Chengwen Chen

Fudan University, Shanghai, Shanghai Shi, China

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Publications (8)28.81 Total impact

  • Article: MicroRNA-212 displays tumor-promoting properties in non-small cell lung cancer cells and targets the hedgehog pathway receptor PTCH1.
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    ABSTRACT: Dysexpression of microRNAs has been found in many tumors, including lung cancer. The hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays an important role during normal development, and the abnormal regulation of its members has also been related to many tumors. However, little is known about the relationship between microRNA and the Hh pathway. In this paper, we report microRNA-212 (miR-212) playing a role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and targeting PTCH1, a receptor of the Hh pathway. We found that miR-212 was up-regulated when cells were treated with 4ß-12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). We ectopically expressed miR-212 in NSCLC cell lines to examine the influence of miR-212 overexpression. The results showed that overexpression of miR-212 in NSCLC cells promoted cell cycle progression and cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The promoting effects of miR-212 on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were partially reversed by the miR-212 inhibitor anti-miR-212. These results suggested that miR-212 might have tumor-promoting properties. Potential targets of miR-212 were predicted, and we showed tumor suppressor PTCH1 was a functional target of miR-212. PTCH1 may be responsible for the effect of miR-212 on cell proliferation. Altogether, our results indicated that miR-212 was involved in tumorigenesis, and the oncogenic activity of miR-212 in NSCLC cells was due, in part, to suppression of PTCH1.
    Molecular biology of the cell 02/2012; 23(8):1423-34. · 5.98 Impact Factor
  • Article: Cx31.1 acts as a tumour suppressor in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines through inhibition of cell proliferation and metastasis.
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    ABSTRACT: Reduced connexin expression and loss of gap junction function is a characteristic of many cancers, including lung cancer. However, there are little reports about the relation between Cx31.1 and lung cancer. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Cx31.1 on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We found that the Cx31.1 was down-regulated in NSCLC cell lines, and the expression levels were reversely related with their metastatic potential. We ectopically expressed Cx31.1 in H1299 NSCLC cell line to examine the influence of Cx31.1 overexpression. The results showed that overexpression of Cx31.1 in H1299 cells reduced cell proliferation, induced a delay in the G(1) phase, inhibited anchorage-independent growth and suppressed cell migration and invasion. The cell cycle delay and cell migration and invasion suppressive effects of Cx31.1 were partially reversed by siRNA targeting mRNA of Cx31.1. Moreover, xenografts of Cx31.1 overexpressing H1299 cells showed reduced tumourigenicity. These results suggested that Cx31.1 has tumour-suppressive properties. Further investigation indicated that cyclin D3 may be responsible for Cx31.1-induced G(1) phase delay. Importantly, Cx31.1 increased the expression of epithelial markers, such as cytokeratin 18, and decreased expression of mesenchymal markers, such as vimentin, indicating a Cx31.1-mediated partial shift from a mesenchymal towards an epithelial phenotype. We concluded that Cx31.1 inhibit the malignant properties of NSCLC cell lines, the mechanisms under this may include regulation of EMT.
    Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 07/2011; 16(5):1047-59. · 4.13 Impact Factor
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    Article: Varied pathways of stage IA lung adenocarcinomas discovered by integrated gene expression analysis.
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    ABSTRACT: Discovery of the progression-associated genes and pathways in lung adenocarcinoma (LAD) has important implications in understanding the molecular mechanism of tumor development. However, few studies had been performed to focus on the changes of pathways in lung adenocarcinoma development using microarray expression profile. We performed a meta-analysis of 4 LAD microarray datasets encompassing 353 patients to reveal differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between normal lung tissues and LAD of different stages. Overall, 1 838 genes were found to be dys-regulated, and the adipogenesis, circadian rhythm, and Id pathways were significantly changed. Interestingly, most of the genes from the same gene family (such as Interleukin receptor, Matrix metallopeptidase, Histone cluster and Minichromosome maintenance complex component families) were found to be up-regulated (or down-regulated). Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was applied to validate the expression of randomly selected 18 DEGs in LAD cell lines. In the pathway analysis among stages, Oxidative stress, Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis and Integrin-mediated cell adhesion pathways, which were involved in cancer cell proliferation and metastasis, were showed to be significantly regulated in stages other than IA. Genes involved in adipogenesis and Id pathways might play important roles in development of LADs. The similar trend of expression of the gene family members suggested coordinate regulation in tumor progression. Three pathways (Oxidative stress, Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis and Integrin-mediated cell adhesion pathways) significantly regulated in stages other than stage IA suggested that genes and pathways conferring invasive character might be activated in the preinvasive stage IB, while the Oxidative stress and the Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis pathways might have strong connections to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The insignificantly regulated three pathways in stage IA might be used in early-stage detection of LAD.
