Yanfang Chen
M.D., Ph.D.
Department of PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Wright State University
United States of America
Biography
Education History: M.D. Nanhua University Medical College Ph.D. Beijing University Medical Center Postdoctoral Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
Research Interest
Integrative and Translational Research: stroke; hypertension; stem cell; diabetic complications; cellular microvesicles (MVs) and exosomes; cancer. Study of the role of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in cardiovascular disease. We are currently focusing on the two counteracting RAS signaling pathways (Ang II/AT1 and Ang1-7/Mas). Gene modified mice models (transgenic or gene deletion) are used for the studies. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) is conducted for introducing focal ischemic stroke on animals. The long-term objective is to understand the roles of different RAS pathways in regulating endothelial progenitors (EPCs), endothelial cell (ECs), smooth muscle cells (SMCs), neuronal and glial function. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) and bone marrow(BM) mechanisms are also explored. Study of stem cell-based and gene-based therapeutic avenues for stroke and tissue injury.The BM derived EPCs may play an important role in tissue repair. The interest in my laboratory is to understand the changes of EPCs function in hypertension and type-2 diabetes. We hypothesize that the local RAS, the stromal derived factor (SDF-1a) and its receptor CXCR4 may regulate the EPCs function such as generation, mobilization and homing for angiogenesis and repair. We are interested in transplantation (or in situ reprogram for regeneration) of EPCs and neuron progenitor cells (NPCs) for treating ischemic stroke. Study of extracellular microvesicles (MVs) and Exosomes in four major areas: 1) release, isolation, purification and detection; 2) contents, modulation and function; 3) biomarkers; 4) targets for therapeutics. Accumulating evidence indicate that extracellular MVs and exosomes could be biomarkers and therapeutic targets of various diseases. The long-term objective in my laboratory is to understand the roles and mechanisms of extracellular MVs and exosomes mediated cell-cell communication in physiology and pathologies (cardiovascular and neurological diseases, cancers).
Publications
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Yang Y, Yang X, Dong Y, Chen N, Xiao X, Liu H, Li Z, Chen Y*.Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation alleviates adverse cardiac remodeling induced by overload training in rats. J Appl Physiol. 2016;120(11):1269-76
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Ma CL, Ma XT, Wang JJ, Liu H, Chen YF, Yang Y. Physical exercise induces hippocampal neurogenesis and prevents cognitive decline. Behav Brain Res. 2016;317:332-339
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Wu K, Yang Y, Zhong Y, Ammar HM, Zhang P, Guo R, Liu H, Cheng C, Koroscil TM, Chen Y, Liu S, Bihl JC. The effects of microvesicles on endothelial progenitor cells are compromised in type 2 diabetic patients via downregulation of miR-126/VEGFR2 pathway. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2016;310(10):E828-37.
