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Phone
313-578-4339
Department
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Biochemistry Microbiology and Immunology, Oncology
Laboratory Web Site
Research Description
We apply molecular, cellular and histological techniques and use animal models and human specimens to understand the mechanisms of antibody diversification and production by B lymphocytes, such as immunoglobulin class switching and somatic hypermutation. We are also studying how these processes are coupled to B lymphocyte differentiation and antibody production in barrier tissues such as the intestinal, respiratory and reproductive tract, and in tumor tissues. These processes are critical to the generation and maintenance of an antibody repertoire for effective immune defense and the avoidance of autoimmune diseases. Defects in these processes can result in immunodeficiency, autoimmunity, lymphoma and other types of cancer associated with infections.
In addition, we are applying immunological methods to study some common reproductive disorders, such as preterm birth, and are developing new therapeutic and preventive methods to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes and the associated infant diseases, such as infections and allergies.
Recent Publications
Zhu R, Liu X, Zhang X, Zhong Z, Qi S, Jin R, Gu Y, Wang Y, Chen L, Chen K, Ye D, Yu F-X. Gene therapy for diffuse pleural mesotheliomas in preclinical models by concurrent expression of NF2 and SuperHippo. Cell Reports Medicine 2024; 5:101763.
Chen K, Hao Y, Guzman M, Li G, Cerutti A. Antibody mediated regulation of basophils: emerging views and clinical implications. Trends in Immunology 2023; 44:408-423 (cover story).
Rezazadeh F, Ramos N, Saliganan A-D, Al-Hallak N, Chen K, Mohamad B, Wiesend WN, Viola NT. Detection of IL12/23p40 via PET visualizes inflammatory bowel disease. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 2023; 64:1806-1814.
Sheng S, Bernardo M, Dzinic SH, Chen K, Sakr WA. The vulnerable primed cancer stem cells in disguise: demystifying the role of Maspin. Cancer and Metastasis Reviews 2022; 41:965-974.
Hu Z-L, Luo C, Hurtado PR, Li H, Wang S, Hu B, Xu J-M, Liu Y, Feng S-Q, Hurtado-Perez E, Chen K, Zhou X-F, Li C-Q, Dai R-P. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor precursor in the immune system is a novel target for treating multiple sclerosis. Theranostics 2021; 11:715-730.
Chen K, Giuliana M, Grasset E, Cerutti A. Rethinking mucosal antibody responses: IgM, IgG and IgD join IgA. Nature Reviews Immunology 2020,20:427-441 (cover story).
Deirawan H, Purrington K, Ratliff V, Schwartz A, Daaboul MF, Kamatham S, Trak J, Chen K, Ali-Fehmi R, Bandyopadhyay S. Organized lymphoid structures stratify risk in breast cancer and correlate with a naive B cell signature. Laboratory Investigation 2020;100:134
Chen Y-Q, Li P-C, Pan N, Gao R, Wen Z-F, Zhang T-Y, Huang F, Wu F-Y, Ou X-L, Zhang J-P, Zhu X-J, Hu H-M, Chen K, Cai Y-L, Wang L-X. Tumor-released autophagosomes induces CD4+ T cell-mediated immunosuppression via a TLR2–IL-6 cascade. Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer 2019; 7:1-16.
Jones RF, Reyes JD, Gibson HM, Jacob JB, Vaishampayan U, Ratner S, Chen K, Wei W-Z. An HER2 DNA vaccine with evolution-selected amino acid substitutions reveals a fundamental principle for cancer vaccine formulation in HER2 transgenic mice. Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy 2019; 68:1143-1155.
Shan M, Carillo J, Yeste A, Gutzeit C, Garzon DS, Pybus M, Grasset EK, Yeiser JR, Matthews DB, van de Veen W, Comerma L, He B, Boonpiyathad T, Lee H, Blanco J, Osborne LC, Siracusa MC, Akdis M, Artis D, Mehandru S, Sampson HA, Berin MC, Chen K, Cerutti A (2018). Secreted IgD Amplifies Humoral T helper 2 responses by Activating Basophils through Galectin-9 and CD44. Immunity 2018; 49:709-724.
Watza D, Lusk CM, Dyson G, Purrington KS, Chen K, Wenzlaff AS, Ratliff V, Neslund-Dudas C, Bepler G, Schwartz AG. Prognostic modeling of the immune-centric transcriptome reveals interleukin signaling candidates contributing to differential patient outcomes. Carcinogenesis 2018; 39:1447-1454.
Watza D, Purrington KS, Chen K, Schwartz AG. Transcriptional programs of tumor infiltrating T-cells provide insight into mechanisms of immune response and new targets for immunotherapy. Journal of Thoracic Disease 2018; 9:4162.
Zhou JZ, Way SS, Chen K. Immunology of the uterine and vaginal mucosae. Trends in Immunology 2018; 39:302-314.
Huang B, Faucette AN, Pawlitz MD, Pei B, Goyert JW, Zhou JZ, El-Hage NG, Cols M, Lin J, Yao F, Jassal JS, Dewar RS III, Dai J, Shen C, Polin LA, Nichols RA, Jones TB, Deng J, Bluth MH, Puder KS, Gonik B, Nayak NR, Puscheck E, Wei W-Z, Cerutti A, Colonna M, Chen K. Interleukin-33-induced expression of PIBF1 by decidual B cells protects against preterm labor. Nature Medicine 2017; 23:128-35.
Selected publications
For a selected list of publications, please refer to http://chenlab.wayne.edu/publications.html.
Education/Training
PhD, Weill Cornell Medicine and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
BSc with First-Class Honours, National University of Singapore
Awards and Honors
At Wayne State University:
2023 American Association of Immunologists Travel Grant
2020 College Teaching Award
2017 College Teaching Award
2016 Research Excellence Award
2015 Invited expert, Global Maternal Vaccination Consultative Meeting, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
2014 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Investigator
2013 NIH Mucosal Immunology Studies Team (MIST) Young Investigator Award
2013 American Association of Immunologists Early Career Faculty Travel Award
Research Description
Specifically, we study the regulation and function of B cells, the cells that produce antibodies in our immune system. Dysfunction of B cells and antibody production is associated with a variety of disorders, such as HIV infection, lupus, arthritis, diabetes and cancer.
During reproduction, impaired production of antibodies increases the susceptibility of the mother, the fetus and the newborn to infections. Conversely, uncontrolled production of antibodies against paternal fetal antigens and the ensuing inflammation are major risks of reproductive failure.
We want to understand the activation and antibody production of maternal B cells during pregnancy and how mechanisms regulating the normal behaviors of B cells break down in pathological pregnancy, and whether the restoration of these mechanisms can alleviate or prevent diseases.
Immunological concepts and technologies are integral to our research. We employ a comprehensive approach encompassing molecular, cellular, histological and immunological methods and the use of animal models and human samples to address questions relevant to human diseases in a mechanistic way.
Students who participate in the research in our lab will not only learn the various experimental techniques, but also (and more importantly) learn the ideas behind project design and technical communication. We believe that teaching these skills to undergraduate students at an early stage is critical to their learning and development in a competitive scientific environment.
Past students who have worked in our lab have won awards and co-authored publications, and successfully moved on to the next stage of our career.