    International journal of biological sciences 01/2011; 7(5):551-66. · 2.70 Impact Factor
  • Article: Meta-analysis of three polymorphisms in the steroid-5-alpha-reductase, alpha polypeptide 2 gene (SRD5A2) and risk of prostate cancer.
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    ABSTRACT: The steroid-5-alpha-reductase, alpha polypeptide 2 (SRD5A2) gene plays a crucial role in androgen metabolism pathway in human prostate. It encodes SRD5A2 enzyme, which catalyses testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is the main active structure binding with androgen receptor (AR). After the activation of AR, it further regulates a series of target genes in androgen metabolism pathway. However, no clear consensus has been reached on the association between the SRD5A2 V89L, A49T and TA repeat polymorphisms and prostate cancer (PCa) risk. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis of 31 association studies with 14,726 PCa cases and 15,802 controls. We found no association between PCa and 89L compared with 89V allele [odds ratio (OR) = 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.98-1.06, P(heterogeneity) = 0.44]. The 49T allele showed a significantly elevated effect on the high stage (Stages III-IV) of PCa risk both under the dominant genetic model (OR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.44-3.15, P(heterogeneity) = 0.65) and in the contrast T versus A allele (OR = 2.06, 95% CI 1.41-3.02, P(heterogeneity) = 0.69). There was a significantly decreased association between PCa and long TA repeat as compared versus short TA repeat (OR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.74-1.00, P(heterogeneity) = 0.79). No significant between-study heterogeneity was found in all subjects under four genetic models (dominant model, recessive model, allele comparison and homozygosity comparison) for these three polymorphisms, respectively, so the fixed effects model was used to pool the result. Our result indicated that carriers of 49T might improve the risk of PCa in higher stages (Stages III-IV), carriers of long TA repeat might decrease the risk of PCa and 89L may not be an important risk factor for PCa. However, due to the limited sample sizes, this meta-analysis did not achieve sufficiently conclusive results. Still more well-designed studies should be performed to clarify the role of these three polymorphisms in the development of PCa.
    Mutagenesis 12/2010; 26(3):371-83. · 3.18 Impact Factor
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    Article: Hydrogen-rich saline protects against spinal cord injury in rats.
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    ABSTRACT: In the present study, we examined the mechanisms of hydrogen-rich saline, a reported therapeutic antioxidant, in the treatment of acute spinal cord contusion injury. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to produce a standardized model of contuses spinal cord injury (125 kdyn force). Hydrogen-rich saline was injected intraperitoneally (5 ml/kg) immediately, and at 24 and 48 h after injury. All rats were sacrificed at 72 h after spinal cord injury (SCI). Apoptotic cell death, oxidative stress, inflammation, level of Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were evaluated. In addition, locomotor behavior was assessed using the Basso, Beattice and Bresnahan (BBB) scale. We observed that administration of hydrogen-rich saline decreased the number of apoptotic cells, suppressed oxidative stress, and improved locomotor functions. Hydrogen-rich saline increased the release of BDNF. In conclusion, hydrogen-rich saline reduced acute spinal cord contusion injury, possibly by reduction of oxidative stress and elevation of BDNF.
    Neurochemical Research 03/2010; 35(7):1111-8. · 2.24 Impact Factor
  • Article: TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and lung cancer risk: a meta-analysis.
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    ABSTRACT: No clear consensus has been reached on the TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism (G12139C) and lung cancer risk. Thus, a meta-analysis was conducted to summarize the possible association. There was no statistical association between 12139C (Pro allele) and lung cancer risk in Caucasians compared with 12139G allele. However, the association was observed in all subjects (9,387 patients and 9,922 controls, p=0.04, OR=1.08, 95% CI 1.00-1.17), as well as in Asians (p=0.0004, OR=1.14, 95% CI 1.06-1.22). The association was also found in Asians under recessive genetic model (p<0.00001, OR=1.37, 95% CI 1.20-1.57) and homozygote comparison (CC vs. GG) (p<0.0001, OR=1.34, 95% CI 1.16-1.56). 12139C allele might increase the lung adenocarcinoma risk compared with 12139G allele (p=0.01, OR=1.11, 95% CI 1.02-1.21), and the effect was also found under recessive genetic model (p=0.003, OR=1.28, 95% CI 1.09-1.50) and homozygote comparison (CC vs. GG) (p=0.007, OR=1.28, 95% CI 1.07-1.52). There was an elevated association between the 12139C and the stage I lung cancer under dominant genetic model (p=0.04, OR=1.48, 95% CI 1.02-2.16), but no association was observed in other stages. No association of smoking was found between 12139C allele and lung cancer under recessive genetic model. Our result indicated that 12139C might increase the risk of lung cancer under recessive genetic model in adenocarcinoma, in Asians, and in lung cancer stage I. More studies stratified for lung cancer stage-genotyping interaction should be performed to clarify the role of TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism in the development of lung cancer.
