Introduction of Professor Wen Chen

 

Professor, Faculty of Toxicology, Sun Yat-sen University.

 

Professor Chen received her MD degree from Guangzhou Medical College, China in 1987 and her MS and PhD degrees from the Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, respectively in 1994 and 2001. Upon graduation from Guangzhou Medical College, she started an academic career at the Institute of Chemical Carcinogenesis of Guangzhou Medical College. Since joining the Sun Yat-sen University in 2005, Professor Chen has served as Professor of Department of Toxicology.

 

Since 2005, Professor Chen has received several prestigious awards including a Distinguished Young Scholar and three Key program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), a Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (Ministry of Education), a National Key Basic Research and Development Program, a National High Technology Research and Development Key Program of China, a Commonweal Program of Ministry of Health of China, and a Guangdong Province Universities and Colleges Pearl River Scholar Funded Scheme (GDUPS). As an associated editor,she had5 books and more than 200 journal papers published. Editor-in-Chief of the Basic Toxicology Textbook

 

Research

Professor Chen’s research areas include the application of human cell transformation model in potent carcinogen screening, epigenetic mechanism of chemical carcinogenesis, monitoring of environmental and occupational exposure, and identification of biomarkers for risk assessment.

 

Grant Awards

 

  1. Environmental Exposure, Health Risk Assessment and Mechanism Study of New Energy Lithium Battery Industry. Shenzhen Special Fund for Medical Research (Co-PI), B250300, 2026-2029.
  2. Methodology for Health Risk Assessment of Site Mixed Contamination. National Key R&D Program of China (PI), 2024YFC3713200,2024-2028. 
  3. Molecular Mechanisms of Epigenetic Clock Alteration and Toxic Pathway Perturbation Underlying Organism Injury Induced by Ozone Exposure. Key Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (PI), 82130094, 2022-2026. 
  4. Toxicity Pathway-based Mechanism Study on Ambient PM2.5 Exposure-induced Lung Cancer. Key Grant of National Natural Science Fund. (2016-2019, 91543208) (PI)
  5. The Mechanism of Hematoxicity and Mode of Action under Low-dose Occupational Benzene Exposure. Key Grant of National Natural Science Fund. (2015-2019, 814300795) (PI)
  6. The Epigenetic Regulation of Gene Expression of Metabolic Enzymes. Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(S2012040007713) (PI)
  7. The Evaluation of Early Adverse Health Effects of Occupational Exposure. National "Twelfth Five-Year" Plan for Science & Technology(2014BAI12B02) (co-PI)
  8. The Evaluation of Chemical Carcinogenicity Using Toxicity Pathway Approach. Supported by Guangdong Province Universities and Colleges PearlRiver Scholar Funded Scheme GDUPS (2010)(PI) 
  9. The Development of Technology for Occupational Health Inspection and Surveillance. Supported by Ministry of Health of China (2009-2013, 200902006)(co-PI)
  10. Network Regulation of Non-coding RNA in Human Cancer. Supported by a National Key Basic Research and Development Program(2010-2014, 2010CB912803)(co-PI)
  11. The Development of Key Technology in Risk Assessment of Environmental Hazards. Supported by the National High Technology Research andDevelopment Key Program of China (2008-2011, 2008AA062504)(co-PI)
  12. Interaction Among Epigenetic Regulatory Network. Supported by National Natural Science Funds for Distinguished Young Scholar.（2010-2013, 30925029）(PI)
  13. Epigenetic Alterations During Environmental Carcinogen-induced Cell Transformation. Supported by the Key Grant of National Natural Science Fund. (2007-2010, 30630055) (PI)
  14. Protein Phosphatase 2A and Cell Transformation. Supported by Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University.(2005-2007, NCET-05-0722)  (PI)
  15. In Vitro System for Metabolic Activation. Supported by Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China. (2006-2007, 20060558024)  (PI)
  16. Establishmentand Application of Human Cell Models. Supported by National Natural Science Fund. (2006-2008, 30571588) (PI)
  17. Technology in Occupational Health Surveillanceand Health Improvement. Supported by Ministry of Health of China. (2010-2013, 200902006) (co-PI)
  18. Functional Networks and Regulatory Mechanism of miRNA in Cancer. Supported by National Key Basic Research and Development Program(973 project). (2010-2014, 2010CB912800) (co-PI)
  19. Risk Assessmentof Environmental Pollution and Key Control Technology. Supported by National High Technology Researchand Development Key Program of China. (2008-2011, 2008AA062504) (co-PI)
  20. Biomarkers and Environmental Pollution. Supported by National Key Basic Research and Development Program. (2002-2006, 2002CB512903) (co-PI)
  21. The Detection of Sperm Chromosomal Aberration in Workers Exposed to Benzene and Carbon Disulfide Using Multi-fluorescene in Situ Hybridization. Supported by Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Fund. (2001-2003, 001334) (co-PI)

