Yanfang Chen, Ph.D., M.D.
Assistant Professor

Campus Address : 210 Health Sciences
Phone: (937) 775-3265
Fax: (937) 775-7221
E-mail: yanfang.chen@wright.edu

Education:

M.D. (1987) Nanhua University Medical College (P. R. China)
Ph.D. (1995) Beijing University Medical Center (P. R. China)
Postdoctoral (1999-2002) Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine

Research Interests:

Cardiovascular Diseases — Hypertension and Stroke; Molecular Physiology

My research combines cardiovascular physiology, molecular biology and neuroscience. Emphasis is on three areas:

1. Study of the role of brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the control of cardiovascular function. The long-term objective in my laboratory is to understand the roles of different RAS pathways in regulating blood pressure and heart rate, and autonomic control of baroreflex function. Contemporary techniques are used to study cardiovascular and neural function in genetically modified mice, such as telemetric cardiovascular monitoring, brain microinjection, in situ hybridization, real-time RT-PCR and RNA interference (RNAi).

2. Study of the role of renin-angiotensin system in ischemic stroke. Clinical trials have showed that ACE inhibitors and AT1 receptor blockers have beneficial effects on ischemic stroke. However, the detailed mechanisms have not been fully understood. We are currently focusing on the roles of three major RAS signaling pathways, AngII/AT1, AngII/AT2 and Ang1-7/Fas on ischemic stroke. Gene modified mice models (transgenic or gene deletion) are used for the studies. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) is conducted for introducing focal ischemic stroke on animals. The long-term objective is to understand the roles of different RAS pathways in regulating cerebral blood flow, cerebral artery remodeling and blood-brain barrier (BBB) function. Techniques include western blot, fluorescent probes and confocal microscopy.

3. Study of the function of bone marrow (BM) derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in hypertension and diabetes. The EPCs may play an important role in repairing the damaged endothelium. They also may be involved in the ischemia induced revascularization. This new interest in my laboratory is to understand the changes of EPCs function in hypertension and diabetes. We also hypothesize that the local RAS located in the BM and in the damaged vessel may regulate the EPCs behaviors such as mobilization (from BM) and homing to the damaged vasculatures. Special techniques are BM EPCs culture, BM transplantation, and flowcytometry.

Selected Publications:

Rogerio B. Wichi, Vera Farah, Yanfang Chen, Maria Claudia Irigoyen, Mariana Morris. Deficiency in angiotensin AT1a receptors prevents diabetes-induced hypertension. Am J Physiology Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2007:292(3):R1184-9. [Abstract]

V Farah, Khalid KM. Elased, Y Chen, M Key, Cunha TS, Iriqoyen MC, M Morris. Nocturnal hypertension in mice consuming a high fructose diet. Auton Neurosci 2006:130:41-50. [Abstract]

Yanfang Chen, Terry L. Oroszi, Mariana Morris. Salt consumption increases blood pressure and abolishes the light/dark rhythm in angiotensin AT1a receptor deficient mice. Physiology & Behavior 2006;88(1-2):95-100. [Abstract]

Yanfang Chen, Hao Chen, Mark Chappell, Debra Diz, Alex Chen, Mariana Morris. Adenovirus mediated small interference RNA for silencing angiotensin AT1a receptors in mouse brain. Hypertension 2006;47:230-237.

Yanfang Chen, Luis F. Joaquim, Vera Farah, Rubens Fazan Jr., Helio C. Salgado and Mariana Morris. Cardiovascular autonomic control in mice lacking angiotensin AT1a receptors. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2005; 288: R1071-R1077.

Yanfang Chen, Hao Chen and Mariana Morris. Enhanced osmotic responsiveness in angiotensin AT1a receptor deficient mice: evidence for a role of AT1b receptors. Experimental Physiology 2005: 90(5):739-746.

Yanfang Chen, Yiwen Liu-Stratton, Hamdy Hassanain, David R. Cool and Mariana Morris. Dietary sodium regulates angiotensin AT1a and AT1b mRNA expression in mouse brain: analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. Experimental Neurology 2004;188(2):238-245. [Abstract]

Yanfang Chen, Maria JA Rocha, Mariana Morris. Osmolality regulation of angiotensin AT1 receptor subtypes in mouse brain. Brain Research 2003;965:35-44. [Abstract]

Zhou Y, Chen Y, Dirksen WP, Morris M, Periasamy M. AT1b receptor predominantly mediates contractions in major mouse blood vessels. Circulation Research 2003; 93(11):1089-1094.

Yanfang Chen, Mariana Morris. Differentiation of brain angiotensin type 1a and 1b receptor mRNAs: a specific effect of dehydration. Hypertension 2001;37(2):692-699.