Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute

Jun Chen, Ph.D.

Scientist

Phone: 301-294-7173
Fax: 301-294-7007

Education:

Ph.D. (Physiology) The University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia

Research Interests and Goals:

Dr. Chen’s research focuses on the role of cellular signaling pathways in the development of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. The goals of his research are to understand the molecular mechanisms of cognitive impairment of Alzheimer’s disease and identify validated biomarkers for early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Dysfunction of protein phosphorylation including protein kinase C (PKC) and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase has been implicated in the molecular pathology and memory impairments of Alzheimer’s disease. A better understanding of these changes in Alzheimer’s disease patients will increase our understanding of the etiology and treatment of their memory impairments. Moreover, the identification of biochemical responses that differ between Alzheimer’s and non-Alzheimer’s patients will help diagnose this disease. Based on findings from the Alzheimer’s Diagnostic Laboratory, and using cell culture and protein chemistry technologies, we grow and test human cells derived from skin biopsies. Dr. Chen’s current research is helping establish a peripheral biomarker-based diagnostic assay for Alzheimer’s disease, and apply it in clinical diagnosis with high accuracy and sensitivity.

Areas of Expertise:

Alzheimer’s disease; neurodegenerative diseases; cell biology; signal transduction; neuropharmacology.

Key Publications:

Chen J, Liu Y, Soh JW and Aguilera G. Antiapoptotic effects of vasopressin in the neuronal cell line H32 involve protein kinase C alpha and beta. Journal of Neurochemistry, 2009, 110(4):1310-20.

Chen J, Rusnak M, Lombroso PJ and Sidhu A. Dopamine promotes striatal neuronal apoptotic death via ERK signaling cascades. European Journal of Neuroscience, 2009, 29(2):287-306.

Chen J, Volpi S and Aguilera G. Antiapoptotic actions of vasopressin in H32 neuronal cells involve MAP kinase transactivation and Bad phosphorylation. Experimental Neurology, 2008; 211(2):529-38.

Chen J, Kiss A, Subburaju S and Aguilera G. Vasopressin mediates potentiation of ACTH response to stress. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 2008, 1148:349-59.

Chen J and Sidhu A. The role of D1 dopamine receptors and phospho-ERK in mediating cytotoxicity. Commentary. Neurotox Res. 2005, 7(3):179-81.

Chen J, Rusnak M and Sidhu A. D1 dopamine receptor mediates dopamine-induced cytotoxicity via the ERK signal cascade. J Biol Chem, 2004, 279(38):39317-30.

Wersinger C, Chen J and Sidhu A. Bimodal induction of dopamine-mediated striatal neurotoxicity is mediated through both activation of D1 dopamine receptors and autoxidation. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, 2004, 25:124-137.

Chen J, Wersinger C and Sidhu A. Chronic stimulation of D1 dopamine receptors in human SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cells induces nitric-oxide synthase activation and cytotoxicity. J Biol Chem, 2003, 278(30):28089-100.