Department of Neurobiology
Linlin Sun
Linlin Sun, Assistant Professor
Contact Information
Tel：010-82801120;
Email：linlin.sun@pku.edu.cn
Research Focus
Neural Mechanisms of Pain and Analgesia, and Drug Addiction
Research Direction
Neural mechanisms underlying abnormalities in somatosensation and visceral sensation
Neural basis of behavioral impairments (e.g., social, memory, and emotional deficits) in drug addiction
Personal profile
Dr. Sun received her M.D./Ph.D. in the 8-year Bachelor-Doctor combined program in Basic Medicine from Peking University (2005–2013). From 2013 to 2020, she conducted postdoctoral research at Rutgers University, New York University, and Columbia University in the United States. In early 2021, she joined the School of Basic Medical Sciences at Peking University. Her primary research focuses on the neural mechanisms of pain and analgesia, as well as drug addiction.
She has published over 20 papers in leading biomedical journals, including Neuron , Nature Communications , and PNAS . She serves as a Corresponding Editorial Board Member for the Chinese Journal of Pain Medicine , a member of the Headache and Sensory Disorders Committee of the Beijing Neuroscience Society, and a member of the CADAPT Addiction and Brain Science Subcommittee. She is also a peer review advisor for journals such as Pain Medicine . Her work has been supported by the Peking University Overseas Talent Introduction Fund, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Beijing Natural Science Foundation.
Publications
1. Huo, Y. #, Wang, X. #, Lin, X., Yu, J., Li, BL., Liu, Z., Guo, S., Wang, YT., Tang, R., Li, BF., Zhang, S., Zhang, Y., Jiang, Z., Fan, X., Ye, X., Li, YF., Zhang, X., Yao, Y., Song, S., Xu, M., Jiang, H., Xing, G., Wan, Y., Cui, C., Li, YJ., Sun, L. (2025). "Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Signaling from Piriform Cortex to Amygdala Mediates Social Homophily in Opioid Addiction" Neuron. 10.1016/j.neuron.2025.08.012. # co-first author
2. Sun, L.#*, C. Chen, X.# Xiang, S. Guo and G. Yang* (2024). "Generalized modality responses in primary sensory neurons of awake mice during the development of neuropathic pain." Frontiers in Neuroscience 18: 1368507. # co-first author; * co-corresponding author.
3. Chen, C#; Sun, L#; Adler, A; Zhou, H; Zhang, LC; Zhang, LH; Deng, J; Bai, Y; Zhang, J; Yang, G; Gan, WB; Tang, P. (2023). Synchronized activity of sensory neurons initiates cortical synchrony in a model of neuropathic pain. Nature Communications 1 14(1): 689. # co-first author.
4. Sun, L. #, Tong, CK. #, Morgenstern, TJ. #, Zhou, H., Yang, G., Colecraft, HM. (2022) Targeted ubiquitination of sensory neuron calcium channels reduces development of neuropathic pain. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , e2118129119. # co-first author.
5. Li, Y. #, Guo, X. #, Sun, L. #, Xiao, J. #, Su, S. #, Du, S. #, Li, Z., Wu, S., Liu, W., Mo, K., Xia, S., Chang, Y., Denis, D., Tao, YX. (2020) N6-methyladenosine demethylase FTO contributes to neuropathic pain by stabilizing G9a expression in primary sensory neurons. Advanced Science , 375(1799): 234. # co-first author.
6. Chen, C. #, Zhang, J. #, Sun, L. #, Y. Zhang, W. Gan, P. Tang, G. Yang. (2019) " Long-term imaging of dorsal root ganglia in awake behaving mice." Nature Communications 10(1):3087. # co-first author.
7. Sun, L., Zhou, H., Cichon, J., Yang, G. (2019) Experience and sleep-dependent synaptic plasticity: from structure to activity. Philosophical Transactions B 375(1799): 20190234.
8. Sun, L. #, Gu, X. #, Z. Pan, X. Guo, J. Liu, F. E. Atianjoh, S. Wu, K. Mo, B. Xu, L. Liang, A. Bekker and Y. X. Tao. (2019) "Contribution of DNMT1 to neuropathic pain genesis partially through epigenetically repressing Kcna2 in primary afferent neurons." The Journal of Neuroscience 39(33): 6595– 6607. # co-first author.
9. Sun, L. #, J. Y. Zhao#, X. Gu#, L. Liang, S. Wu, K. Mo, J. Feng, W. Guo, J. Zhang, A. Bekker, X. Zhao, E. J. Nestler and Y. X. Tao. (2017). "Nerve injury-induced epigenetic silencing of opioid receptors controlled by DNMT3a in primary afferent neurons." Pain 158(6): 1153-1165. # co-first author.
10. Sun, L., B. M. Lutz and Y. X. Tao (2016). "The CRISPR/Cas9 system for gene editing and its potential application in pain research." Translational Perioperative and Pain Medicine 1(3): 22-33.
11. Sun, L. #, Hu, L. #, Li, Y. # and Cui, C. (2013). "Mesoaccumbens dopamine signaling alteration underlies behavioral transition from tolerance to sensitization to morphine rewarding properties during morphine withdrawal." Brain Structure and Function 219(5): 1755-1771. # co-first author.