  22. The Establishment of Mouse Model with Telomerase Gene Knocked out. Supported by Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Fund(2001-2003, 001374) (PI)

     

Selected Publications

  1. Qian Song, Zehua Ou, Zhiting Wang, Jianhui Liu, Lizhu Ye, Yue Jiang, Wenjie Liu, Rui Zhang, Ziwei Wang, Miao Li, Yuzhi Guo, Jiahao Zhang, Lian Li, Daochuan Li, Rong Zhang, Shen Chen, Lihua Zhang*, Wen Chen*. Exhaled Breath Condensate Reveals PM2.5-Driven Airway Metabolic Signature in Young Adults: A Panel Study. Environ Sci Technol, 2026; 60(21):14859.
  2. Yuzhi Guo, Shen Chen, Jiahao Zhang, Miao Li, Xinhang Jiang, Yahan Yang, Lizhu Ye, Zhaohuan Gui, Guanghui Dong, Daochuan Li, Wen Chen*. Dietary Patterns Modulate Ozone-Induced Reproductive Injury in C57BL/6J Mice. Environ & Health, 2026; DOI:10.1021/envhealth.5c00865
  3. Miao Li, Shen Chen, Xinhang Jiang, Lizhu Ye, Yuzhi Guo, Wenxue Li, Jiahao Zhang, Wenjie Liu, Yahan Yang, Zehua Ou, Liping Chen, Guanghui Dong, Weidong Wu, Daochuan Li, Wen Chen. Subchronic ozone exposure leads to multi-organ injuries with differential reversibility in male C57BL/6J mice. J Hazard Mater. 2025; 492:138049. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat. 2025.138049.
  4. Yue Jiang, Fang Li, Lizhu Ye, Rui Zhang, Shen Chen, Hui Peng, Haiyan Zhang, Daochuan Li, Liping Chen, Xiaowen Zeng, Guanghui Dong, Rong Zhang,* Qian Luo,* Wen Chen*. Spatial regulation of NMN supplementation on brain lipid metabolism upon acute and sub-chronic PM exposure in C57BL/6 mice. 2024 Particle Fibre Toxicol,2024; 21(1):35. doi: 10.1186/s12989-024-00597-3.
  5. Ziwei Wang, Shen Chen, Yuzhi Guo, Rui Zhang, Qi Zhang, Xinhang Jiang, Miao Li, Yue Jiang, Lizhu Ye, Xiaoyu Guo, Chuang Li, Guangtong Zhang, Daochuan Li, Liping Chen, Wen Chen*. Development of an organoid-based cell transformation assay for intestinal carcinogenicity screening of chemicals. Archives of Toxicology, 2024; 98:1937-1951.
  6. Ziwei Wang, Shen Chen, Yaqin Pang, Lizhu Ye, Qi Zhang, Xinhang Jiang, Rui Zhang, Miao Li, Zhanyu Guo, Yue Jiang, Daochuan Li, Xiumei Xing, Liping Chen, Michael Aschner*, Wen Chen*. Morphological alterations in C57BL/6 mouse intestinal organoids as a tool for predicting chemical induced toxicity. Archives of Toxicology, 2023, 97:1133-1146.
  7. Rui Zhang, Shen Chen, Ziwei Wang, Lizhu Ye, Yue Jiang, Miao Li, Xinhang Jiang, Hui Peng, Zhanyu Guo, Liping Chen, Rong Zhang, Yujie Niu, Michael Aschner, Daochuan Li*, and Wen Chen*. Assessing the Effects of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Supplementation on Pulmonary Inflammation in Male Mice Sub-chronically Exposed to Ambient Particulate Matter. Environ Health Perspect, 2023; 131(7):77006. 
