Yan Chen, PhD | McGovern Medical School

Biography

Yan Chen, PhD, is associate professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science at McGovern Medical School. Her research program focuses on age-related macular degeneration, with particular emphasis on the retinal pigment epithelium, lipid metabolism, and cellular signaling pathways.

Her research has shown that when a key cellular growth and metabolism control system becomes overactive, it disrupts normal function in the retinal pigment epithelium, a layer of cells essential for vision. This disruption contributes to retinal damage and vision loss. Building on this work, her laboratory is studying specific molecules involved in this process to better understand how these changes drive age-related macular degeneration and to identify potential targets for new treatments.

Dr. Chen earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental chemistry from Nanjing University and a master’s degree in molecular genetics from Sun Yat-sen University. She completed her PhD in biochemistry, cell, and developmental biology at Emory University, followed by postdoctoral training in ophthalmology at Vanderbilt University.

Education

Bachelor's in Environmental Chemistry: Nanjing University
Master's Degree, Molecular Genetics: Sun Yat-sen University
PhD, biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology: Emory University
Postdoctoral training: Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Vanderbilt University

Publications

PUBLICATIONS – PEER-REVIEWED

1. Usoltseva, A., Litwin, C., Lee, M., Hill, C., Cai, J., Chen, Y. (2024) Role of LIPIN 1 in regulating metabolic homeostasis in the retinal pigment epithelium. FASEB J 38: e70249.

2. Chen, Y., Bounds, S. E., Karmoker, R. J., Liu, Y., Cai, J. (2023). Interleukin-17-Mediated Protective Cytokine Signaling Against Degeneration of the Retinal Pigment Epithelium. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 120, e2311647120. PMID: 38085785

3. Jarrell, Z. R.+, Lee, C.-M.+, Kim, K.-H., He, X., Smith, M. R., Raha, J. R., Orr, M., Kang, S.-M., Chen, Y., Jones, D. P., Go, Y.-M. (2023). Metabolic reprograming and increased inflammation by cadmium exposure following early-life respiratory syncytial virus infection : the involvement of protein S-palmitoylation. Toxicological Sciences. 197: 186-96. PMID: 37941452

4. Cai, J., Litwin C., Cheng R., Ma J., and Chen Y (2022). DARPP32, a target of hyperactive mTORC1 in the retinal pigment epithelium. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 119, e2207489119. PMID: 35939707. 5. Jarrell Z, Smith M, Kim K, Lee Y, Hu X, He X, Orr M, Chen Y, Kang S, Jones D, Go Y (2022). Low dose cadmium potentiates metabolic reprogramming following early-life respiratory syncytial virus infection. Toxicological Sciences 188, 62-74. PMID: 35512398.

The cover of this volume features an image contributed by my group.

6. Xu L, Wang X, Chen Y, Soong L, Chen Y, Cai J, Liang Y, Sun J (2021). Metformin Modulates T Cell Function and Alleviates Liver Injury Through Bioenergetic Regulation in Viral Hepatitis. Front Immunol. 12:638575. PMID: 33968030.

7. Go YM, Zhang J, Fernandes J, Litwin C, Chen R, Wensel TG, Jones DP, Cai J, Chen Y. (2020). MTOR-initiated metabolic switch and degeneration in the retinal pigment epithelium. FASEB J. 34(9):12502-12520. PMID: 32721041

8.Morris, D. R., Bounds, S. E., Liu, H., Ding, W.-Q., Chen, Y., Liu, Y., Cai, J. (2020).Exosomal MiRNA Transfer between Retinal Microglia and RPE. International journal ofmolecular sciences, 21(10). PMID: 32429541.

9.Huang, Y., Chen, Y., Shaw, A. M., Goldfine, H., Tian, J., Cai, J. (2018). Enhancing TFEB-Mediated Cellular Degradation Pathways by the mTORC1 Inhibitor Quercetin. Oxidativemedicine and cellular longevity, 2018, 5073420. PMID: 30510622.

10.Yu, B., Egbejimi, A., Dharmat, R., Xu, P., Zhao, Z. J., Long, B., Miao, H., Chen, R.,Wensel, T. G., Cai, J., Chen, Y. (2018). Phagocytosed photoreceptor outer segmentsactivate mTORC1 in the retinal pigment epithelium. Science signaling, 11(532). DOI:10.1126/scisignal.aag3315. PMID: 29844054.

11.Zhao, Z. J., Liang, Y., Liu, Y., Xu, P., Flamme-Wiese, M. J., Sun, D., Sun, J., Mullins, R.F., Chen, Y., Cai, J. (2017). Choroidal γδ T cells in protection against retinal pigmentepithelium and retinal injury. FASEB J, 31(11), 4903-4916. PMID: 28729290.

12.Zhang, K., Xu, P., Sowers, J. L., Machuca, D. F., Mirfattah, B., Herring, J., Tang, H.,Chen, Y., Tian, B., Brasier, A. R., Sowers, L. C. (2017). Proteome Analysis of HypoxicGlioblastoma Cells Reveals Sequential Metabolic Adaptation of One-Carbon MetabolicPathways. Molecular & cellular proteomics: MCP, 16(11), 1906-1921. PMID: 28874504.DOI: 0.1074/mcp.RA117.000154

13.Zhao Z, Yang M, Azar SR, Soong L, Weaver SC, Sun J, Chen Y, Rossi SL, Cai J. (2017)Viral Retinopathy in Experimental Models of Zika Infection. Invest Ophthalmol VisSci. 58(10):4355–4365. PMID: 28810265

14.Yi P, Liang Y, Yuan DMK, Jie Z, Kwota Z, Chen Y, Cong Y, Fan X, Sun J. (2017) A tightlyregulated IL-22 response maintains immune functions and homeostasis in systemic viralinfection. Sci Rep. 7(1):3857. PMID: 28634408.

