang FD., and Zhang XY. (2016) Association of Catechol O-Methyltransferase Val108/158 Met genetic polymorphism with schizophrenia, P50 sensory gating, and negative symptoms in a Chinese population. J Psychi. Res.  242: 271-276.
• Xiu MH.^#, Tian L. ^#*, Chen S., Tan YL., Chen DC., Chen J., Yang FD., Licinio J., Kosten TR., Soares JC., and Zhang XY.* (2016) Contribution of IL-10 and its -592 A/C polymorphism to cognitive functions in first-episode drug-naive schizophrenia. Brain Behav. Immun. 57: 116-24.
• Xiu MH., Lin CG., Tian L., Tan YL., Chen J., Chen S., Tan SP., Wang ZR., Yang FD., Chen DC., and Zhang XY. (2015) Increased IL-3 serum levels in chronic patients with schizophrenia: Associated with psychopathology. Psychiatry Res. 229(1-2): 225-229.
• Ma L., Piirainen S., Kulesskaya N., Rauvala H., and Tian L.* (2015) Association of brain immune genes with social behavior in inbred mouse strains. J. Neuroinflam.12: 75-84.
• Ma L., Kulesskaya N., Voikar V., and Tian L.* (2015) Differential expression of brain immune genes and schizophrenia-related behavior in C57BL/6N and DBA/2J female mice. Psychiatry Res. 226(1): 211-6.
• Ning L., Paetau S., Nyman-Huttunen H., Tian L., and Gahmberg CG. (2015) ICAM-5 affects dendritic spine maturation by regulation of NMDA receptor binding to -actinin. Biology Open 4(2): 125-36.
• Okuneva O., Körber I., Li Z., Tian L., Joensuu T., Kopra O., and Lehesjoki AE. (2015) Abnormal microglial activation in the Cstb-/- mouse, a model for progressive myoclonus epilepsy, EPM1. Glia 63(3): 400-11.
• Lv MH., Tan YL., Yan SX., Tian L., Chen DC., Tan SP., Wang ZR, Yang FD, Yoon YH., Zunta-Soares GB., Soares JC., and Zhang XY. (2015) Decreased serum TNF-alpha levels in chronic schizophrenia patients on long-term antipsychotics: correlation with psychopathology and cognition. Psychopharm. 232(1): 165-72.
• Tian L., Tan YL., Chen DC., Lv MH., Tan SP., Soares JC., and Zhang XY. (2014) Reduced serum TNF alpha level in chronic schizophrenia patients with or without tardive dyskinesia. Prog. Neuropsychopharm. & Biol. Psych. 54: 259-64.
• Kulesskaya N., Karpova NN., Ma L., Tian L., and Voikar V. (2014) Mixed housing with DBA/2 mice induces stress in C57BL/6 mice: implications for interventions based on social enrichment. Front. Behav. Neurosci. 8: 257-71. IF: 3.27
• Recacha R., Jime´nez D., Tian L., Barredo R., Gahmberg CG., and Casasnovasa JC. (2014) Crystal structures of an ICAM-5 ectodomain fragment show electrostaticbased homophilic adhesions. Acta Crystallogr. Section D 70: 1934-43.
• Li ZL., Ma L., Kulesskaya N., Voikar V., and Tian L.* (2014) Microglia are polarized to M1 type in high anxiety inbred mice in response to lipopolysaccharide challenge. Brain Behav. Immun. 38: 237-48.
• Kelly EA., Tremblay MÈ., Gahmberg CG., Tian L.,# and Majewska AK.# (2014) The subcellular localization of ICAM-5 (Telencephalin) in the visual cortex is not developmentally regulated in the absence of MMP-9. J. Comp. Neurol. 522(3): 676-88.
• Ning L., Tian L., Smirnov S., Vihinen H., Llano O., Vick K., Davis RL., Rivera C., and Gahmberg CG. (2013) Interactions between ICAM-5 and 1 integrins regulate neuronal synapse formation. J. Cell Sci. 126: 77-89.
• Kelly EA., Tremblay MÈ., Gahmberg CG., Tian L., and Majewska AK. (2013) Interactions between intercellular adhesion molecule-5 positive elements and their surroundings in the rodent visual cortex. Commun Integr Biol.6(6): e27315.
• Tian L.,* Ma L., Kaarela T., and Li ZL. (2012) Neuroimmune crosstalk in the central nervous system and its significance for neurological diseases. [Review] J. Neuroinflamm. 9: 155-159. 
• Tian L.* and Rauvala H. (2010) Immune functions of glia and neurons in the central nervous system. [Review] Curr. Immunol. Rev. 6: 160-6.
