Ying Chen, MD, PhD
Research Scientist in Epidemiology (Environmental Health Sciences)Cards
Contact Info
Environmental Health Sciences
60 College St, LEPH 521
New Haven, CT 06520
United States
About
Titles
Research Scientist in Epidemiology (Environmental Health Sciences)
Biography
Dr. Chen has a broad background in environmental genetics and molecular toxicology, with specific training and expertise in redox biology, oxidative stress related diseases, and transgenic mouse models of redox dysregulation. Her research over the past ten years utilizes unique animal models and applies the system biology approach integrating multi-omics data and histopathology to understand the mechanistic roles of redox homeostasis in disease conditions related to environmental and dietary exposures.
- How does redox-elicited modifications of the liver proteome tune cellular response to protect against alcohol-associated fatty liver disease?
- Does oxidative stress play a mutagenic role in emerging water contaminant 1,4-dioxane-induced liver cancer
- What is the functional crosstalk between antioxidants in the central nervous system as they relate to neuronal health and disease?
- What is the translational importance of these new knowledge in risk assessment, disease prevention and treatment?
Appointments
Environmental Health Sciences
Research ScientistPrimaryEnvironmental Health Sciences
LecturerSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Postdoctoral Research Associate
- University of Colorado (2010)
- Postdoctoral fellow
- University of Cincinnati (2008)
- PhD
- University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences (2007)
- MD
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Clinical Medicine (1994)
Research
Overview
Dr. Chen’s research focuses on understanding the mechanistic functions of redox homeostasis and antioxidant deficiencies in human diseases associated with environmental and dietary stress. Reduced GSH is the most abundant thiol antioxidant that combats excessive oxidants generated during cellular metabolism or in response to environmental assaults. GSH deficiency has been associated with numerous pathological conditions in human. Dr. Chen’s research work involves the use of unique redox animal models and system biology approach to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying liver diseases and neurological disorders.
Specific research projects include:
- Redox-mediated mechanisms in protection against alcohol-associated fatty liver disease
- The mechanistic role of oxidative stress in water contaminant 1,4-dioxane-induced liver cytotoxicity and genotoxicity
- The functional interplay between two antioxidants (glutathione and ascorbate) in the central nervous system
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
ORCID
0000-0003-4946-4693
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
David Thompson
Chiang-Shan Ray Li, MD, PhD
Georgia Charkoftaki, PharmD, PhD
Emily Davidson
Rolando Garcia Milian, MLS, AHIP
Jaya Prakash Golla, PhD
Publications
2024
Glutathione synthesis in the mouse liver supports lipid abundance through NRF2 repression
Asantewaa G, Tuttle E, Ward N, Kang Y, Kim Y, Kavanagh M, Girnius N, Chen Y, Rodriguez K, Hecht F, Zocchi M, Smorodintsev-Schiller L, Scales T, Taylor K, Alimohammadi F, Duncan R, Sechrist Z, Agostini-Vulaj D, Schafer X, Chang H, Smith Z, O’Connor T, Whelan S, Selfors L, Crowdis J, Gray G, Bronson R, Brenner D, Rufini A, Dirksen R, Hezel A, Huber A, Munger J, Cravatt B, Vasiliou V, Cole C, DeNicola G, Harris I. Glutathione synthesis in the mouse liver supports lipid abundance through NRF2 repression. Nature Communications 2024, 15: 6152. PMID: 39034312, PMCID: PMC11271484, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50454-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsGlutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunitLipid abundanceLipogenic enzyme expressionAbundance in vivoLipid productionCatalytic subunitRepress Nrf2Transcription factorsNrf2 repressionAdult tissuesSynthesis of GSHEnzyme expressionNon-redundantRedox bufferMouse liverLoss of GSHTriglyceride productionIn vivo modelsAbundanceGlutathione synthesisLiver balanceFat storesOxidative stressLipidDeletionAge-related reduction in anxiety and neural encoding of negative emotional memory
