Jin-Ran Chen, MD, PhD

Research Program: Cancer Biology Faculty Rank: Associate Professor Campus: Arkansas Children's Hospital Department: Pediatrics

Cancer Research Interest

• Disease Site Focus: Breast, Multiple Myeloma, Musculoskeletal, Pediatric Oncology, Hematologic Malignancies
• Research Focus Area: Treatment
• Type of Research: Translational
• Research Keywords: Bone, multiple myeloma, phenolic acids
• Research Interest Statement: I joined the faculty at the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute (ACRI) and the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center (ACNC) in collaboration with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in 2005 following a post-doctoral fellowship studied sex steroid and bone cell death signaling with Dr. Stavros Manolagas in bone endocrinology at the UAMS. My long-term research goal is to understand mechanisms of epigenetic regulation of bone development (osteoclast bone resorption and osteoblast bone formation), degenerative bone disorders such as osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis, and discover novel biomolecular management and treatment for degenerative bone disorders. I was trained to research on molecular signaling of osteoclastogenesis, and association between sex steroid and bone cell death signaling. I have developed research area related to dietary nutrition (associated phytochemicals including soy isoflavones, phenolic acids, free fatty acids, etc.) and bone biology, and has expertise in bone marrow osteoclastogenesis and osteoblastogenesis/adipogenesis cultures. I originated research on GPR109A signaling involved in osteoclast differentiation and activity, in an addition to epigenetic fetal bone development. I recently made the novel discovery that osteoblastic cell senescence signaling programming may be fundamental to suppression of osteoblastic bone formation in both obese and aging rodents, and other conditions such as sex steroid deficiency, alcohol abuse and cancers. I also have extensive experiences on working gene knockout animal models such as Nox4, Ezh2 gene knockout in osteoclastic and osteoblastic cells, and NIH R01 grant with 20% efforts as co-I sub-awarded from with Dr. Martin Ronis at LSU. I have been closely working with Dr. Zhan on investigating multiple myeloma-associated bone damages. During the past few years, we have several co-publications and funding applications. With collaborating with Dr. Zhan, in my lab, we have engineered CST6 fusion protein and peptide with collagen-binding-domain (CBD) (CST6-Pro-CBD and CST6-Pep-CBD, respectively) to specifically target bone tissue. During the past 5 years, I have published more than 30 manuscripts in peer reviewed high level journals. In summary, I have the training, expertise, leadership, motivation, and excellent environment necessary to successfully carry out the bone and cancer research.

Contact Information

• Email Address: CHENJINRAN@UAMS.EDU
• Profiles Research Networking Software: View Profile

