Jijun Xu, MD, PhD
Staff
Location: Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Research
Using different neuropathic pain models, we investigate the pathophysiology to develop novel therapies for these clinically challenging pain syndromes. We are currently focusing on the complement system in these pain models. (See Laboratory tab for additional information).
Tools and expertise of the lab
- Neuropathic pain model system (Xu, J Immunology 2018; Xu, Brain Behavior Immunity 2020)
- Complement genetic model in Pain and Neuropathy (Xu, J Immunology 2018)
Lab discoveries
- Complement system is integrally involved in chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (Xu, J Immunology 2018)
- NMDA receptor NR2B on Keratinocytes is essential in ischemia-induced pain (Xu, Brain Behavior Immunity 2020)
- Ketamine and Cannabinoids for neuropathic pain (Xu, Pain Medicine 2018; Xu, EJN 2016)
How could these discoveries help patients?
- New classes of therapy for Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy
- Non-opioid therapies for chronic pain
Biography
Jijun Xu, MD, PhD, holds joint appointments in theDepartment of Pain Management, Anesthesiology Institute, and the Department ofInflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute at Cleveland Clinic. He isan Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Collegeof Medicine of Case Western Reserve University.Dr. Xu specializes in interventional pain management. Dr.Xu’s research interests include clinical outcomes and basic science of neuropathicpain. He is involved in multiple clinical trials at Cleveland Clinic. He is thePrincipal Investigator (PI) of the SENZA-PDN (Spinal cord stimulation forrefractory painful diabetic neuropathy) trial. He is also investigating the useof Ketamine and Nitrous Oxide in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome which he is aninvited speaker and book chapter contributor in this field. He is also the PIof a NIH-funded research to study the mechanisms underlyingChemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy. He serves on the Research Committee of theAmerican Association of Pain Medicine.Dr. Xu is interested in incorporating new advances in painmanagement into clinical practice and teaching residents and fellows. He wasselected as the “Best Teacher” and the “Cleveland Clinic Pain Medicine Staff ofthe Year” in 2016 and 2020.
Education & Professional Highlights
Education & FellowshipsFellowship - Cleveland Clinic
Pain Medicine
Cleveland, OH USA
2015
Residency - Cleveland Clinic
Anesthesiology
Cleveland, OH USA
2014
Medical Education - University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Pain Medicine
Houston, TX USA
2009
Medical Education - University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Neuroscience and Genes and Development
Houston, TX USA
2007
Graduate School - Nanjing Medical College
Microbiology and Immunology
2002
Residency - Nantong University College of Medicine
Anesthesia
Nantong,
1999
Medical Education - Nantong University College of Medicine
Nantong,
1996
-
Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Genes & Development; Opioid tolerance, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, The University of Texas (UT) M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 2002-2007
Postdoctoral Fellow, Inflammatory and Neuropathic Pain, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, TX 2007-2009
- Anesthesiology
- 2020 “Best Teacher” and “Cleveland Clinic Pain Medicine Staff of the Year”
- 2020 NIH NCI grant “Complement in Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy”
- 2020 NIH Study section panel “Somatosensory and Pain System”
- 2016 “Best Teacher” and “Cleveland Clinic Pain Medicine Staff of the Year”
- 2014 Chief Fellow, Pain Management, Cleveland Clinic
- 2014 Best Abstract Award. 23nd Annual Meeting, International Society for Anesthetic Pharmacology (ISAP), New Orleans, LA
- 2013 Best Abstract Award. 22nd Annual Meeting, International Society for Anesthetic Pharmacology (ISAP), San Francisco, CA
- 2012 Third Place Award. 2012 Anesthesiology Research Day, Cleveland Clinic, OH
- 2012 Best Abstract Award. 21st Annual Meeting, International Society for Anesthetic Pharmacology (ISAP), Washington, DC
- 2011 Best of Show Honorable Mention. 20th Annual Meeting, International Society for Anesthetic Pharmacology (ISAP), Chicago, Illinois
- 2011 Best of Resident Abstracts. 10th Annual Meeting and Workshops, American Society for Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. New Orleans, Louisiana
- 2010 First Place Award in basic science-pharmacology, Midwest Anesthesia Resident Conference (MARC), Cincinnati, Ohio
- 2010 Second Place Award. Annual Meeting, Ohio Society of Anesthesiologist, Columbus, Ohio
- 2008 Best of Show - Elmer Zsigmund Abstract Award. 17th Annual Meeting, International Society for Anesthetic Pharmacology (ISAP), Orlando, Florida
- 2005 Travel Award. International Narcotics Research Conference, Annapolis, MD
Research
1.) Neuro-immune interaction and neuroinflammation in neuropathic pain
Using different neuropathic pain models, we investigate the pathophysiology to develop novel therapies for these clinically challenging pain syndromes. We are currently focusing on the complement system in these pain models.