• Tian L.,* Rauvala H., and Gahmberg CG. (2009) Neuronal regulation of immune responses in the central nervous system. [Review] Trends Immunol. 30 (2): 91-9.
• Gahmberg CG., Tian L., Ning L., and Nyman-Huttunen H. (2008) ICAM-5-A two-facetted cell adhesion molecule in the mammalian brain. [Review] Immunol. Lett.  117(2): 131-5.
• Tian L.,* Lappalainen J., Autero M., Häninen S., Rauvala H., and Gahmberg CG. (2008) Shedded neuronal ICAM-5 suppresses T cell activation. Blood 111(7): 3615-25.
• Tian L.,* Stefanidakis M., Ning L., Van Lint P., Libert C., Itohara S., Masayoshi M., Rauvala H., and Gahmberg CG. (2007) Activation of NMDA receptors promotes dendritic spine development through MMP-mediated cleavage of ICAM-5. J. Cell Biol. 178: 687-700. The paper was highlighted for its ground-breaking discovery of the role of MMP in neuronal plasticity in that issue of the journal.
• Nyman H.,# Tian L.,# Lin N., and Gahmberg CG. (2006) Alpha-Actinin-dependent cytoskeletal anchorage is important for ICAM-5-mediated neuritic outgrowth. J. Cell Sci. 119: 3057-3066.
• Lindsberg P.,# Launes J.,# Tian L.,# Mikola H., Subramanian V., Sirppa J., Hokkanen L., Hyypiä T., Carpén O., and Gahmberg CG. (2002) Release of ICAM-5, a neuronal adhesion molecule, in acute encephalitis. Neurology, 58(3):446-451.
• Tian, L., Nyman H., Kilgannon P., Yoshihara Y., Mori K., Andersson L.C., Kaukinen S., Rauvala H., Gallatin WM., and Gahmberg CG. (2000) Intercellular adhesion molecule-5 induces dendritic outgrowth by homophilic adhesion. J. Cell Biol. 150: 243-252.
• Tian L., Kilgannon P., Yoshihara Y., Mori K., Gallatin W.M., Carpen O., and Gahmberg CG. (2000) Binding of T lymphocytes to hippocampal neurons through ICAM-5 (telencephalin) and characterization of its interaction with the leukocyte integrin CD11a/CD18. Eur. J. Immunol. 30: 810-818.
• Gahmberg CG., Valmu L., Kotovuori A., Kotovuori P., Hilden T., Fagerholm S., Kantor C., Nurminen T., Ihanus E., and Tian L. (1999) Leukocyte adhesion - an integrated molecular process at the leukocyte plasma membrane [Review]. Biosci. Rep. 19:273-281.
• Gahmberg CG., Valmu L., Tian L., Kotovuori P., Fagerholm S., Kotovuori A., Kantor C., and Hilden T. (1999) Leukocyte adhesion--a fundamental process in leukocyte physiology [Review]. Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res. 32:511-7.
• Gahmberg CG., Valmu L., Fagerholm S., Kotovuori P., Ihanus E., Tian L., and Pessa-Morikawa T. (1998) Leukocyte integrins and inflammation [Review]. Cell. & Mol. Life Sci. 54:549-55.
• Tian L., Yoshihara Y., Mizuno T., Mori K., and Gahmberg CG. (1997) The neuronal glycoprotein telencephalin is a cellular ligand for the CD11a/CD18 leukocyte integrin. J. Immunol. 158: 928-936.

• Cell-Cell Interactions: A Practical Approach. Fleming, T. (ed.) IRL Press, Oxford
  Chapter 5: Leukocyte cell adhesion interactions.
  Gahmberg, C. G., Valmu, L., Hilden, T. J., Ihanus, E., Tian, L., Nyman, H., Lehto, U., Uppala, A., Ranta, T.-M. and Koivunen, E. (2001)
• Neural system-Immune system interactions. Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
  Chapter 8: Influential effects of neuronal regulation of immune cells on brain diseases.
  Li Tian. p13-33 (2014)

• Li Tian
  Professor in Neuroimmunology, PhD
  737 4418
  li.tian@ut.ee
• Marge Pärn
  Laboratory Assistant 
  marge.parn@ut.ee
• Keerthana Chinthanathan
  PhD student, MSc
  keerthana.chithanathan@ut.ee
• Fangling Xuan
  PhD student, MSc
  fangling.xuan@ut.ee
  Project: Molecular mechanism of microglial migration during brain development and its role in psychiatric disorders
• Ling Yan
  PhD student, MSc
  ling.yan@ut.ee
  Project: Microglial immunomodulation in stress-associated psychiatric disorders