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Chang-Zheng ChenAcademic Appointments
Appointment
Organization
Assistant Professor
Member
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Honors & Awards
Title
Organization
Date(s)
Terman Fellow Award
Stanford University
2005–2008
Baxter Scholar Award
Stanford University School of Medicine
2006
Presidential Symposium
American Society of Hematology
2006
Postdoctoral Advisees
Ana Rita Freitas Martins Matos Fragoso,
Song Wang,
Sibiao Yue
Web Site Links
Research/Lab website:
Lab website
Research Interests
We study the genetic networks controlled by regulatory RNAs, such as microRNAs and small interfering RNAs, and the roles of these RNAs in modulating the development, function and pathogenesis of vertebrate immune systems.
Animal genomes not only contain the genetic information to make messenger RNAs (mRNA), which are then translated into proteins, but they also carry the genetic information to make non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which play important roles in regulating gene expression and animal development. Among all the ncRNA species, microRNAs (miRNAs) are small ncRNAs of ~22 nucleotides in length that form sequence-guided interactions with the cognate mRNA target genes and regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. We have shown that miRNAs may be integral components of the molecular circuitry controlling normal hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis. miRNAs are abundantly present in various immune cell populations. Many are differentially regulated during the development of immune cells. More importantly, some lineage-specific miRNAs can modulate the differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Nevertheless, as a newfound layer of genetic regulation, the mechanisms through which miRNAs and other ncRNAs regulate gene expression, as well as their biological functions in vertebrate development, are yet to be unraveled. The research in my laboratory focuses on the roles of miRNA- and other ncRNA-mediated gene regulatory networks in modulating the development, function, and pathogenesis of vertebrate immune systems. Areas of current interests include
(1) miRNAs’ roles in the maintenance, self-renewal, and differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells;
(2) miRNAs as diagnostic and therapeutic targets for leukemias and other blood disorders;
(3) miRNA-mediated posttranscriptional gene regulatory networks and their interactions with transcriptional networks during normal and aberrant hematopoietic lineage differentiation.
Animal genomes not only contain the genetic information to make messenger RNAs (mRNA), which are then translated into proteins, but they also carry the genetic information to make non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which play important roles in regulating gene expression and animal development. Among all the ncRNA species, microRNAs (miRNAs) are small ncRNAs of ~22 nucleotides in length that form sequence-guided interactions with the cognate mRNA target genes and regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. We have shown that miRNAs may be integral components of the molecular circuitry controlling normal hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis. miRNAs are abundantly present in various immune cell populations. Many are differentially regulated during the development of immune cells. More importantly, some lineage-specific miRNAs can modulate the differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Nevertheless, as a newfound layer of genetic regulation, the mechanisms through which miRNAs and other ncRNAs regulate gene expression, as well as their biological functions in vertebrate development, are yet to be unraveled. The research in my laboratory focuses on the roles of miRNA- and other ncRNA-mediated gene regulatory networks in modulating the development, function, and pathogenesis of vertebrate immune systems. Areas of current interests include
(1) miRNAs’ roles in the maintenance, self-renewal, and differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells;
(2) miRNAs as diagnostic and therapeutic targets for leukemias and other blood disorders;
(3) miRNA-mediated posttranscriptional gene regulatory networks and their interactions with transcriptional networks during normal and aberrant hematopoietic lineage differentiation.
Publications
- Lodish HF, Zhou B, Liu G, Chen CZ "Micromanagement of the immune system by microRNAs." Nat Rev Immunol 2008; 8: 2: 120-30 More »
- Li QJ, Chau J, Ebert PJ, Sylvester G, Min H, Liu G, Braich R, Manoharan M, Soutschek J, Skare P, Klein LO, Davis MM, Chen CZ "miR-181a Is an Intrinsic Modulator of T Cell Sensitivity and Selection." Cell 2007; More »
- Mao TK, Chen CZ "Dissecting MicroRNA-Mediated Gene Regulation and Function in T-Cell Development." Methods Enzymol 2007; 427: 171-89 More »
- Min H, Chen CZ "Methods for analyzing microRNA expression and function during hematopoietic lineage differentiation." Methods Mol Biol 2006; 342: 209-27 More »
- Chen CZ, "MicroRNAs as oncogenes and tumor suppressors." N Engl J Med 2005; 353: 17: 1768-71 More »
13 publications: view full list