A.) Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Administration of Taxol leads to complement activation and membrane attack complex (MAC) formation. These further induce local neuro-immune interactions in dorsal root ganglion (DRG), leading to DRG neuronal hypersensitivity and eventually peripheral neuropathy.
https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/nih-to-fund-study-exploring-role-of-the-complement-system-in-chemotherapy-induced-peripheral-neuropathy/
B.) Ischemia-induced chronic pain
2. Non-opioid therapies for chronic pain
We study the therapeutic potentials of the following drugs for chronic pain
A.) Ketamine. We are working on protocols to optimize Ketamineinfusion for chronic pain refractory to conventional treatments https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/guiding-research-on-ketamine-usage-for-crps/
B.) Nitrous oxide for complex regional pain syndrome. A clinical trial in under way. https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/study-will-look-at-nitrous-oxide-as-complex-regional-pain-syndrome-treatment/
3. Neuromodulation for chronic pain
We currently are studying the efficacy of neuromodulation (Spinal Cord Stimulation) on Diabetic Painful Neuropathy. Findings could potentially be appliedto other peripheral neuropathies.
https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/novel-treatment-modality-may-ease-painful-diabetic-neuropathy/ https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/promising-early-results-from-high-frequency-spinal-cord-stimulation-study/
Our Team
Selected Publications
View publications for Jijun Xu, MD, PhD
(Disclaimer: This search is powered by PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. PubMed is a third-party website with no affiliation with Cleveland Clinic.)
- Lin K, Zhang L, Kong M, Yang M, Chen Y, Poptic E, Hoffner M, Xu J, Tam C, Lin F. Development of an anti-human complement C6 monoclonal antibody that inhibits the assembly of membrane attack complexes. Blood Advances. 2020 May 12; 4(9): 2049-2057 [PMID: 32396613]
- Xu, X, Tao X, Huang P, Lin F, Liu Q, Xu L*, Xu J*, Huang Y. N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptor Subunit 2B on Keratinocyte Mediates Peripheral and Central Sensitization in Chronic Post-ischemic Pain in Male Rats. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 2020 Jul; 87:579-590. [PMID: 32032782] *Corresponding authors
- Zhang L, Dai Y, Huang P, Sauders TL, Fox D, Xu J, Lin F. Absence of complement component 3 (C3) does not prevent classical pathway-mediated hemolysis. Blood Advance. 2019 Jun 25;3(12):1808-1814. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2019031591. [PMID: 31196848].
- Xu J*,Zhang L,Xie M, Li Y,Huang P, Saunders TL,Fox DA, Rosenquist R, Lin F*. Role of Complement in a Rat Model of Paclitaxel-induced Peripheral Neuropathy. J Immunology. 2018 Jun 15;200(12):4094-4101. *Corresponding authors [PMID: 29695418].
- Xu, J*, Herndon C; Anderson S; Getson P; Foorsov V; Moskovitz P; Harden RN. Intravenous Ketamine Infusion for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: Survey, Consensus, and a Reference Protocol. Pain Medicine. 2018 Mar 9. doi: 10.1093/pm/pny024. *Corresponding author [PMID: 29534218].
- Xu, J, Liu A, Cheng J. New advancements in spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain management. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol 2017 Dec;30(6):710-717. [PMID: 28938297].
- Xu J, Tang Y, Xie M, Bie B, Wu J, Yang H, Foss JF, Yang B, Rosenquist RW, Naguib M. Activation of Cannabinoid Receptor 2 Attenuates Mechanical Allodynia and Neuroinflammatory Responses in a Chronic Post-Ischemic Pain Model of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I in Rats.European Journal of Neuroscience. 2016 Dec; 44(12):3046-3055. [PMID: 27717112].
Careers
Research News
Cleveland Clinic physicians Marisa McGinley, DO, and Jijun Xu, MD, PhD, were recently accepted to the two-year Mentoring Exceptional New Translational Researchers Program.