Jian-Chun Chen, M.D.

Research Associate Professor

jian-chun.chen@vanderbilt.edu
Faculty Appointments
Research Associate Professor of Medicine
Education
M.S., Kunming Medical University, Kunming, ChinaM.D., Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
Office Address
S-3223 MCN
TN 2372
Research Description
My research interests are investigating the underlying molecular mechanisms of acute and chronic kidney injury. My research has been focusing on investigating the role of EGF receptor activation in renal epithelial cells (proximal tubule cells and podocytes) in chronic and acute kidney injury. Both genetic and pharmacologic evidence from our studies for the first time indicated that EGFR activation plays a beneficial role in the kidney recovery from acute kidney injury (mainly utilizing ischemia-reperfusion mouse model) by its anti-apoptotic and mitogenic effects on renal proximal tubule epithelial cells; However, prolonged EGFR activation in chronic hyper activation of renin-Angiotensin system or diabetic condition plays detrimental role by producing excessive radical oxygen species or crosstalk with TGFß-Smad2/3 signaling pathways, thereby causing epithelia cell damage or promoting the epithelial cells to undergo dedifferentiation.
Research Keywords
Acute and chronic kidney injury, molecular mechanisms.
Publications
Chen J, Harris RC. Interaction of the EGF Receptor and the Hippo Pathway in the Diabetic Kidney. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol [print-electronic]. 2016 Jun; 27(6): 1689-700. PMID: 26453611, PMCID: PMC4884112, PII: ASN.2015040415, DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2015040415, ISSN: 1533-3450.

Expression and Function of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Physiology and Disease. Physiological Reviews. 2016 Jun; 96(3): 1025-69.

Wu H, Chen J, Xu J, Dong Z, Meyuhas O, Chen JK. Blocking rpS6 Phosphorylation Exacerbates Tsc1 Deletion-Induced Kidney Growth. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol [print-electronic]. 2016 Apr; 27(4): 1145-58. PMID: 26296742, PMCID: PMC4814178, PII: ASN.2014121264, DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2014121264, ISSN: 1533-3450.

Chen JK, Nagai K, Chen J, Plieth D, Hino M, Xu J, Sha F, Ikizler TA, Quarles CC, Threadgill DW, Neilson EG, Harris RC. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling determines kidney size. J. Clin. Invest [print-electronic]. 2015 Jun; 125(6): 2429-44. PMID: 25985273, PMCID: PMC4497754, PII: 78945, DOI: 10.1172/JCI78945, ISSN: 1558-8238.

Chen J, Chen JK, Harris RC. EGF receptor deletion in podocytes attenuates diabetic nephropathy. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol [print-electronic]. 2015 May; 26(5): 1115-25. PMID: 25185988, PMCID: PMC4413759, PII: ASN.2014020192, DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2014020192, ISSN: 1533-3450.

Xu J, Chen J, Dong Z, Meyuhas O, Chen JK. Phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 mediates compensatory renal hypertrophy. Kidney Int [print-electronic]. 2015 Mar; 87(3): 543-56. PMID: 25229342, PMCID: PMC4344886, PII: S0085-2538(15)30160-5, DOI: 10.1038/ki.2014.302, ISSN: 1523-1755.

Ma SK, Wang Y, Chen J, Zhang MZ, Harris RC, Chen JK. Overexpression of G-protein-coupled receptor 40 enhances the mitogenic response to epoxyeicosatrienoic acids. PLoS ONE. 2015; 10(2): e0113130. PMID: 25679385, PMCID: PMC4332471, PII: PONE-D-14-35770, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113130, ISSN: 1932-6203.

Interactions of EGFR and the Hippo Pathway in Diabetic Nephropathy. JOK (1). 2015; 1(1): 105. Short Communication.

Chen J, Chen JK, Conway EM, Harris RC. Survivin mediates renal proximal tubule recovery from AKI. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol [print-electronic]. 2013 Dec; 24(12): 2023-33. PMID: 23949800, PMCID: PMC3839548, PII: ASN.2013010076, DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2013010076, ISSN: 1533-3450.

Chen J, Chen MX, Fogo AB, Harris RC, Chen JK. MVps34 deletion in podocytes causes glomerulosclerosis by disrupting intracellular vesicle trafficking. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol [print-electronic]. 2013 Feb; 24(2): 198-207. PMID: 23291473, PMCID: PMC3559479, PII: ASN.2012010101, DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2012010101, ISSN: 1533-3450.