12. Li, Z. #, Gu, X. #, Sun, L. #, S. Wu, L. Liang, J. Cao, B. M. Lutz, A. Bekker, W. Zhang and Y. X. Tao. (2015). "Dorsal root ganglion myeloid zinc finger protein 1 contributes to neuropathic pain after peripheral nerve trauma." Pain 156(4): 711-721. # co-first authors
13. Li, J., X. Kong, L. Sun, X. Chen, G. Ouyang, X. Li and S. Chen (2024). "Identification of autism spectrum disorder based on electroencephalography: A systematic review." Computers in Biology and Medicine 170: 108075.
14. Zhou H, Li M, Zhao R, Sun L, Yang G (2023). A sleep-active basalocortical pathway crucial for generation and maintenance of chronic pain. Nature Neuroscience , 26(3):458-469.
15. Cichon, J., J. Magrane, E. Shtridler, C. Chen, Sun. L, G. Yang and W. B. Gan (2020). "Imaging neuronal activity in the central and peripheral nervous systems using new Thy1.2 -GCaMP6 transgenic mouse lines." Journal of Neuroscience Methods 334: 108535.
16. Griffiths, K. K., A. Wang, L. Wang, M. Tracey, G. Kleiner, C. M. Quinzii, Sun. L, G. Yang, J. F. Perez-Zoghbi, P. Licznerski, M. Yang, E. A. Jonas and R. J. Levy (2020). "Inefficient thermogenic mitochondrial respiration due to futile proton leak in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome." The FASEB Journal 10.1096/fj.202000283RR.
17. Ruan, C., Sun, L., Kroshilina, A., Beckers, L., De Jager, P., Bradshaw, E., Hasson, L., Yang, G., Elyaman, W. (2020) A Novel Tmem119-tdTomato Reporter Mouse Model for Studying Microglia in the Central Nervous System. Brain Behavior and Immunity 83(180)-191.
18. Mao, Q., S. Wu, X. Gu, S. Du, K. Mo, Sun, L., J. Cao, A. Bekker, L. Chen and Y. X. Tao. (2019). "DNMT3a-triggered downregulation of K2p 1.1 gene in primary sensory neurons contributes to paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain." International Journal of Cancer 145(8):2122-34.
19. Cichon, J., Sun, L. and Yang, G. (2018). Spared Nerve Injury Model of Neuropathic Pain in Mice. Bio-protocol 8(6): e2777.
20. Sun, X., Wang, N., Wang, X., Sun, L., Li, Y., Cui, C. (2019). AMPA Receptor in Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex Plays Different Roles in the Recent and Remote Retrieval of Morphine-Associated Memory. Neurochemical Research 44(8):1939-1949.
21. Wang, N., F. Ge, C. Cui, Y. Li, X. Sun, L. Sun, X. Wang, S. Liu, H. Zhang, Y. Liu, M. Jia and M. Yang. (2018). "Role of Glutamatergic Projections from the Ventral CA1 to Infralimbic Cortex in Context-Induced Reinstatement of Heroin Seeking." Neuropsychopharmacology 43(6):1373-1384. doi: 10.1038/npp.2017.279. Epub 2017 Nov 14.
22. Zhao, J. Y., L. Liang, X. Gu, Z. Li, S. Wu, Sun, L., F. E. Atianjoh, J. Feng, K. Mo, S. Jia, B. M. Lutz, A. Bekker, E. J. Nestler and Y. X. Tao. (2017). "DNA methyltransferase DNMT3a contributes to neuropathic pain by repressing Kcna2 in primary afferent neurons." Nature Communications 8: 14712.
23. Xu, J. T., Sun, L., B. M. Lutz, A. Bekker and Y. X. Tao. (2016) "Intrathecal rapamycin attenuates morphine-induced analgesic tolerance and hyperalgesia in rats with neuropathic pain." Translational Perioperative and Pain Medicine 2(2): 27-34.
24. Li, Y. J., X. J. Ping, C. Qi, F. Shen, L. Sun, L., X. W. Sun, F. F. Ge, G. G. Xing and C. L. Cui. (2015). "Re-exposure to morphine-associated context facilitated long-term potentiation in the vSUB-NAc glutamatergic pathway via GluN2B-containing receptor activation." Addiction Biology 22(2): 435-445.
25. Lv, X. F., L. Sun, L., C. L. Cui and J. S. Han. (2015). "NAc Shell Arc/Arg3.1 Protein Mediates Reconsolidation of Morphine CPP by Increased GluR1 Cell Surface Expression: Activation of ERK-Coupled CREB is Required." International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology 18(9): pyv030. Published online 2015 Apr 15. doi: 10.1093/ijnp/pyv030
26. Hu, L., N. N. Chu, L. Sun, L., R. Zhang, J. S. Han and C. L. Cui. (2009). "Electroacupuncture treatment reverses morphine-induced physiological changes in dopaminergic neurons within the ventral tegmental area." Addiction Biology 14(4): 431-437.
27. 林晓瑞，霍昱，樊响，孙琳琳*，李亦婧* (2022). "微小RNA132在突触可塑性以及药物成瘾中的作用." 中国药物滥用防治杂志 28(7): 22. * co-corresponding author.
Research Monograph
1. Sun, L., B. M. Lutz and Y. X. Tao (2016). "Contribution of Spinal Cord mTORC1 to Chronic Opioid Tolerance and Hyperalgesia." Book: Neuropathology of Drug Addictions and Substance Misuse (Vol. 3, pp. 482-489). Publisher: Elsevier Inc .
2. Guo, S., Sun, L. (2024). "Chapter 3: Mechanisms of pain." Book: Pain Surgery (Vol. 1, pp. 35-45). Publisher: Peking University Medical Press.