Chaudhary S, Zhang S, Chen Y, Dominguez J, Chao H, Li C. Age-related reduction in anxiety and neural encoding of negative emotional memory. Frontiers In Aging Neuroscience 2024, 16: 1375435. PMID: 39021704, PMCID: PMC11252031, DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1375435.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNegative emotional memoriesSpielberger State-Trait Anxiety InventoryEmotional memoryAge-related reductionSpielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scoresWhole-brain regressionNegative emotional imagesState-Trait Anxiety InventoryTrait Anxiety InventoryAge-related differencesSignal detection theoryMemory taskNeutral imagesAge-related changesEmotional imagesAnxiety InventoryMediation analysisAnxietyPost-scanCortical activityNeural encodingState scoresMemoryOlder adultsDetection theoryGray matter volumetric correlates of the polygenic risk of depression: A study of the Human Connectome Project data
Fu X, Chen Y, Luo X, Ide J, Li C. Gray matter volumetric correlates of the polygenic risk of depression: A study of the Human Connectome Project data. European Neuropsychopharmacology 2024, 87: 2-12. PMID: 38936229, DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.06.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGray matter volumeRegional gray matter volumeGenetic risk of depressionPhenotype of depressionPolygenic risk scoresVoxel-based morphometryRisk of depressionAchenbach Adult Self-ReportRight cerebellum crus ICerebellar gray matter volumeAnterior cingulate volumesPathophysiology of depressionAnterior cingulate cortexCerebellum crus IDSM-oriented scalesMarkers of depressionLeft postcentral gyrusAdult Self-ReportRight gyrus rectusGenetic riskNeural endophenotypesHuman Connectome Project dataDrinking severityHuman Connectome ProjectCingulate volumesLiver epigenomic signature associated with chronic oxidative stress in a mouse model of glutathione deficiency
Hong S, Yu X, Zhu Y, Chen Y. Liver epigenomic signature associated with chronic oxidative stress in a mouse model of glutathione deficiency. Chemico-Biological Interactions 2024, 398: 111093. PMID: 38830566, PMCID: PMC11223951, DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2024.111093.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsS-adenosyl methionineGene promoterArray-based DNA methylation profilingPeripheral blood cellsFatty liver diseaseDNA methylation profilesDNA methylation statusMethyl donor S-adenosyl methionineGene promoter regionFunctional enrichment analysisMethylation enrichmentMouse modelOxidative stressLiver epigenomeEpigenomic changesIn vivo interplayMethylation profilesPromoter regionEpigenetic regulationEpigenomic signaturesEpigenetic mechanismsLipid homeostasisBlood cellsEnrichment analysisCellular survivalDeficient sleep, altered hypothalamic functional connectivity, depression and anxiety in cigarette smokers
Chen Y, Chaudhary S, Li G, Fucito L, Bi J, Li C. Deficient sleep, altered hypothalamic functional connectivity, depression and anxiety in cigarette smokers. Neuroimage Reports 2024, 4: 100200. PMID: 38605733, PMCID: PMC11008573, DOI: 10.1016/j.ynirp.2024.100200.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsResting state functional connectivitySeverity of depressionPittsburgh Sleep Quality IndexMotivated behaviorNicotine dependenceFunctional connectivityPittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scoreAchenbach Adult Self-ReportSeverity of alcohol useAssociated with greater severityComorbid nicotine dependenceDeficient sleepAdult Self-ReportHypothalamic functional connectivityHuman Connectome ProjectAnxiety disordersAnxiety severityPublished routinesAnxiety symptomsCircuit dysfunctionGreater severityPsychiatric problemsSleep-wake cyclePoor sleep qualityNeural markersSex differences in the effects of individual anxiety state on regional responses to negative emotional scenes
