Office Address

421 E. Canfield Street, Detroit, MI 48201

Lab website

https://chenlab.wayne.edu/

Biography

Dr. Chen studied in the National University of Singapore on a Singapore government scholarship, initially majored in Computer Science and later graduated as a top student of biochemistry. He was then admitted to the University of Cambridge but stayed in Singapore to work with Dr. Yunn-Hwen Gan on tumor immunology and microbial pathogenesis. He did doctoral research in immunology at Weill Cornell Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Hospital for Special Surgery, and had postdoctoral training at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai with Dr. Andrea Cerutti. While in New York, he also worked with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) on global initiatives of sustainable urbanization and public health and organized seminars in the UN Headquarters to host leaders and organizations to share experiences towards the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

He has also contributed to some significant scientific discoveries, such as the function of the antibody immunoglobulin D and immune protective mechanisms against preterm labor. He has received awards such as the Charles Janeway Memorial Award and Lijen Industrial Development Medal, and authored articles in leading scientific journals. He serves as a reviewer for some top scientific journals and funding agencies, and co-chairs the Immunology Focus Group of Wayne State University, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and Henry Ford Health to promote research, education and scientific collaboration in metro Detroit.

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 in Preterm Birth
2013 NIH Mucosal Immunology Studies Team Young Investigator Award
2013 American Association of Immunologists Early Career Faculty Travel Award

Education

B.Sc. (First-Class Honours), National University of Singapore
Thesis: Heat shock protein-assisted antigen presentation

Ph.D., Weill Cornell Medicine and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Thesis: The regulation and function of immunoglobulin D

Courses taught

• MD2 Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
• IM7010/CB7010/IBS7090 Fundamentals of Immunology
• CB7410/IM7410 Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy (Course Co-director)
• PSL7690 Principles of Reproductive Biology
• MGG7400 Molecular Biology of Cell Signaling
• PSL7700 Stem Cell Biology
• CB7700 Cancer Biology Journal Club
• MGG7091 Scientific Enquiries
• IM8999 Master's Thesis Research and Direction
• HON4998 University Honors Thesis
• BIO6999 Honors Program Terminal Essay
• BIO6990 Directed Study in Biology

Research

The goal of the Chen lab is to understand the control of immune responses in inflammation, infection, reproduction, allergy and cancer. We apply cellular, histological and molecular techniques and use animal models and human specimens in our studies.

Recent work from the lab has identified molecules that regulate the diversification of the antibody repertoire and avoidance of autoimmunity and lymphoma, and uncovered mechanisms that control the production of systemic and mucosal antibodies in infection. Studies in the lab have also revealed immune mechanisms that guard against preterm birth and promote pregnancy to term.

Currently, we are focusing on the regulation of antibody diversification such as immunoglobulin class switching and somatic hypermutation, the defects of antibody and B cell function in cancer, the role of the immune system in pregnancy, and the impact of maternal diseases on infant health.

Research Interests

• Antibody therapeutics
• Cancer Immunology
• Reproductive immunology
• Immunodeficiency, infection and inflammation
• Mucosal Immunology

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.
• Carabulea AL, JD Janeski JD, Naik VD, Chen K, Mor G, Ramadoss J. A multi‐organ analysis of the role of mTOR in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. The FASEB Journal 2023;37:e22897.
• 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)
• 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.
• 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. Secreted IgD Amplifies Humoral T helper 2 responses by Activating Basophils through Galectin-9 and CD44. Immunity 2018;49:709-724.
• 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
• Siriwardena S, Chen K, Bhagwat AS. Functions and malfunctions of mammalian DNA-cytosine deaminases. Chemical Reviews 2016;116:12688-12710.
• Faucette AN, Unger BL, Gonik B, Chen K Maternal vaccination: moving the science forward. Human Reproduction Update 2015;21:119-35.
• Shan M, Gentile M, Yeiser JR, Walland AC, Bornstein VU, Chen K, He B, Cassis L, Bigas A, Cols M, Comera L, Huang B, Blander JM, Xiong H, Meyer L, Berin C, Augenlicht LH, Velcich A, Cerutti A. Mucus enhances gut homeostasis and oral tolerance by delivering immunoregulatory signals. Science 2013;342:447-453.
• Hong P, Chen K, Huang B, Liu M, Li Z, Cui M, Chaqour B, Pan X, Barton ER, Jiang X-C, Siddiqui MAQ. HEXIM1 controls satellite cell expansion after injury to regulate skeletal muscle regeneration. Journal of Clinical Investigation 2012;122:3873-87.
• Puga I, Cols M, Barra CM, He B, Cassis L, Gentile M, Comerma L, Chorny A, Shan M, Xu W, Magri G, Knowles DM, Tam W, Chiu A, Bussel JB, Serrano S, Lorente JA, Bellosillo B, Lloreta J, Juanpere N, Alameda F, Baró T, de Heredia CD, Torán N, Català A, Torrebadell M, Fortuny C, Cusí V, Carreras C, Diaz GA, Blander JM, Farber CM, Silvestri G, Cunningham-Rundles C, Calvillo M, Dufour C, Notarangelo LD, Lougaris V, Plebani A, Casanova JL, Ganal SC, Diefenbach A, Aróstegui JI, Juan M, Yagüe J, Mahlaoui N, Donadieu J, Chen K, Cerutti A. B cell-helper neutrophils stimulate immunoglobulin diversification and production in the marginal zone of the spleen. Nature Immunology 2012;13:170-80 (cover story).
• Cerutti A, Chen K, Chorny A. Immunoglobulin responses at mucosal interfaces. Annual Review of Immunology 2011;29:273-93.
• Chen K, Cerutti A. AIDing the pursuit of IgA diversity. Nature Immunology 12:197-198, 2011.
• Ballon G, Chen K, Perez R, Tam W, Cesarman E. Kaposi Sarcoma Herpesvirus (KSHV) vFLIP oncoprotein induces B-cell transdifferentiation and tumorigenesis in mice. Journal of Clinical Investigation 121:1141-1153, 2011. (cover story)
• He B, Santamaria R, Xu W, Cols M, Chen K, Puga I, Shan M, Xiong H, Bussel J B, Chiu A, Puel A, Reichenbach J, Marodi L, Doffinger R, Vasconcelos J, Issekutz A, Krause J, Davies G, Li X, Grimbacher B, Plebani A, Meffre E, Picard C, Cunningham-Rundles C, Casanova J-L, Cerutti A. The transmembrane activator TACI triggers immunoglobulin class switching by activating B cells through the adaptor MyD88. Nature Immunology 11: 836-845, 2010.
• Chen K, Cerutti A (2010). Vaccination strategies to promote mucosal antibody responses. Immunity 33:479-491.
• Chen K, Xu W, Wilson M, He B, Miller NW, Bengten E, Edholm E-S, Santini PA, Rath P, Chiu A, Cattalini M, Litzman J, Bussel J, Huang B, Meini A, Riesbeck K, Cunningham-Rundles C, Plebani A, Cerutti A (2009). Immunoglobulin D enhances immune surveillance by activating antimicrobial, pro-inflammatory and B-cell stimulating programs in basophils. Nature Immunology 10:889-898.
• Xu W, Santini PA, Sullivan JS, He B, Shan M, Ball SC, Dyer WB, Ketas TJ, Chadburn A, Cohen-Gould L, Knowles DM, Chiu A, Sanders RW, Chen K, Cerutti A (2009). HIV-1 evades virus-specific IgG2 and IgA responses by targeting systemic and intestinal B cells via long-range intercellular conduits. Nature Immunology 10:1008-1017. (cover story)

 

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