Zhang MZ, Yao B, Yang S, Jiang L, Wang S, Fan X, Yin H, Wong K, Miyazawa T, Chen J, Chang I, Singh A, Harris RC. CSF-1 signaling mediates recovery from acute kidney injury. J. Clin. Invest [print-electronic]. 2012 Dec; 122(12): 4519-32. PMID: 23143303, PMCID: PMC3533529, PII: 60363, DOI: 10.1172/JCI60363, ISSN: 1558-8238.

Chen J, Chen JK, Harris RC. Deletion of the epidermal growth factor receptor in renal proximal tubule epithelial cells delays recovery from acute kidney injury. Kidney Int [print-electronic]. 2012 Jul; 82(1): 45-52. PMID: 22418982, PMCID: PMC3376190, PII: S0085-2538(15)55428-8, DOI: 10.1038/ki.2012.43, ISSN: 1523-1755.

Chen J, Chen JK, Harris RC. Angiotensin II induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in renal epithelial cells through reactive oxygen species/Src/caveolin-mediated activation of an epidermal growth factor receptor-extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway. Mol. Cell. Biol [print-electronic]. 2012 Mar; 32(5): 981-91. PMID: 22215616, PMCID: PMC3295195, PII: MCB.06410-11, DOI: 10.1128/MCB.06410-11, ISSN: 1098-5549.

Chen J, Chen JK, Nagai K, Plieth D, Tan M, Lee TC, Threadgill DW, Neilson EG, Harris RC. EGFR signaling promotes TGFß-dependent renal fibrosis. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol [print-electronic]. 2012 Feb; 23(2): 215-24. PMID: 22095949, PMCID: PMC3269185, PII: ASN.2011070645, DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2011070645, ISSN: 1533-3450.

Chen JK, Chen J, Thomas G, Kozma SC, Harris RC. S6 kinase 1 knockout inhibits uninephrectomy- or diabetes-induced renal hypertrophy [editorial]. Am. J. Physiol. Renal Physiol [print-electronic]. 2009 Sep; 297(3): F585-93. PMID: 19474189, PMCID: PMC2739710, PII: 00186.2009, DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00186.2009, ISSN: 1522-1466.

Chen JK, Chen J, Imig JD, Wei S, Hachey DL, Guthi JS, Falck JR, Capdevila JH, Harris RC. Identification of novel endogenous cytochrome p450 arachidonate metabolites with high affinity for cannabinoid receptors. J. Biol. Chem [print-electronic]. 2008 Sep 9/5/2008; 283(36): 24514-24. PMID: 18606824, PMCID: PMC2528993, PII: M709873200, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M709873200, ISSN: 0021-9258.

Chen J, Chen JK, Falck JR, Guthi JS, Anjaiah S, Capdevila JH, Harris RC. Mitogenic activity and signaling mechanism of 2-(14,15- epoxyeicosatrienoyl)glycerol, a novel cytochrome p450 arachidonate metabolite. Mol. Cell. Biol [print-electronic]. 2007 Apr; 27(8): 3023-34. PMID: 17283047, PMCID: PMC1899952, PII: MCB.01482-06, DOI: 10.1128/MCB.01482-06, ISSN: 0270-7306.

Chen J, Chen JK, Neilson EG, Harris RC. Role of EGF receptor activation in angiotensin II-induced renal epithelial cell hypertrophy. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol [print-electronic]. 2006 Jun; 17(6): 1615-23. PMID: 16641152, PII: ASN.2005111163, DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2005111163, ISSN: 1046-6673.

Chen JK, Chen J, Neilson EG, Harris RC. Role of mammalian target of rapamycin signaling in compensatory renal hypertrophy. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol [print-electronic]. 2005 May; 16(5): 1384-91. PMID: 15788477, PII: ASN.2004100894, DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2004100894, ISSN: 1046-6673.

Quan A, Chakravarty S, Chen JK, Chen JC, Loleh S, Saini N, Harris RC, Capdevila J, Quigley R. Androgens augment proximal tubule transport. Am. J. Physiol. Renal Physiol [print-electronic]. 2004 Sep; 287(3): F452-9. PMID: 15100096, PII: 00188.2003, DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00188.2003, ISSN: 1931-857X.

Comparative study on isoenzymes of lactate dehydrogenase of Pagumogonimus skrjabini adults and paragonimus proliferus adults by isoelectrofocusing. JTDP (1). 2003; 1(1): 179-82.