Personal profile
Research interests
My lab investigates how neurons and glial cells in the hypothalamus interact to regulate body weight and food intake. We focus on intercellular communication, intracellular metabolism, and organelle dynamics to understand the cellular mechanisms underlying energy balance.
A key area of interest is the role of microglia as immune regulators within the hypothalamic microenvironment. We study how neurotransmission shapes their phagocytic activity and inflammatory responses across a range of physiological and pathological states.
To bridge molecular mechanisms with human health, we analyze postmortem brain tissue from individuals with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and Prader-Willi Syndrome. We also assess brain cell function in living patients using advanced imaging techniques such as MRI and PET.
Our long-term goal is to identify therapeutic targets in microglia and neurons that can restore hypothalamic function in hypercaloric environments and offer new treatment strategies for obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Specialisation
Related documents
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Time-restricted feeding provides limited microglial immunometabolic improvements in diet-induced obese rats
Jiao, H., Jermei, J., Liang, X., van der Zande, H. J. P., Vrieling, F., Rumanova, V. S., Dorscheidt, M., Wang, A., Foppen, E., Ignacio, B., Stenvers, D. J., Liu, T., Bonger, K., Stienstra, R., Zhang, Z., Kalsbeek, A. & Yi, C.-X., 28 Oct 2025, In: Cell reports. 44, 10, p. 116380 116380.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile19 Downloads (Pure) -
Loss of arginine vasopressin- and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing neurons and glial cells in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of individuals with type 2 diabetes
Hogenboom, R., Kalsbeek, M. J., Korpel, N. L., de Goede, P., Koenen, M., Buijs, R. M., Romijn, J. A., Swaab, D. F., Kalsbeek, A. & Yi, C.-X., Nov 2019, In: Diabetologia. 62, 11, p. 2088-2093Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile10 Downloads (Pure) -
Lipoprotein Lipase Maintains Microglial Innate Immunity in Obesity
Gao, Y., Vidal-Itriago, A., Kalsbeek, M. J., Layritz, C., García-Cáceres, C., Tom, R. Z., Eichmann, T. O., Vaz, F. M., Houtkooper, R. H., van der Wel, N., Verhoeven, A. J., Yan, J., Kalsbeek, A., Eckel, R. H., Hofmann, S. M. & Yi, C.-X., 2017, In: Cell reports. 20, 13, p. 3034-3042Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
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TNF alpha drives mitochondrial stress in POMC neurons in obesity
Yi, C.-X., Walter, M., Gao, Y., Pitra, S., Legutko, B., Kälin, S., Layritz, C., García-Cáceres, C., Bielohuby, M., Bidlingmaier, M., Woods, S. C., Ghanem, A., Conzelmann, K.-K., Stern, J. E., Jastroch, M. & Tschöp, M. H., 2017, In: Nature communications. 8, p. 15143Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile20 Downloads (Pure) -
Hypothalamic innate immune reaction in obesity
Kälin, S., Heppner, F. L., Bechmann, I., Prinz, M., Tschöp, M. H. & Yi, C.-X., 2015, In: Nature reviews. Endocrinology. 11, 6, p. 339-351Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile27 Downloads (Pure)
Datasets
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Replication Data for: Selective changes in vasopressin neurons and astrocytes in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of Prader-Willi Syndrome subjects_Supplementary material
Yi, C.-X. (contactPerson), DataverseNL, 2 Jul 2024
DOI: 10.34894/AHTY7X, https://doi.org/10.34894/AHTY7X
Dataset