CHEN, YAN
Assistant Professor (Research)
Office: Room PP-R209f, Est. Seak Pai Van Praia Park , Rés-Do-Chão R, Coloane, Macau
E-mail: chenyan@must.edu.mo
My research area primarily focuses on immunology and developmental biology. I am particularly interested in neonatal birth defects, specifically targeting cholestasis in early infancy and associated liver fibrosis. My recent interests include exploring tissue regeneration in liver fibrosis for both adults and children through organoid cultures derived from animal models and patient samples. The objective of my study is to investigate the role of immune-related factors in regeneration deficits following liver damage, and to determine whether small molecules—either chemically synthesized or extracted from Chinese medicine—can offer new treatment avenues for chronic liver diseases. The research grants I have received in past years include those from Macau Science and Technology Development Fund (FDCT), the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Food and Health Bureau of Hong Kong, General Research Fund (GRF) Hong Kong, and Competitive Earmarked Research Grants (CERG) Hong Kong.
Academic Qualification

PhD in Clinical Biochemistry, Imperial College London, UK MSc in Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Paris XI - Orsay, France BSc in Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical College, China

Teaching Area

Immunology and Anatomy

Research Area

Tissue regeneration in the treatment of liver fibrosis of chronic liver diseases

Working Experience

Assistant Professor (Research), Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology (2022 -); Honorary Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong (2023 – 2024);   Honorary Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong (2022 – 2023);           Professor, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China (2020 – 2023); Associate Director, Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, The University of Hong Kong (2014 – 2022); Researcher, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China (2014 – 2020): Honorary Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong (2005 – 2021); Research Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Hong Kong (2011 – 2013); Research Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong (2005 – 2010); Postdoctoral Fellow, HKU-Pasteur Research Centre Limited (2004 – 2005); Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (2000 – 2004)

Academic Publication (selected)

1.        L Su, Y Chen, M Fu, H Wang, Y Tong, Z Lin, H Chen, H Lin, Y Chen, B Zhu, S Ma , Y Xiao, J Huang, Z Zhao, F Li, R Ye, H Shi, Z Wang, J Zeng, Z Wen, M Luo, H Xia, R Zhang (*Co-first author). CD14 facilitates perinatal human cytomegalovirus infection in biliary epithelial cells via CD55. JHEP Rep. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhepr.2024.101018.  (in press, *Co-first author) 2.        Ye R, Ma S, Chen Y*, Shan J, Tan L, Su L, Tong Y, Zhao Z, Chen H, Fu M, Guo Z, Zuo X, Yu J, Zhong W, Zeng Z, Liu F, Chai C, Guan X, Wang Z, Liu T, Liang J, Zhang Y, Shi H, Wen Z,  Xia H, Zhang R. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis reveals that N-acetylcysteine partially reverses hepatic immune dysfunction in biliary atresia. JHEP Rep. 2023 Sep 12;5(11):100908. doi: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100908. eCollection 2023 Nov. (*Co-first author) 3.        Wang X, Zhang R, Lin Z, Fu M, Chen Y. A Mouse Model of Chronic Liver Fibrosis for the   Study of Biliary Atresia. J Vis Exp. 2023 Feb 3;(192). doi: 10.3791/65044. 4.        Zhang R, Huang J, Shan J, Chen Y* and Xia H. Peripheral blood CD177 + cells as an early diagnostic marker for biliary atresia: a prospective multicentre study in pediatric patients with cholestasis. (*Co-corresponding author). J Hepatol. 2022 Dec;77(6):1714-1716. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.08.005. 5.        Zhang R, Su L, Fu M, Wang Z, Tan L, Chen H, Lin Z, Tong Y, Ma S, Ye R, Zhao Z, Wang Z, Chen W, Yu J, Zhong W, Zeng J, Liu F, Chai C, Guan X, Liu T, Liang J, Zhu Y, Gu X, Zhang Y, Lui VCH, Tam PKH, Lamb JR, Wen Z, Chen Y*, Xia H. CD177+ cells produce neutrophil extracellular traps to promote biliary atresia. (*Co-corresponding author). J Hepatol. 2022 Nov;77(5):1299-1310. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.06.015. Epub 2022 Jul 5. 6.        Fu M, Tan LD, Lin ZF, Lui VCH, Tam PKH, Lamb JR, Zhang Z, Xia HM, Zhang RZ, Chen Y. Down-regulation of STAT3 enhanced chemokine expression and neutrophil recruitment in biliary atresia. Clin Sci (Lond). 2021 Apr 16;135(7):865-884. doi: 10.1042/CS20201366. 7.        Babu RO, Lui VCH, Chen Y*, Yiu RSW, Ye Y, Niu B, Wu Z, Zhang RZ, Yu MON, Chung PHU, Wong KKY, Xia HM, Zhang MQ, Wang B, Lendahl U, Paul Kwong Tam PKH. Beta-amyloid deposition around hepatic bile ducts is a novel pathobiological and diagnostic feature of biliary atresia. J Hepatol 2020 Jun 16; S0168-8278(20)30383-4.  doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2020.06.012. (*Co-first author) 8.        Zhang R, Lin Z, Fu M, Guan X, Yu J, Zhong W, Zeng J, Lui VCH, Tam PKH, Lamb JR, Xia H, Chen Y. The Role of Neonatal Gr-1+ Myeloid Cells in a Murine Model of Rhesus-Rotavirus-Induced Biliary Atresia. Am J Pathol. 2018 Nov;188(11):2617-2628. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2018.07.024. Epub 2018 Sep 8 9.        Zhang RZ, Zeng XH, Lin ZF, Ming Fu, Tong YL, Lui VC, Tam PK, Lamb JR, Xia HM, Chen Y. Downregulation of Hes1 expression in experimental biliary atresia and its effects on bile duct structure. World J Gastroenterol. 2018 Aug 7;24(29):3260-3272. doi: 10.3748/wjg. v24.i29.3260. 10.        Zhang R, Lin Z, Lui VC, Wong KK, Tam PK, Lee P, Lok CN, Lamb JR, Chen Y*, Xia H. Silver nanoparticle treatment ameliorates biliary atresia syndrome in rhesus rotavirus inoculated mice. Nanomedicine. 2016 Nov 25. pii: S1549-9634(16)30205-2. doi: 10.1016/j.nano.2016.11.013. [Epub ahead of print] (*Co-corresponding author) 11.        Zhang RZ, Yu JK, Peng J, Wang FH, Liu HY, Lui VCh, Nicholls JM, Tam PKh, Lamb JR, Chen Y*, Xia HM. Role of CD56-expressing immature biliary epithelial cells in biliary atresia. World J Gastroenterol.  2016 Feb 28;22(8):2545-57. doi: 10.3748/wjg. v22.i8.2545 (*Corresponding author) 12.        Zhang RZ, Lee PY, Lui VCH, Chen Y, Liu XL, Lok CN, To M, Yeung KWY, Wong KKY. Silver nanoparticles promote osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells and improve bone fracture healing in osteogenesis mechanism mouse model. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine 11.8 (2015): 1949-1959. 13.        Peng J , Tsang JY, Ho DH, Zhang R, Xiao H, Li D, Zhu J, Wang F, Bian Z, Lui VC, Xu A, Tam PK, Lamb JR, Xia H, Chen Y. Modulatory effects of adiponectin on the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages. Int J Cancer. 2015 Aug 15;137(4):848-58

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