Chaudhary S, Wong H, Chen Y, Zhang S, Li C. Sex differences in the effects of individual anxiety state on regional responses to negative emotional scenes. Biology Of Sex Differences 2024, 15: 15. PMID: 38351045, PMCID: PMC10863151, DOI: 10.1186/s13293-024-00591-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsMedial prefrontal cortexState-Trait Anxiety InventoryFunctional magnetic resonance imagingState-Trait Anxiety Inventory scoresSuperior frontal gyrusGeneralized psychophysiological interactionEmotional processingFrontal gyrusLingual gyrusMedial prefrontal cortex connectivityMedial prefrontal cortex activationSex differencesRight inferior frontal gyrusResponse to negative emotionsRight superior frontal gyrusFunctional magnetic resonance imaging dataReaction timeImpact emotional processingNegative emotion processingInferior frontal gyrusLeft parahippocampal gyrusNegative emotional scenesMarkers of anxietyRepeated-measures analysis of covarianceLevels of anxiety1,4-Dioxane
Stouffer A, Erickson C, Krick M, Chen Y, Ginsberg G, Loch-Caruso R, Jones R, Madrigal J, Thompson D, Vasliou V. 1,4-Dioxane. 2024, 843-849. DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-824315-2.00831-9.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsPersistent environmental contaminationEnvironmental contaminationEnvironmental behaviorEnvironmental releaseChemical intermediatesWater solubilityPotential negative health effectsDioxaneRecent decadesSoilConsumer productsGroundwaterContaminationHealth effectsSolventSolubilityIntermediatesNegative health effectsStabilizerManagementUsesProductsUseToxicityExposure
2023
Sleep Deficits Inter-Link Lower Basal Forebrain–Posterior Cingulate Connectivity and Perceived Stress and Anxiety Bidirectionally in Young Men
Li G, Zhong D, Li B, Chen Y, Yang L, Li C. Sleep Deficits Inter-Link Lower Basal Forebrain–Posterior Cingulate Connectivity and Perceived Stress and Anxiety Bidirectionally in Young Men. The International Journal Of Neuropsychopharmacology 2023, 26: 879-889. PMID: 37924270, PMCID: PMC10726414, DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyad062.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMulti-omics profiling reveals cellular pathways and functions regulated by ALDH1B1 in colon cancer cells
Wang Y, Popovic Z, Charkoftaki G, Garcia-Milian R, Lam T, Thompson D, Chen Y, Vasiliou V. Multi-omics profiling reveals cellular pathways and functions regulated by ALDH1B1 in colon cancer cells. Chemico-Biological Interactions 2023, 384: 110714. PMID: 37716420, PMCID: PMC10807983, DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2023.110714.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsColon cancer cellsCellular stress response pathwaysStress response pathwaysMulti-omics analysisCancer cellsSecond messenger signalingMulti-omics profilingNew molecular informationFunctional annotationCellular functionsResponse pathwaysKinase signalingCellular pathwaysColon adenocarcinoma cell lineHuman colon adenocarcinoma cell lineApoptosis signalingEnrichment analysisAldehyde dehydrogenase 1B1Molecular signaturesAdenocarcinoma cell lineMolecular informationSignalingNovel targetProtein expressionCell linesMachine Learning of Functional Connectivity to Biotype Alcohol and Nicotine Use Disorders
Zhu T, Wang W, Chen Y, Kranzler H, Li C, Bi J. Machine Learning of Functional Connectivity to Biotype Alcohol and Nicotine Use Disorders. Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience And Neuroimaging 2023, 9: 326-336. PMID: 37696489, PMCID: PMC10976073, DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2023.08.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsNicotine use disorderHealthy controlsFunctional connectivity featuresUse disordersMagnetic resonance imagingNUD subjectsVisual cortexResonance imagingClinical metricsFunctional connectivityNoninvasive toolNeural phenotypesSample of individualsMulti-task learningTransdiagnostic approachUK BiobankReplication setGenetic profileMarkersReplication sampleHighest areaDisordersDepressionAUDBody of literature
Links & Media
News
- August 08, 2016
Yale Research Provides Insights into Alcoholic Liver Disease
- February 01, 2016
The Threat of Lead
- September 06, 2011Source: The Denver Post
CU research: Enzyme discovered that could detect colon cancer earlier
Get In Touch
Contacts
Environmental Health Sciences
60 College St, LEPH 521
New Haven, CT 06520
United States
Locations
Yale School of Public Health (LEPH)
Lab
60 College Street, Fl 5th, Rm 508
New Haven, CT 06510
Events
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