Shujuan Chen, Ph.D.
Associate Adjunct Professor of Pharmacology
Research Interests
Derived from my extensive studies of xenobiotic nuclear receptors (NRs), my research interests have expanded to include nuclear receptor corepressor (NCoR1) and its physiological and pharmacological functions. Implementing mouse genetics and in vitro 3-D organoid culture, I have demonstrated the central role of NCoR1 in intestinal health and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These findings led me to the field of intestinal innate immunity, including studies of intestinal stem cell proliferation and differentiation, secretory cells, antimicrobial peptides, gut microbiome, and the interactions of host and intestinal bacteria. My other research focus is investigating the impact of environmental toxicants on neonatal development, brain toxicity, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and colorectal cancer (CRC); these studies include the environmental toxicants arsenic, cadmium, triclosan, benzopyrene, and some polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Selected Publications
Mennillo E, Yang X, Paszek M, Auwerx J, Benner CW, Chen S. NCoR1 protects mice from dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis by guarding colonic crypt cells from luminal insult. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020; 10:133-147. PMID: 32044398
Hansmann E, Mennillo E, Yoda E, Verreault M, Barbier O, Chen S, Tukey RH. Differential Role of Liver X Receptor (LXR) α and LXRβ in the Regulation of UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 in Humanized UGT1 Mice. Drug Metab Dispos. 2020; 48:255-263. PMID: 31980500
Chen S and Tukey RH. Humanized UGT1 mice, regulation of UGT1A1 and the role of the intestinal tract in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and breast milk induced jaundice. Drug Metab Dispos. 46: 1745-1755, 2018. PMID: 30093417
Lu W, Rettenmeier E, Paszek M, Yueh MF, Tukey RH, Trottier J, Barbier O, Chen S. Crypt Organoid Culture as an in Vitro Model in Drug Metabolism and Cytotoxicity Studies. Drug Metab Dispos. 2017 Jul; 45(7):748-754. PMID: 28468837.
Yoda E, Paszek M, Konopnicki C, Fujiwara R, Chen S, Tukey RH. Isothiocyanates induce UGT1A1 in humanized UGT1 mice in a CAR dependent fashion that is highly dependent upon oxidative stress. Sci Rep. 2017 Apr 19; 7:46489. PMID: 28422158.
Chen S, Yueh MF, Bigo C, Barbier O, Wang K, Karin M, Nguyen N, Tukey RH. Intestinal glucuronidation protects against chemotherapy-induced toxicity by irinotecan (CPT-11). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013; 110:19143-8. PMID: 24191041
Chen S, Yueh MF, Evans RM, Tukey RH. Pregnane-x-receptor controls hepatic glucuronidation during pregnancy and neonatal development in humanized UGT1 mice. Hepatology. 2012; 56:658-67. PMID: 22371261.
Chen S, Beaton D, Nguyen N, Senekeo-Effenberger K, Brace-Sinnokrak E, Argikar U, Remmel RP, Trottier J, Barbier O, Ritter JK, Tukey RH. Tissue-specific, inducible, and hormonal control of the human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase-1 (UGT1) locus. J Biol Chem. 2005; 280:37547-57. PMID: 16155002.