15.Yu B, Xu P, Zhao Z, Cai J, Sternberg P, Chen Y (2014). Subcellular distribution andactivity of mechanistic target of rapamycin in aged retinal pigment epithelium. InvestOphthalmol Vis Sci. 55(12):8638-50. PMID: 25491300.

16.Zhao Z, Xu P, Jie Z, Zuo Y, Yu B, Soong L, Sun J, Chen Y, Cai J. (2014) γδ T cells as amajor source of IL-17 production during age-dependent RPE degeneration. InvestOphthalmol Vis Sci. 55(10):6580-9. PMID: 25212781.

17.Zhao Z, Chen Y, Wang J, Sternberg P, Freeman ML, Grossniklaus HE, Cai J. (2011) Age-related retinopathy in NRF2-deficient mice. PLoS One. 6(4):e19456. PMID: 21559389

18.Chen Y, Wang J, Cai J, Sternberg P (2010). Altered mTOR signaling in senescent retinalpigment epithelium. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 5314-9. PMID: 20445122

19.Chen J, Wang L, Chen Y, Sternberg P, Cai J. (2009) Phosphatidylinositol 3 kinasepathway and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-induced oxidative injury in the RPE. Invest OphthalmolVis Sci. 50(2):936-42. PMID: 18806289

20.Chen Y, Go YM, Pohl J, Reed M, Cai J, Jones DP. Increased mitochondrial thioredoxin 2potentiates N-ethylmaleimide-induced cytotoxicity (2008). Chem Res Toxicol. 21(6):1205-10.PMID: 18447393.

21.Chen Y, Sternberg P, Cai J (2008). Characterization of a Bcl-XL-interacting protein FKBP8and its splice variant in human RPE cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 49(4):1721-7.PMID: 18385096

22.Wang L, Chen Y, Sternberg P, Cai J (2008). Essential roles of the PI3 kinase/Akt pathwayin regulating Nrf2-dependent antioxidant functions in the RPE. Invest Ophthalmol VisSci. 49(4):1671-8. PMID: 18385090

23.Rezaei KA, Chen Y, Cai J, Sternberg P. (2008) Modulation of Nrf2-dependent antioxidantfunctions in the RPE by Zip2, a zinc transporter protein. 49(4):1665-70 PMID: 18385089.

24.Chen Y, Cai J, Jones DP. (2006) Mitochondrial thioredoxin in regulation of oxidant-induced cell death. FEBS Lett. 580(28-29):6596-602. PMID: 17113580

25.Chen Y, Yu M, Jones DP, Greenamyre JT, Cai J. (2006) Protection against oxidant-induced apoptosis by mitochondrial thioredoxin in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. ToxicolAppl Pharmacol. 216(2):256-62. PMID: 16797630.

26.Cai J, Kirlin WG, Chen Y, Yan X, Jones DP, Sartorelli AC (2006). Overexpression of heatshock factor 1 inhibits butyrate-induced differentiation in colon cancer cells. Cell StressChaperones. 11(3):199-207. PMID: 17009592

27.Ha KN, Chen Y, Cai J, Sternberg P Jr. (2006) Increased glutathione synthesis through anARE-Nrf2-dependent pathway by zinc in the RPE: implication for protection againstoxidative stress. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 47(6):2709-15. PMID: 16723490.

28.Cai J, Chen Y, Murphy TJ, Jones DP, Sartorelli AC. (2004) Role of caspase activation inbutyrate-induced terminal differentiation of HT29 colon carcinoma cells. Arch BiochemBiophys. 424(2):119-27. PMID: 15047183

29.Cai J, Chen Y, Seth S, Furukawa S, Compans RW, Jones DP. (2003) Inhibition ofinfluenza infection by glutathione. Free Radic Biol Med. 34(7):928-36. PMID: 12654482.

30.Watson WH, Chen Y, Jones DP. (2003) Redox state of glutathione and thioredoxin indifferentiation and apoptosis. Biofactors. 17(1-4):307-14. Review. PMID: 12897452.

31.Chen Y, Cai J, Murphy TJ, Jones DP (2002). Overexpressed human mitochondrialthioredoxin confers resistance to oxidant-induced apoptosis in human osteosarcomacells. J Biol Chem. 277(36):33242-8. PMID: 12032145.

32.Chen Y, Cai J, Anders MW, Stevens JL, Jones DP. (2001) Role of mitochondrialdysfunction in S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-l-cysteine-induced apoptosis. Toxicol ApplPharmacol. 170(3):172-80. PMID: 11162782.

BOOK CHAPTERS

1. Chen Y, Zhao Z, Sternberg P (2012). NRF2 and age-related RPE degeneration. In: RumeltS, editor. Advances in Ophthalmology United States: InTech; 2012. Chapter 24; p.427-450.

2. Chen, Y. and Wang, J. (1998). Negative regulatory element – silencer. Hereditas (Beijing)20: 45-48.