Mei-Jie Jou

Appointment : Associate professor

Lab：Mitochondria Laboratory

Education : Ph.D.

University/Nation：Rochester/USA

Tel: +886-3-2118800 ext.5974 (Lab)

E-mail : mjjou@mail.cgu.edu.tw

Research website :

Research interests:

My lab is focused on investigating the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Fluorescence digital imaging microscopy is the basic and major technology used in this lab including conventional fluorescence digital imaging microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy and multi-photon imaging microscopy. Several focused on-going projects are:

a. to study how mitochondria arbitrate or regulate apoptosis via mechanisms of mitochondrial ROS and NO formation, mitochondrial calcium homeostasis, mitochondrial membrane potential regulation and modulation of the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore

b. to study the pathological mechanisms involved in mitochondrial DNA defect induced mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis. Several mtDNA mutant cybrids provided from worldwide collaborators are used for study. Potential therapeutic strategies including photodynamic therapy and gene therapy are currently under investigation with a long term goal of clinical treatment of mitochondrial diseases.

c. to study the mechanistic role of mitochondria in light-induced phototoxicity and photodynamic effect using new generation of photosensitizers and nano-particles　

d. to study mitochondria-targeted biomedical application of nano particles

Publications:

1.  Mei-Jie Jou*, Tsung-I Peng and Russel J. Reiter (2019) Protective stabilization of mitochondrial permeability transition and mitochondrial oxidation during mitochondrial Ca2+ stress by melatonin’s cascade metabolites C3-OHM and AFMK in RBA1 astrocytes. J Pineal Res. 2019 Jan;66(1):e12538. doi: 10.1111/jpi.12538. Epub 2018 Dec 2. (First published: 11 November 2018)

2.  Yang CC, Lin CC, Jou MJ, Hsiao LD, Yang CM (2019) RTA 408 Inhibits Interleukin-1β-Induced MMP-9 Expression via Suppressing Protein Kinase-Dependent NF-κB and AP-1 Activation in Rat Brain Astrocytes. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Jun 10;20(11). pii: E2826.

3.  Mei-Jie Jou* and Tsung-I Peng (2018) Nanoparticles as mitochondria-targeted photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy of cancer. Frontiers in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Volume 4(3): 1-2 doi: 10.15761/FNN.1000S1006

4.  Reiter RJ*, Tan DX, Rosales-Corral S, Galano A, Jou MJ, Acuna-Castroviejo D (2018) Melatonin Mitigates Mitochondrial Meltdown: Interactions with SIRT3. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Aug 18;19(8). pii: E2439. doi: 10.3390/ijms19082439.

5.  Reiter RJ*, Rosales-Corral S, Tan DX, Jou M-J, Galano A, Xu B. (2017) Melatonin as a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant: one of evolution’s best ideas. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2017 Sep 74:3863–3881

6.  Yang C-M, Yang S-H, Lee T-H, Fang J-Y, Lin C-F, Jou M-J, Hsieh H-L*. (2016) Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Helminthostachys zeylanica Extracts via Inhibiting Bradykinin-Induced MMP-9 Expression in Brain Astrocytes. Mol. Neurobiol. Nov;53(9):5995-6005