  8. Shen Chen, Miao Li, Rui Zhang, Lizhu Ye, Yue Jiang, Xinhang Jiang, Hui Peng, Ziwei Wang, Zhanyu Guo, Liping Chen, Rong Zhang, Yujie Niu, Michael Aschner, Daochuan Li, Wen Chen*. Type 1 diabetes and diet-induced obesity predispose C57BL/6J mice to PM2.5-induced lung injury: a comparative study. Particle Fibre Toxicol, 2023, 17;20(1):10.
  9. Liping Chen, Ping Guo, Wenxue Li, Xinhang Jiang, Qun Zhao, Daochuan Li，Qing Wang, Yongmei Xiao, Xiumei Xing, Michael Aschner, Lihua Zhang*, and Wen Chen*. Identification of Protein Phosphatase 2A-regulated Hepatic Metabolic Enzymes in Response to Xenobiotics. J Biol Chem, 2022; 298(5):101918.
  10. Daochuan Li, Shen Chen, Qiong Li, Liping Chen, Haiyan Zhang, Huiyao Li, Dianke Yu, Rong Zhang, Yujie Niu, Shaoyou Lu, Lizhu Ye, Xiaowen Zeng, Guanghui Dong, Rui Chen, Michael Aschner, Yuxin Zheng, Wen Chen*. Caloric restriction attenuates C57BL/6J mouse lung injury and extra-pulmonary toxicity induced by real ambient particulate matter exposure. Particle and Fibre Toxicology. 2020; http://doi.org/10.1186/s12989-020-00354-2. 2020；17:22
  11. Shen Chen, Daochuan Li, Xiaonen Wu, Liping, Chen, Bin Zhang, Yafei Tan, Dianke Yu, Yong Niu, Huawei Duan, Qiong Li, Rui Chen, Michael Aschner, Yuxin Zheng, Wen Chen*. The Application of Cell-based Biological Endpoints for Health Risk Assessment of PM2.5 Exposure in Three Megacities, China. Environmental International. 2020; 139:105703.
  12. Chen S, Li DC, Zhang HY, Yu, DK, Chen R, Zhang B, Tan YF, Niu Y, Duan HW, Mai BX, Chen, SJ, Yu JZ, Luan TG, Chen LP, Xing XM, Li Q, Xiao YM, Dong GH, Niu YJ, Michael Aschner, Zhang R, Zheng YX, Chen W*. The Development of a Cell-based Model for The Assessment of Carcinogenic Potential Upon Long-term PM2.5 Exposure. Environmental International. 2019; 131:104943.
  13. Liang B, Chen Y, Yuan W, Qin F, Zhang Q, Deng N, Liu X, Ma X, Zhang X, Zhang B, Deng Q, Huang M, Tang H, Liu L, Chen W*, Xiao Y*. Down-regulation of miRNA-451a and miRNA-486-5p Involved in Benzene-induced Inhibition on Erythroid Cell Differentiation In Vitro And In Vivo. Arch Toxicol. 2017 Jul 21. doi: 10.1007/s00204-017-2033-7.
  14. Zhini He, Daochuan Li, Junxiang Ma, Liping Chen, Huawei Duan, Bo Zhang, Chen Gao, Jie Li, Xiumei Xing, Jian Zhao, Shan Wang, Fangping Wang, Haiyan Zhang, Huiyao Li, Shen Chen, Xiaowen Zeng, Qing Wang, Yongmei Xiao, Yuxin Zheng, Wen Chen*. TRIM36 hypermethylation is involved in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-induced cell transformation. Environ Pollution, 2017; 225:93-103.

