
Jianjun Chen Lab
The Chen laboratory is interested in discovering novel genetic/epigenetic regulations and the associated molecular mechanisms of both protein-coding genes and noncoding RNAs (e.g., microRNAs) in normal developmental processes (e.g., hematopoiesis) and tumorigenesis (e.g., leukemogenesis). In recent years, Chen and colleagues have been focusing on both basic and translational research associated with RNA/DNA epigenetics, especially RNA methylation/demethylation related to the N6 methyladenosine (m6A) machinery and DNA demethylation related to the TET1/2/3 family, and have developed several small-molecule compound inhibitors to selectively target cancer-related RNA/DNA epigenetic modifiers that hold therapeutic potential. The ultimate goal of the lab is to translate the laboratory discoveries into the development of effective novel therapeutic strategies to treat cancers, especially acute leukemia, in the clinic.
Professor and Chair of the Department of Systems Biology, Jianjun Chen conducts research that focuses on systems biology. He received his Ph.D. from Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China, and then conducted postdoctorate training with Dr. Janet D. Rowley at University of Chicago, Department of Medicine where he launched his independent laboratory in 2009.



Research Focus
- Epitranscriptomic dysregulation in leukemogenesis
Education
- 2020-present, Ph.D. candidate, Hematology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- 2014, B.S. and M.D., Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
Professional Experience
- 2021-present, Visiting Scholar, Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA
- 2018-present, Attending Physician, Department of Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
Awards
- 2014, Outstanding Graduate Student of Fujian Medical University
- 2012, National Scholarship for Graduate Students
Memberships
- 2020-present, Secretary of the Youth Committee of the Hematology Physician of Fujian Medical Association
Publications
- The effect of interfering TGF-β receptor ǁ expression on NB4 cells proliferation and different response to ATRA and ATO. Chin J Pathol. 2018, 34(10): 1729-1735.
Chen M, Zhang S, Chen Y, Guo Y, Wu Y.
- Expression and role of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor (GM-CSFR) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor(G-CSFR) on Ph-positive acute B lymphoblastic leukemia. Hematology. 2018, 23(8): 439-447.
Tan M, Chen M, Chen Y, Wu Y.


Research Focus
- Identification and analysis of RNA epigenetics
- Investigation of leukemia and other cancers
Contact Email: zhenhchen@coh.org


Research Focus
- New cancer therapy targeting methyltransferse
- Role of m6A modification in acute myeloid leukemia
Contact Email: xideng@coh.org


Research Focus
- DNA/RNA epigenetics
- Investigation of small molecules and compound inhibitors that show therapeutic potential for treating cancers
- Genotyping


Research Focus
- Functional analysis of DNA/RNA regulators during leukemogenesis and normal hematopoietic differentiation
- Screening and optimization of new targets for leukemia immmunotherapeutics
Contact Email: weili2@coh.org


Research Focus
- Epigenetic regulation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Contact Email: xqin@coh.org