Recent Publications

• Austin EJ, Chen J, Soyer E, [et al.]. Optimizing Patient Engagement in Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: Primary Care Team Perspectives on Influencing Factors. Journal of general internal medicine. 2024. PMID: 39073482.
• Chen J, Fan J, Lin Z, [et al.]. Human endogenous retrovirus type K encoded Np9 oncoprotein induces DNA damage response. Journal of medical virology. 2024 96(3):e29534. PMID: 38501356.
• Caviness PC, Lazarenko OP, Blackburn ML, [et al., including Chen JR]. Phenolic acids prevent sex-steroid deficiency-induced bone loss and bone marrow adipogenesis in mice. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry. 2024 127:109601. PMID: 38367948.
• Tu SM, Chen JZ, Singh SR, [et al.]. Stem Cell Theory of Cancer: Clinical Implications for Cellular Metabolism and Anti-Cancer Metabolomics. Cancers. 2024 16(3). PMID: 38339375. PMCID: PMC10854810.
• Chen J, Lin Z, Fan J, [et al.]. Identification of new microtubule small-molecule inhibitors and microtubule-associated genes against triple negative breast cancer. American journal of cancer research. 2024 14(4):1545-1560. PMID: 38726264. PMCID: PMC11076258.
• Austin EJ, Chen J, Ferro L, [et al.]. Are we being equitable enough? Lessons learned from sites lost in an implementation trial. Implementation research and practice. 2024 5:26334895241267023. PMID: 39148956. PMCID: PMC11325307.
• Tu SM, Chen JZ, Singh SR, [et al.]. Stem Cell Theory of Cancer: Clinical Implications of Epigenomic versus Genomic Biomarkers in Cancer Care. Cancers. 2023 15(23). PMID: 38067237. PMCID: PMC10705798.
• Sun F, Cheng Y, Chen JR, [et al.]. BCMA- and CST6-specific CAR T cells lyse multiple myeloma cells and suppress murine osteolytic lesions. The Journal of clinical investigation. 2023. PMID: 37883186. PMCID: PMC10760955.
• Cheng Y, Sun F, Alapat DV, [et al., including Chen JR]. High NEK2 expression in myeloid progenitors suppresses T cell immunity in multiple myeloma. Cell reports. Medicine. 2023 4(10):101214. PMID: 37794587. PMCID: PMC10591052.
• Austin EJ, Chen J, Briggs ES, [et al.]. Integrating Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Into Primary Care Settings. JAMA network open. 2023 6(8):e2328627. PMID: 37566414. PMCID: PMC10422185.
• Caviness PC, Gai D, Lazarenko OP, [et al., including Chen JR]. Decreased bone resorption in Ezh2 myeloid cell conditional knockout mouse model. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 2023 37(7):e23019. PMID: 37272906.
• Sun F, Cheng Y, Ying J, [et al., including Chen JR]. A gene signature can predict risk of MGUS progressing to multiple myeloma. Journal of hematology & oncology. 2023 16(1):70. PMID: 37386588. PMCID: PMC10308756.
• Chen J, Lin Z, Song J, [et al.]. Echinomycin as a promising therapeutic agent against KSHV-related malignancies. Journal of hematology & oncology. 2023 16(1):48. PMID: 37143124. PMCID: PMC10161613.
• Chen J, Song J, Plaisance-Bonstaff K, [et al.]. Role of Histamine and Related Signaling in Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Pathogenesis and Oncogenesis. Viruses. 2023 15(4). PMID: 37112991. PMCID: PMC10142667.
• Wang X, Ma Y, Chen J, [et al.]. A novel decellularized matrix of Wnt signaling-activated osteocytes accelerates the repair of critical-sized parietal bone defects with osteoclastogenesis, angiogenesis, and neurogenesis. Bioactive materials. 2023 21:110-128. PMID: 36093329. PMCID: PMC9411072.
• Tenlep SYN, Weaver M, Chen J, [et al.]. Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate is a metabolism-disrupting chemical in male mice. Toxicology letters. 2023 374:31-39. PMID: 36493961. PMCID: PMC9869283.
• Chen J, Wang Z, Phuc T, [et al.]. Oncolytic strategy using new bifunctional HDACs/BRD4 inhibitors against virus-associated lymphomas. PLoS pathogens. 2023 19(1):e1011089. PMID: 36638143. PMCID: PMC9879403.
• Gai D, Chen JR, Stewart JP, [et al.]. CST6 suppresses osteolytic bone disease in multiple myeloma by blocking osteoclast differentiation. The Journal of clinical investigation. 2022. PMID: 35881476. PMCID: PMC9479617.
• Chen J, Song J, Dai L, [et al.]. SARS-CoV-2 infection and lytic reactivation of herpesviruses: A potential threat in the postpandemic era?. Journal of medical virology. 2022. PMID: 35819034. PMCID: PMC9350099.
• Chen J, Barrett L, Lin Z, [et al.]. Identification of natural compounds tubercidin and lycorine HCl against small-cell lung cancer and BCAT1 as a therapeutic target. Journal of cellular and molecular medicine. 2022. PMID: 35318805. PMCID: PMC9077304.
• Deng LJ, Deng WQ, Fan SR, [et al., including Chen JX]. m6A modification: recent advances, anticancer targeted drug discovery and beyond. Molecular cancer. 2022 21(1):52. PMID: 35164788. PMCID: PMC8842557.
• Chen J, Cuevas PL, Dworan JS, [et al.]. Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Controls Maxillofacial Hyperostosis. Journal of dental research. 2022:220345211067705. PMID: 35114849. PMCID: PMC10850863.
