Xingbin Ai, PhD

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Expertise and interests include:

REGULATION OF STEM CELL FUNCTION AND AGING BY HEPARAN SULFATE AND SULFS:
Environmental signals play crucial roles in self-renewal of stem cells, tissue regeneration and aging. Ai lab investigates heparan sulfate-dependent mechanisms that regulate extracellular signaling during stem cell maintenance and regeneration of the skeletal muscle. Our study is focused on two heparan sulfate-modifying enzymes called Sulfs.

NEUROGENESIS AND NEUROPLASTICITY IN PULMONARY DISEASES:
The respiratory tract is known to be innervated by two groups of neurons. The intrinsic neurons have cell bodies located within the tissue, while the extrinsic neurons have their cell bodies located in the central and peripheral nervous system and their axons innervating airway smooth muscle and neuroendocrine cells. Ai lab investigates neurotrophic signals that regulate neurogenesis in developing lung and neuroplasticity in pulmonary diseases. Our goal is to understand physiological roles of neural innervation in respiratory function, diseases and regeneration.

AIRWAY SMOOTH MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT AND REMODELING IN ASTHMA:
Airway smooth muscle hyperplasia and hyper-reactivity are key features of asthma. Ai lab, in collaboration with Dr. Alan Fine’s lab, investigates mechanisms underlying the formation and remodeling of airway smooth muscle. We are particularly interested in the sonic hedgehog pathway in control of airway smooth muscle development.

Publications

  • Published 7/21/2026

    Zhao C, Bai Y, Mou H, Lerou PH, Leung DW, Narasimhan H, Wei X, Sun J, Xu JF, Fearns R, Ai X. An immune-poised state of human bronchial epithelial cells mediates defense against RSV in adults. Nat Commun. 2026 Jul 21; 17(1). PMID: 42481490.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 6/1/2026

    Zhao C, Taliento AE, Belkin EM, Fearns R, Lerou PH, Ai X, Bai Y. Infant respiratory syncytial virus infection disrupts ß2 adrenergic airway relaxation via epithelial CXCL11. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2026 Jun 01; 212(6):1290-1304. PMID: 42085211.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/3/2026

    Zhao C, Bai Y, Mou H, Lerou PH, Leung DW, Narasimhan H, Wei X, Sun J, Xu JF, Fearns R, Ai X. An immune-poised state of human bronchial epithelial cells mediates RSV resistance in adults. bioRxiv. 2026 Feb 03. PMID: 41676739.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 6/1/2025

    Aubert O, Miyake Y, Amonkar GM, Dinwoodie OM, Varisco BM, Marotta M, Zhao C, Wagner R, Chen YW, Moscatello A, Tiozzo C, Varelas X, Lerou PH, Peiro JL, Keijzer R, Ai X. Fetal Tracheal Occlusion Correlates with Normalized YAP Expression and Alveolar Epithelial Differentiation in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2025 Jun; 72(6):688-697. PMID: 39661950.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 5/9/2025

    Aubert O, Dinwoodie OM, Wagner R, Ai X. Epithelial Dysfunction in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: Mechanisms, Models and Emerging Therapies. Cells. 2025 May 09; 14(10). PMID: 40422190.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 68 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Other Positions

  • Member, Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research
    Boston University

Websites

Education

  • Case Western Reserve University, PhD
  • Fudan University, BS

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