Ying Qing received her M.D. from Shandong University, China, and her Ph.D. from the Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope. She joined the Jianjun Chen lab in 2017. Her current research is focused on (1) deciphering the common epitranscriptomic mechanism underlying obesity and cancer and (2) comparing the different roles of TET1 protein in leukemia and solid tumors and identifying the different regulatory pathways. Her long-term research interests involve developing a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms, especially epigenetic or epitranscriptomic mechanism, underlying cancer initiation, promotion, and progression, and how to develop novel effective anti-cancer therapies based on that knowledge.
Research Focus
Uncovering the common epitranscriptomic signaling pathway that mediates the development of obesity and cancer induced by Western lifestyle
Different roles of TET1 in leukemia and solid tumors
Degrees
- 2021, Ph.D., Biological Sciences, Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope, Duarte, CA
- 2015, M.D., Clinical Medicine (Internal Medicine), Shandong University, Jinan, China
Professional Experience
- 2021-present, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA
Publications
- Qing, Y.*, Dong, L.*, Gao, L.*, Li, C., Li, Y., Han, L., Prince, E., Tan, B., Deng, X., Wetzel, C., Shen, C., Gao, M., Chen, Z., Li, W., Zhang, B., Braas, D., Hoeve, J.T., Sanchez, G.J., Chen, H., Chan, L.N., Chen, C.W., Ann, D., Jiang, L., Müschen, M., Marcucci, G., Plas, D., Li, Z., Su, R., & Chen, J. R-2-hydroxyglutarate attenuates aerobic glycolysis in leukemia by targeting the FTO/m6A/PFKP/LDHB axis. Molecular Cell. 2021;81(5):922-39. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.12.026, 2021. PubMed PMID: 33434505. (*Co-first authors)
- Qing, Y., Su, R., & Chen, J. RNA modifications in hematopoietic malignancies: A new research frontier. Blood. 2021;138(8):637-648. doi: 10.1182/blood.2019004263. PubMed PMID: 34157073.
- Qing, Y., Gao, L., Han, L., Su, R., & Chen, J. Evaluation of glycolytic rates in human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells after target gene depletion. STAR Protoc. 2021;2(2):100603. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100603. PubMed PMID: 34169295.
- Su, R.*, Qing, Y.*, & Chen, J. Targeting Differentiation Blockade in AML: New Hope from Cell Surface-based CRISPR Screens. Cell Stem Cell. 2021;28(4):585-7. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2021.03.006. PubMed PMID: 33798415. (*Co-first authors)
- Qing, Y., Tian, Z., Bi, Y., Wang, Y., Long, J., Song, C.X., & Diao, J. Quantitation and mapping of the epigenetic marker 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. Bioessays. 2017;39(5):1700010. doi: 10.1002/bies.201700010. Review. PubMed PMID: 28332209.
- Qing, Y., Wang, M., Lin, Y.M., Wu, D., Zhu, J.Y., Gao, L., Liu, Y.Y., & Yin, T.F. Correlation between Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric diseases and colorectal neoplasia. World J Gastroenterol. 2016;22(18):4576-84. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i18.4576. PubMed PMID: 27182167.


Research Focus
- Role of DNA and RNA modifiers in leukemia
- Therapeutic value of small compounds targeting cancer-related RNA/DNA epigenetic modifiers
Contact Email: chashen@coh.org


Research Focus
- Functional analysis of tiling CRISPR screen in cancer research, to further dissect functional protein domain or novel domain.
- Single cell transcriptomic analysis, in conjugation with single cell CRISPR screen.
- Integrating systems biology, clinical science, sequencing techniques and bioinformatics to improve cancer research, diagnosis and treatment.
Appointments
- Assistant Research Professor, Department of Systems Biology


Research Focus
- Role of DNA and RNA modifiers in leukemia
- Therapeutic value of small compounds targeting cancer-related RNA/DNA epigenetic modifiers


Research Focus
Association between metabolic disorder and cancer development
Degrees
- 2013-2018, Ph.D., Shandong University, Jinan, China
- 2016-2018, visiting Ph.D. student, University of Cincinnati, OH
- 2008-2013, M.D., Shandong University, Jinan, China
Fellowship
- 2020-2022, Fellowship in Pancreatic Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
Residency
- 2018-2020, Residency in General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
Professional Experience
- 2022-present, Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA
Awards
- 2019, First prize of Shandong Province Science and Technology Progress Award (11/12)
- 2014, Outstanding Graduate Students of Shandong University
- 2012, National Scholarship
- 2009, National Endeavor Scholarship
Publications
- Wu, D., Cheng, Y.G., Huang, X., Zhong, M.W., Liu, S.Z., & Hu, S.Y. Downregulation of lncRNA MALAT1 contributes to renal functional improvement after duodenal-jejunal bypass in a diabetic rat model. J Physiol Biochem. 2018 Aug;74(3):431-439. doi: 10.1007/s13105-018-0636-y. Epub 2018 May 21. PMID: 29781038.
- Wu, D.*, Yan, Z.B.*, Cheng, Y.G., Zhong, M.W., Liu, S.Z., Zhang, G.Y., & Hu, S.Y. Deactivation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in infiltrating macrophages by duodenal-jejunal bypass surgery mediates improvement of beta cell function in type 2 diabetes. Metabolism. 2018 Apr;81:1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2017.10.015. Epub 2017 Nov 10. PMID: 29129820.
- Zhan, H.X., Xu, J.W., Wu, D., Wu, Z.Y., Wang, L., Hu, S.Y., & Zhang, G.Y. Neoadjuvant therapy in pancreatic cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Cancer Med. 2017 Jun;6(6):1201-1219. doi: 10.1002/cam4.1071. Epub 2017 May 23. PMID: 28544758; PMCID: PMC5463082.


