Biography
Dr. Yan was born and grew up in Shanghai, China. She received her Bachelors and Masters degrees in the field of Biochemistry and Genetics, respectively, from Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Her PhD research was done in the lab of Dr. Joseph A. Beavo in Department of Pharmacology at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA USA. Her postdoctoral training was done with Dr. Bradford C. Berk in the Cardiology Unit of the University of Washington. Currently Dr. Yan is an associate professor in Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry. Her research focuses on a family of enzymes called phosphodiesterases (PDE) that degrade second messengers, diffusible signaling molecules that are rapidly generated and activate proteins within the cell to exert a cellular response. By inhibiting PDEs one can amplify cellular responses. One successful example is Viagra, which inhibits a specific PDE. Altered second messenger signaling and PDE activity/expression have been implicated in a variety of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, atherosclerosis and heart failure. Understanding the role of PDEs in cardiovascular diseases may provide new therapeutic information for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. To date, Dr. Yan has published over 80 research and review articles and has recently received an American Heart Association Established Investigator Award.
Professional Background
Dr. Chen Yan received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry in 1983 and Master's degree in Human/Medical Genetics from the Fudan University in 1983. She received her Ph.D. degree in molecular pharmacology from the University of Washington (UW), Seattle in 1996 and performed her postdoctoral training in molecular cardiology, also at UW. She was recruited to the University of Rochester as a Research Assistant Professor in December 1998. She currently is a assistant professor.
Research
General Research Interests: Regulation and function of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases in the cardiovascular system. Second messenger cyclic nucleotides (cAMP and cGMP) regulate many signaling pathways in the cardiovascular system. For example, the vascular tone, smooth muscle cell growth, and cardiac muscle contractility are all regulated by cyclic nucleotide signaling. We are interested in phosphodiesterases (PDEs), the enzymes that break down cyclic nucleotides and thus control the amplitude, duration, and compartmentalization of cyclic nucleotide signaling in the cell. It has become increasingly clear that cyclic nucleotide degradation by PDEs is not a constitutive function of the cell, but rather a highly regulated one controlled by different mechanisms in different physiological and pathological circumstances. PDE regulation and function is further complicated by the fact that there are more than 50 individual PDEs belonging to 11 different PDE families, yet our understanding of the physiological function of each PDE is far from complete. PDEs have been demonstrated to be good pharmacological targets for therapeutic agents due to the presence of multiple structurally different, tissue-specific, differentially regulated, and functionally distinct isozymes. Several drugs, such as Viagra, have been shown to have unique specific effects via selectively inhibit individual PDE isozymes. Our focus has been on determining the regulation and function of individual PDE isozymes in cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart failure, and cardiovascular inflammatory diseases. Ongoing and future studies using in vitro and in vivo approaches will focus on the various roles of PDEs in cardiovascular physiology and pathology, which may provide new therapeutic information for tissue specific interventions in cardiovascular diseases.
Credentials
Education
1983
BS | Department of Biology, Fudan University
Biochemistry
1986
MS | Genetic Institute, Fudan University
Genetics
1996
Ph.D. | University of Washington
Pharmacology
Post-doctoral Training & Residency
03/1997 - 11/1998
Division of Cardiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
Supervisor: Dr. Bradford Berk
06/1996 - 02/1997
Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
Supervisor: Dr. Joseph Beavo
Awards
2007 - 2011
American Heart Association Established Investigator Award
1997 - 1998
NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship
1994 - 1996
Fellowship for Advanced Predoctoral Training in Pharmacology/Toxicology of Pharmaceutical Research & Manufactures of America Foundation
1979 - 1982
Shanghai City Honor (Sanhao) Student (top 0.1% students who display the overall well-roundedness).
Received this award for three consecutive years.
1979 - 1982
Honor (Sanhao) Student of Fudan University (top 2% of students who display the best all round development of morality, intelligence, and physique).
Received this award for three consecutive years.
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Patents
Patent Title: Method and Compositions for Treatment or Prevention of Inflammatory Conditions
Patent #: 1602247
Issue Date: Mar 11, 2015
Country: China, People's Republic of
Invented By:
Bradford C Berk, Kye-Im Jeon, Jian-Dong Li, Xiangbin Xu, Chen Yan
Patent Title: Method and Compositions For Treatment or Prevention of Inflammatory Conditions
Patent #: 9,682,070
Issue Date: Jun 20, 2017
Country: United States
Invented By:
Bradford C Berk, Kye-Im Jeon, Jian-Dong Li, Xiangbin Xu, Chen Yan
Patent Title: Method and Compositions For Treatment or Prevention of Inflammatory Conditions
Patent #: 9,241,932
Issue Date: Jan 26, 2016
Country: United States
Invented By:
Bradford C Berk, Kye-Im Jeon, Jian-Dong Li, Xiangbin Xu, Chen Yan
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Publications
Journal Articles
1/3/2020
Komatsu K, Nam DH, Lee JY, Yoneda G, Yan C, Li JD. "Vinpocetine Suppresses -Induced Inflammation via Inhibition of ERK1 by CYLD." The Journal of immunology : official journal of the American Association of Immunologists.. 2020 Jan 3; Epub 2020 Jan 03.
12/5/2019
Chen S, Zhang Y, Lighthouse JK, Mickelsen DM, Wu J, Yao P, Small EM, Yan C. "A Novel Role of Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterase 10A in Pathological Cardiac Remodeling and Dysfunction." Circulation.. 2019 Dec 5; Epub 2019 Dec 05.
6/17/2019
Dugbartey GJ, Quinn B, Luo L, Mickelsen DM, Ture SK, Morrell CN, Czyzyk J, Doyley MM, Yan C, Berk BC, Korshunov VA. "The Protective Role of Natriuretic Peptide Receptor 2 against High Salt Injury in the Renal Papilla." The American journal of pathology.. 2019 Jun 17; Epub 2019 Jun 17.
Books & Chapters
2006
Chapter Title: Regulation and Function of Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases in Vascular Smooth Muscle and Vascular Diseases.
Book Title: Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases in Health and Disease
Author List: Yan C, Nagel DJ, Jeon K
Edited By: Joseph Beavo, Sharron Francis, and Miles Houslay
Published By: CRC Press 2006
2005
Chapter Title: Determination of Ca2+/Calmodulin-Stimulated Phosphodiesterase Activity in Intact Cells
Book Title: Methods Mol Biol
Author List: Yan C.
Published By: N/A 2005
2003
Chapter Title: Identification of secreted oxidative stress-induced factors (SOXF) and associated proteins: proteomics in vascular biology
Book Title: In Proteomic and Genomic Analysis of Cardiovascular Disease
Author List: Jin Z-G, Liao D-F, Yan C, and Berk BC
Edited By: Jennifer Van Eyk and Michael J. Dunn
Published By: Wiley-VCH publishers 2003
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