    International Journal of Cancer 06/2009; 125(12):2903-11. · 5.44 Impact Factor
  • Article: A meta-analysis of DNA repair gene XPC polymorphisms and cancer risk.
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    ABSTRACT: Polymorphisms (A33512C, C21151T and PAT -/+) of the xeroderma pigmentosum group C (XPC) were shown to contribute to genetic susceptibility to cancer. However, association studies on these polymorphisms in cancer have shown conflicting results. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis. Overall, there was no significant association between 33512C (9,091 patients and 11,553 controls) and cancer risk. No significant association was found in stratification analysis by tumor sites and ethnicities except an elevated lung cancer risk under the recessive genetic model in all subjects [P = 0.04, odds ratio (OR) = 1.20, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-1.45, P (heterogeneity) = 0.88]. There was no significant association between 21151T (5,227 patients and 5,959 controls) and cancer risk in all subjects but an increased cancer risk in Caucasians under the recessive genetic model (P = 0.006, OR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.11-1.90, P (heterogeneity) = 0.75) and homozygote comparison (P = 0.02, OR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.07-1.81, P (heterogeneity) = 0.41). It might be that 21151T increases bladder cancer risk under the recessive genetic model (P = 0.02, OR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.06-2.09, P (heterogeneity) = 0.47) and homozygote comparison (P = 0.02, OR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.05-2.11, P (heterogeneity) = 0.23). There was no significant association between PAT + (4,600 patients and 4,866 controls) and cancer risk in all subjects. An increased cancer risk in Caucasians was found under the recessive genetic model (P = 0.02, OR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.03-1.40, P (heterogeneity) = 0.37) and homozygote comparison (P = 0.008, OR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.06-1.50, P (heterogeneity) = 0.13). The XPC PAT + allele might increase head and neck cancer risk (P = 0.02, OR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.04-1.59, P (heterogeneity) = 0.15). More studies based on larger, stratified, case-control population, especially studies investigate the combined effect of XPC A33512C, C21151T, and PAT, are required to further evaluate the role of these polymorphisms in different cancers.
    Journal of Human Genetics 02/2008; 53(1):18-33. · 2.57 Impact Factor
  • Article: Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) T3801C and A2455G polymorphisms in breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis.
    Chengwen Chen, Yan Huang, Yao Li, Yumin Mao, Yi Xie
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    ABSTRACT: The cytochrome P450 1A1 gene (CYP1A1), encoding Phase I metabolic enzymes, appeared to be a candidate gene for breast cancer risk. However, studies on the association between polymorphisms in this gene and breast cancer have yielded conflicting results. We performed a meta-analysis to investigate the association with breast cancer of the CYP1A1 polymorphisms T3801C (9,316 cases and 12,714 controls) and A2455G (9,552 cases and 9,320 controls). In the genotype contrast of A2455G, both additive [GG vs AA, P = 0.04, fixed-effects OR 0.72; 95% CI (0.53-0.99), P = 0.95 for heterogeneity] and recessive [GG vs (GA + AA), P = 0.04, fixed-effects OR 0.73; 95% CI (0.53-0.99), P = 0.97 for heterogeneity] models produced significant results in east-Asians. In pre-menopausal women in a worldwide population, significant association between A2455G and breast cancer was also found using both models [additive model: P = 0.02, fixed-effects OR 0.52; 95% CI (0.29-0.92), P = 0.39 for heterogeneity; recessive model: P = 0.02, fixed-effects OR 0.51; 95% CI (0.29-0.90), P = 0.38 for heterogeneity]. Our meta-analysis suggests that an A2455G G/G genotype is associated with a trend of reduced breast cancer risk, both in east-Asian women and in pre-menopausal women worldwide, while the T3801C C allele might not be a risk factor for breast cancer. Larger scale primary studies are required to further evaluate the interaction of CYP1A1 polymorphisms and breast cancer risk in specific populations.
    Journal of Human Genetics 01/2007; 52(5):423-35. · 2.57 Impact Factor