  15. Zhu XN, Chen LP, Bai Q, Ma L, Li DC, Zhang JM, Gao C, Lei, ZN Zhang ZB, Xing XM, Liu CX, He ZN, Li J, Xiao YM, Zhang AH, Zeng XW * and W Chen*. PP2A-AMPKa-HSF1 Axis Regulates Metal-inducible expression of HSPs And ROS Clearance. Cell Signaling,2014; 26:825-832.

  16. Chen LP, Ma L, Bai Q, Zhu XN, Zhang JM, Wei Q, Li DC, Gao C, Zhang ZB, CX Liu, ZN He, XW Zeng, AH Zhang, WD Qu, Zhuang ZX, Wen Chen*, and YM Xiao*. Heavy Metal-Induced Metallothionein Expression Is Regulated by Specific Protein Phosphatase 2A Complexes. J Biol Chem, 2014; 289(32):22413-26.

  17. P Yang, JX Ma, B Zhang, HW Duan, ZN He, JL Zeng, XW Zeng, DC Li, Q Wang, YM Xiao, CX Liu, Q Xiao, LP Chen, XN Zhu, XM Xing, ZF Li, SX Zhang, ZB Zhang, L Ma, EM Wang, ZX Zhuang, YX Zheng*, Wen Chen*. CpG Site-Specific Hypermethylation of p16INK4a In Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes of PAH-Exposed Workers. Cancer Epidem Biomar, 2012; 21(1):182-90.
  18. DC Li, Q Wang, CX Liu, HW Duan, XW Zeng, B Zhang, XD Li, J Zhao, SF Tang, ZF Li, XM Xing, P Yang, LP Chen, JL Zeng, XN Zhu, SX Zhang, ZB Zhang, L Ma, ZN He, EM Wang, YM Xiao, YX Zheng, W Chen*. Aberrant Expression of miR-638 Contributes to Benzo(a)pyrene–induced Human Cell Transformation.Toxicol Sci, 2012; 125(2): 382-391.

  19. L-P Chen, Y-D Lai, D-C Li, X-N Zhu, P Yang, W-X Li, W Zhu, J Zhao, X-D Li, Y-M Xiao, Y Zhang, X-M Xing, Q Wang, B Zhang, Y-C Lin, J-L Zeng, S-X Zhang, C-X Liu, Z-F Li, X-W Zeng, Z-N Lin, Z-X Zhuang, and W Chen*. a4 Is Highly Expressed In Carcinogen-transformed Human Cells And Primary Human Cancers. Oncogene, 2011; 30(26):2943-2953.

  20. Q Wang, D-C Li, Z-F Li, C-X Liu, Y-M Xiao, B Zhang, X-D Li, J Zhao, L-P Chen, X-M Xing, S-F Tang, Y-C Lin, Y-D Lai, P Yang, J-L Zeng, Q Xiao, X-W Zeng, Z-N Lin, Z-X Zhuang and W Chen*. Upregulation of miR-27a Contributes to the Malignant Transformation of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells Induced by SV40 Small T Antigen. Oncogene, 2011; 30(36):3875-86.

  21. Pang YQ, Ma RL, Li WX, Wang Q, Li DC, Xiao YM, Wei Q, Lin YC, Lai YD, Yang P, Tang S, Zhuang ZX, Zheng YX, Chen W*. Development of Human Cell Models for Assessing the Carcinogenic Potential of Chemicals. Toxicol Appl Pharm, 2008, 232:478-486.

  22. Chen W, Zhou YG, Nichols J, Chung KT, Hart RW, Chou MW. Effect of Dietary Restriction on Benzo[a]pyrene Metabolic Activation and Pulmonary BaP-DNA Adduct Formation in Mouse. Drug Chem Toxicol, 1996; 19(1&2):21.
  23. Chen W, Nichols J, Zhou YG, Chung KT, Hart RW, Chou MW. Effect of Dietary Restriction on Glutathione S-transferase Activity Specific Toward Aflatoxin B1-8,9-epoxide. Toxicology Lett, 1995; 78:235.

 

Contact information 

Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, 74 Zhongshan Road 2, Guangzhou, 510080, China

Email: chenwen@mail.sysu.edu.cn