Research Focus
- Role of DNA and RNA modifiers in leukemia
- Therapeutic value of small compounds targeting cancer-related RNA/DNA epigenetic modifiers
Degrees
- 2020, M.S., Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- 2019, B.S., Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
Professional Experience
- 2022-present, Research Associate II, Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA
- 2021-2022, Staff Research Associate, Department of OB/GYN and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Diego, CA
Awards
- 2021, Excellence in Teaching Award
- 2018, Endocrine Society Summer Research Fellowship
- 2017, Doris A. Howell Undergraduate Research Scholarship
Publications
- Sau L, Olmstead CM, Cui LJ, Chen A, Shah RS, Kelley ST, Thackray VG. Alterations in gut microbiota do not play a causal role in diet-independent weight gain caused by ovariectomy. Journal of the Endocrine Society. 2020.
- Torres PJ, Skarra DV, Ho BS, Sau L, Anvar AR, Kelley ST, Thackray VG. Letrozole treatment of adult female mice results in a similar reproductive phenotype but distinct changes in metabolism and the gut microbiome compared to pubertal mice. BMC Microbiol. 2019.
- Torres PJ, Ho BS, Arroyo P, Sau L, Chen A, Kelley ST, Thackray VG. Exposure to a Healthy Gut Microbiome Protects Against Reproductive and Metabolic Dysregulation in a PCOS Mouse Model. Endocrinology. 2019.
- Arroyo P, Ho BS, Sau L, Kelley ST, Thackray VG. Letrozole treatment of pubertal female mice results in activational effects on reproduction, metabolism and the gut microbiome. PLoS One. 2019.


Research Focus
Novel targets, biomarkers, and potential drug targets for the treatment of leukemia
Degrees
- 2008-2013, Ph. D., School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- 2004-2008, B.S., Foshan University, Foshan, China
Professional Experience
- 2023-present, Visiting Scholar, Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA
- 2017-present, Associate Professor, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- 2013-2017, Postdoctoral researcher, Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
Awards
- 2015, Young Investigator Award, Chinese American Hematologist Oncologist Network
Publications
- Mengjun Zhong#, Rili Gao#, Ruocong Zhao#, Youxue Huang, Cunte Chen, Kehan Li, Xibao Yu, Dingrui Nie, Zheng Chen, Xin Liu, Zhuandi Liu, Shaohua Chen, Yuhong Lu, Zhi Yu, Liang Wang, Peng Li, Chengwu Zeng*, Yangqiu Li*. BET bromodomain inhibition rescues PD-1-mediated T-cell exhaustion in acute myeloid leukemia. Cell Death & Disease 2022, 13(8): 671.
- Xin Liu#, Shuxin Zhong#, Kangjie Qiu, Xi Chen, Weiyue Wu, Jiamian Zheng, Yanwen Liu, Haolong Wu, Shiyun Fan, Dingrui Nie, Xianfeng Wang, Zhi Yu, Ziwei Liao, Mengjun Zhong*, Yangqiu Li*, Chengwu Zeng*. Targeting NRF2 uncovered an intrinsic susceptibility of acute myeloid leukemia cells to ferroptosis. Experimental Hematology & Oncology 2023, 12 (1), 1-12.
- Xibao Yu#, Xin Liu#, Xuan Liu, Shuang Jin, Mengjun Zhong, Dingrui Nie, Xiangbo Zeng, Xianfeng Wang, Jiaxiong Tan, Yangqiu Li*, Chengwu Zeng*. Overexpression of CASP1 triggers acute promyelocytic leukemia cell pyroptosis and differentiation. European Journal of Pharmacology 2023, 945, 175614.
We collaborate with organizations in progressing the development of new treatments in our specialized areas of research.

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