Zhao Lab

Lab of Dr. Ping Zhao:

My lab focuses on two primary research areas:

Research Area 1: Gut Hormone Responses to Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery

My research investigates the endocrine mechanisms driving metabolic improvements after obesity (bariatric) surgeries, with particular emphasis on gut-derived hormones such as GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) and PYY (peptide YY). These L-cell–secreted hormones play critical roles in regulating appetite, satiety, glucose homeostasis, gastrointestinal motility, and long-term energy balance.

A central component of this work is examining how different bariatric procedures—Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), sleeve gastrectomy (SG), adjustable gastric banding (AGB), and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS)—produce distinct hormonal responses that underlie their varying clinical outcomes. My research focuses on:

  • Alterations in fasting and postprandial GLP-1 and PYY secretion
  • Physiological drivers of these changes, including modified nutrient flow, accelerated gastric emptying, and enhanced stimulation of the distal gut
  • How these hormonal adaptations relate to major clinical endpoints such as:
    • Magnitude and durability of weight loss
    • Appetite suppression and satiety signaling
    • Improvement or remission of type 2 diabetes
    • Changes in gastrointestinal motility and gastric emptying
    • Long-term metabolic health and weight-maintenance trajectories

Research Area 2: Biliary Diversion Procedures and Gut Hormone–Mediated Mechanisms in Cholestatic Pruritus

A second focus of my research explores the endocrine and gut hormone changes associated with biliary diversion surgeries, which play a key role in alleviating severe, treatment-resistant pruritus in children with chronic cholestatic liver diseases such as progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) and Alagille syndrome.

Emerging evidence suggests that altering bile acid flow and intestinal exposure through these procedures may influence L-cell activity, leading to downstream effects on hormones including PYY, GLP-1, and others involved in appetite regulation, intestinal motility, and bile acid signaling. By characterizing these hormonal shifts, my work aims to clarify:

  • Mechanisms underlying pruritus relief
  • Interactions between bile acids and gut endocrine function
  • How disrupted enterohepatic circulation modulates L-cell–mediated pathways
  • Potential hormonal or bile acid–related targets for non-surgical treatments of cholestatic pruritus

Integrative Focus

Both research areas focus on gut hormone physiology and examine how surgically induced changes in intestinal nutrient or bile acid exposure reshape endocrine pathways in metabolic and hepatobiliary disorders. Together, these lines of investigation seek to deepen mechanistic understanding and support the development of novel, targeted, and less invasive therapies for conditions ranging from obesity and diabetes to pediatric cholestatic liver diseases.

Common Techniques Used in My Lab

Our laboratory routinely employs a range of molecular and biochemical techniques, including:

  • ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay): for quantifying circulating gut hormones such as GLP-1, PYY, insulin, and other metabolic biomarkers.
  • PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction): for assessing gene expression related to gut hormone production, bile acid signaling pathways, and other endocrine regulatory mechanisms.

 If you are interested in working with me on my research, please contact me at pzhao1@una.edu or come by my office to chat.