Campuses:
 | M.D., Ph.D. Associate Professor and General Mills Chair in Genomics for Healthful Foods Department of Food Science and Nutrition 265 FscN Phone: (612) 626-1220 Fax: (612) 625-5272 xlchen@umn.edu Molecular Nutrition & Genomics Laboratory |
Our lab research interests focus on understanding the molecular and cellular mechanism of the development and prevention of nutrition-related chronic diseases - obesity and diabetes. We are primarily interested in two areas: 1) the role of adipose tissue dysfunction in lipid homeostasis and obesity-linked insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, and 2) the molecular mechanisms by which dietary composition affects energy metabolism and obesity. We conduct studies on both cell and animal models of obesity and diabetes using the tools of molecular biology, proteomics, and genomics.
Jin D, Guo H, Zhang Y, Hannaford J, and Chen X. Lipocalin 2 is a selective modulator of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma activation and function in adipogenesis and energy expenditure. FASEB J. 2011; 25(2):754-764.
Zhang Y and Chen X. Reducing selenoprotein P expression suppresses adipocyte differentiation as a result of increased preadipocyte inflammation. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2011; 300(1):E77-85.
Jin D, Zhang Y, and Chen X. Lipocalin 2 deficiency inhibits cell proliferation, autophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis in mouse embryonic cells. Mol Cell Biochem 2011; 351(1-2):165-172.
Guo H, Jin D, Zhang Y, Wright W, Bazuine M, Brockman DA, Bernlohr DA, and Chen X. Lipocalin 2 deficiency impairs thermogenesis and potentiates diet-induced insulin resistance in mice. Diabetes 2010; 59(6):1376-1385.
Wu Y, Sun H, Mejia W, Novosyadlyy R, Nunez N, Chen X, Mendoza A, Hong S, Khanna C, Brodt P, Yakar S. IGF-1 regulates the liver microenvironment in obese mice and promotes liver metastasis. Cancer Res 2010; 70(1):57-67.
Ding L, Jin D, and Chen X. Luteolin enhances insulin sensitivity via activation of PPARgamma transcriptional activity in adipocytes. J Nutr Biochem 2010; 21(10):941-947.
Chen X, Hunt D, Cushman SW, and Hess S. Proteomic characterization of thiazolidindione regulation of obese adipose secretome in Zucker obese rats. Proteomics Clin Appl 2009; 3(9):1099-1111.
Zhang J, Wu Y, Zhang Y, Leroith D, Bernlohr DA, Chen X. The role of lipocalin 2 in the regulation of inflammation in adipocytes and macrophages. Mol Endocrinol 2008; 22(6):1416-1426.
Chen X. and Hess, S. Adipose Proteome Analysis: Focus on Mediators of Insulin Resistance. Expert Review of Proteomics. 2008; 5(6):827-39. (Invited Review).
Hess, S. and Chen, X. Applications of Proteomics to the Study of Adipose Tissue. In: Adipose Tissue Protocols, 2nd ed., Humana Press (2008).
Zhang, J., Wu, Y.J., Zhang, Y., LeRoith, D., Bernlohr, D.A. and Chen, X. (2008) The Role of lipocalin 2 in the regulation of inflammation in adipocytes and macrophages. Molecular Endocrinology 22(6):1416-26.
Xiang, C.C., Wu, Y.J., Ma, L., Ding, L., Lisinski, I., Brownstein, M.J., Cushman, S.W. and Chen, X. Characterization of insulin resistant phenotype of cultured primary rat adipose cells. Diabetologia 2007; 50(5):1070-9.
Zhang, J., Wright, W., Bernlohr, D.A. Cushman, S.W. and Chen, X. Alterations of the classic Pathway of complement in adipose tissue of obesity and insulin resistance. Am J Endocrinol Metab 2007; 292(5):E1433-40.
Chen, X., Pannell, L., Cushman, S.W. and Hess, H. (2005) Quantitative proteomic analysis of the secretory proteins from adipose cells using a 2D liquid chromatography-MS/MS approach. Journal of Proteome Research 4(2):570-7.
Chen, X., Olausson, T., Al-Hasani, H., Smith, U. and Cushman, S.W. (2003) Activity, phosphorylation state and subcellular distribution of GLUT4-targedted Akt2 in rat adipose cells. Journal of Cell Science 116:3511-3518.