• Chen J, Dai L, Kendrick S, [et al.]. The Anti-COVID-19 Drug Remdesivir Promotes Oncogenic Herpesvirus Reactivation through Regulation of Intracellular Signaling Pathways. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy. 2022:aac0239521. PMID: 35041508. PMCID: PMC8923226.
• Dai L, Lu YC, Chen J, [et al.]. Oral Shedding of an Oncogenic Virus Alters the Oral Microbiome in HIV+ Patients. Frontiers in microbiology. 2022 13:882520. PMID: 35516440. PMCID: PMC9063630.
• Chen J, Song J, James J, [et al.]. Activation of IL1 signaling molecules by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology. 2022 12:1049624. PMID: 36457850. PMCID: PMC9705745.
• Sui Y, Meng Z, Chen J, [et al.]. Effects of Dicyclohexyl Phthalate Exposure on PXR Activation and Lipid Homeostasis in Mice. Environmental health perspectives. 2021 129(12):127001. PMID: 34851150. PMCID: PMC8634903.
• Chen J, Dai L, Barrett L, [et al.]. SARS-CoV-2 proteins and anti-COVID-19 drugs induce lytic reactivation of an oncogenic virus. Communications biology. 2021 4(1):682. PMID: 34083759. PMCID: PMC8175744.
• Jung S, Harris N, Niyonshuti II, [et al., including Chen J]. Photothermal Response Induced by Nanocage-Coated Artificial Extracellular Matrix Promotes Neural Stem Cell Differentiation. Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland). 2021 11(5). PMID: 34064443. PMCID: PMC8147862.
• Finlin BS, Memetimin H, Zhu B, [et al., including Chen J]. Pioglitazone does not synergize with mirabegron to increase beige fat or further improve glucose metabolism. JCI insight. 2021 6(6). PMID: 33571166. PMCID: PMC8026187.
• Del Valle L, Dai L, Lin HY, [et al., including Chen J]. Role of EIF4G1 network in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) cell survival and disease progression. Journal of cellular and molecular medicine. 2021. PMID: 33539648. PMCID: PMC7957206.
• Chen JR, Zhao H, Wankhade UD, [et al.]. GPR109A mediates the effects of hippuric acid on regulating osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption in mice. Communications biology. 2021 4(1):53. PMID: 33420329. PMCID: PMC7794563.
• Henry N, Frank J, McLouth C, [et al., including Chen J]. Short Chain Fatty Acids Taken at Time of Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Are Independent of Stroke Severity But Associated With Inflammatory Markers and Worse Symptoms at Discharge. Frontiers in immunology. 2021 12:797302. PMID: 35126360. PMCID: PMC8807638.
• Chen J, Yuan X, Pilawski I, [et al.]. Molecular Basis for Craniofacial Phenotypes Caused by Sclerostin Deletion. Journal of dental research. 2020:22034520963584. PMID: 33078679. PMCID: PMC7903846.
• Dai L, Jung BG, Chen J, [et al.]. The potential impacts of early secreted antigenic target of 6 kDa of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on KSHV-infected cells. Journal of medical virology. 2020. PMID: 32648938. PMCID: PMC7796979.
• Chen J, Goyal N, Dai L, [et al.]. Developing new ceramide analogs and identifying novel sphingolipid-controlled genes against a virus-associated lymphoma. Blood. 2020. PMID: 32518949. PMCID: PMC7645984.
• Chen J, Lin Z, Barrett L, [et al.]. Identification of new therapeutic targets and natural compounds against diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). Bioorganic chemistry. 2020 99:103847. PMID: 32311581. PMCID: PMC7260728.
• Finlin BS, Memetimin H, Zhu B, [et al., including Chen J]. The β3-adrenergic receptor agonist mirabegron improves glucose homeostasis in obese humans. The Journal of clinical investigation. 2020 130(5):2319-2331. PMID: 31961829. PMCID: PMC7190997.
• Dai L, Chen J, Lin Z, [et al.]. Targeting Sphingosine Kinase by ABC294640 against Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). Journal of Cancer. 2020 11(16):4683-4691. PMID: 32626514. PMCID: PMC7330698.
• Todorova VK, Hsu PC, Wei JY, [et al., including Chen JZ]. Biomarkers of inflammation, hypercoagulability and endothelial injury predict early asymptomatic doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients. American journal of cancer research. 2020 10(9):2933-2945. PMID: 33042627. PMCID: PMC7539772.
• Barrett L, Chen J, Dai L, [et al.]. Role of Interleukin-1 Family Members and Signaling Pathways in KSHV Pathogenesis. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology. 2020 10:587929. PMID: 33194830. PMCID: PMC7662392.
• Chen J, Forrest J, post s, [et al.]. Mechanistic Insights into Chemoresistance Mediated by Oncogenic Viruses in Lymphomas. Viruses. 2019 11(12). PMID: 31888174. PMCID: PMC6950054.
• Sridharan A, Schinke CD, Georgiev G, [et al., including Chen J]. Stem cell mutations can be detected in myeloma patients years before onset of secondary leukemias. Blood advances. 2019 3(23):3962-3967. PMID: 31805192. PMCID: PMC6963234.