Lei Zhang

Dr. Lei Zhang


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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12 October 2021 in Sustainability
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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ZCZhen Cao
Zhen Cao
LZLei Zhang
Lei Zhang
XZXinxin Zhang
Xinxin Zhang
ZGZengjun Guo
Zengjun Guo
Hylomecon japonica is considered a natural medicinal plant with anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antibacterial activity. The assessment of climate change impact on its habitat suitability is important for the wild cultivation and standardized planting of H. japonica. In this study, the maximum entropy model (Maxent) and geographic information system (ArcGIS) were applied to predict the current and future distribution of H. japonica species, and the contributions of variables were evaluated by using the jackknife test. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) value confirmed the accuracy of the model prediction based on 102 occurrence records. The predicted potential distributions of H. japonica were mainly concentrated in Jilin, Liaoning, Shaanxi, Chongqing, Henan, Heilongjiang and other provinces (adaptability index > 0.6). The jackknife experiment showed that the precipitation of driest month (40.5%), mean annual temperature (12.4%), the precipitation of wettest quarter (11.6%) and the subclass of soil (9.7%) were the most important factors affecting the potential distribution of H. japonica. In the future, only under the shared socioeconomic Pathway 245 (SSP 245) scenario model in 2061–2080, the suitable habitat area for H. japonica is expected to show a significant upward trend. The area under other scenarios may not increase or decrease significantly.

19 March 2026 in Apoptosis
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
KNKai Nan
Kai Nan
LZLei Zhang
Lei Zhang
YZYan Zhao
Yan Zhao
SYSu Yin
Su Yin
YPYulong Peng
Yulong Peng
ZYZhi Yang
Zhi Yang
Piezo1 is a mechanically activated, non-selective cation channel characterized by its exquisite sensitivity to membrane tension and high permeability to calcium(Ca2+), enabling the conversion of mechanical stimuli into intracellular signaling events. Activation of Piezo1 leads to Ca2+ influx, which initiates iron metabolism reprogramming—including transferrin receptor 1(TfR1)-dependent iron uptake, divalent metal transporter 1(DMT1)-mediated iron transport, and Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 4(NCOA4)-regulated ferritinophagy—thereby promoting the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation. Ultimately, these events culminate in ferroptosis by suppressing glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) activity. The “mechanical force–Piezo1–Ca2+–iron/lipid metabolism” axis establishes mechanical stress as a pivotal upstream regulator of ferroptosis. This axis facilitates the functional integration of mechanotransduction into inflammatory mediator production, vascular and extracellular matrix(ECM) remodeling, and metabolic reprogramming. Furthermore, this signaling pathway exerts context-dependent pathogenic or protective effects across diverse pathological conditions, including musculoskeletal degeneration, ischemia-reperfusion injury, inflammatory bowel disease, neurovascular disorders, and cancer. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the molecular mechanisms and clinical evidence governing Piezo1-mediated ferroptosis. We summarize current pharmacological and genetic interventions for its inhibition—along with associated limitations such as selectivity and pharmacokinetic challenges—and explores interventions targeting the channel itself, Ca²⁺signaling, and downstream ferroptotic processes, including iron chelation, lipid peroxidation suppression, and preservation of the GPX4/coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) axis. Furthermore, the potential for integrating these interventions with established therapeutic modalities is also discussed. A profound understanding of the druggability and context-dependent dynamics of the Piezo1-ferroptosis axis is expected to facilitate the discovery of novel therapeutic targets and combinatorial regimens for the precision management of mechanosensitive diseases.