Yingjie Chen, MD, PhD

Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine
Lillehei Heart Institute
University of Minnesota Developmental Biology Center

Honors and Awards
1992 Distinguished Contribution Award to the 25th Chinese Olympic Games teams
1991 Honorary mention of Sports Science Award of the International Olympic Committee President
2003 Scientist Development Award –National Center of American Heart Association
2003 Receive the first NIH RO1 award
2005 Lillehei Scholars, Dean's Faculty Recruit, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota
2008 Dr. Marvin and Hadassah Bacaner Research Award in Cardiology, University of Minnesota

Research Interests
Our interests are to use identify the molecular targets associated with the abnormal mitochondrial biogenesis and ventricular dysfunction in the failing hearts, and to understand the molecular mechanism of the decreased NO-cGMP bioavailability in cardiovascular diseases. The experimental approaches include generating state-of-the-art tissue specific gene modified animals, selective gene modification in cultured cells and integrated cardiovascular functional analysis in small experimental animals. We are currently focused on the cell specific functions of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 (DDAH1) and the translational initiation on the cardiovascular function.

Selected Publications (2007-2011)

1. Hu X, Atzler D, Xu X, Zhang P, Guo H, Lu Z, Fassett J, Schwedhelm E, Böger RH, Bache RJ, Chen Y. Global Dimethylarginine Dimethylaminohydrolase-1 (DDAH1) Gene-Deficient Mice Reveal That DDAH1 Is the Critical Enzyme for Degrading the Cardiovascular Risk Factor Asymmetrical Dimethylarginine. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2011 Apr 14. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 21493890, “PMC Journal - In Process”

2. Zhang P, Hu X, Xu X, Chen Y, Bache RJ. Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 modulates endothelial cell growth through nitric oxide and akt. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2011 Apr;31(4):890-7. Epub 2011 Jan 6. PMID: 21212404, PMCID: PMC3064458

3. Fassett JT, Hu X, Xu X, Lu Z, Zhang P, Chen Y, Bache RJ. Adenosine kinase regulation of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2011 May;300(5):H1722-32. PMID: 21335462

4. Lu Z, Xu X, Hu X, Lee S, Traverse JH, Zhu G, Fassett J, Tao Y, Zhang P, Hall JL, dos Remedios C,  Garry DJ,  Chen Y. Oxidative stress regulates left ventricular PDE5 expression in the failing heart. Circulation 2010 Apr 6;121(13):1474-83. PMID: 20308615

5. Lu Z, Xu X, Hu X, Fassett J, Zhu G, Tao Y,  Li J,  Zhang P, Zhao B, Chen Y. PGC-1a  regulates expression of myocardial mitochondrial antioxidants and myocardial oxidative stress after chronic systolic overload.  Antioxid Redox Signal. 2010 Oct 1;13(7):1011-22.  PMID: 20406135, PMC2959178 

6. Hu  XL, Xu X, Zhu G, Atzler D, Kimoto M; Chen J,  Schwedhelm E, Lüneburg N, Böger RH, Zhang P, Chen Y. Endothelial specific DDAH1 gene deficient mice reveal that vascular endothelium is the primary site for removal of toxic methylarginines. Circulation, 2009 Dec 1;120(22):2222-9.    PMCID: PMC2804399

7. Lu Z, Fassett J, Xu X, Hu X, Zhu G, French J, Zhang P, Schnermann J, Bache RJ,  Chen Y. Adenosine A3 receptor deficiency exerts unanticipated cardiac protective effects on the pressure overloaded induced ventricle hypertrophy.  Circulation. 2008, 118:1713-21.  PMID: 18838560

8. Hu XL, Xu X, Flagg TP, Nichols CG, Bache RJ, Chen Y. Disruption of Sarcolemmal ATP sensitive potassium Channel Activity Represses PGC-1alpha expression and Impairs the Cardiac Response to Stress. Circulation Research.  2008 Oct, 103:1009-1017.  PMID: 18802029

9. Zhang P, Hou M, Li Y, Xu X, Barsoum M, Chen Y, Bache RJ. NADPH oxidase contributes to coronary endothelial dysfunction in the failing heart. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2009 Mar;296(3):H840-6.   

10. Fassett J, Xu X, Hu X, Zhu G, French J, Chen Y, Bache RJ. Adenosine Regulation Microtubule Dynamics in Cardiac Hypertrophy. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2009 Aug;297(2):H523-32.  PMID: 19525375

11. Xu X, Fassett J, Hu XL, Zhu GS, Schnermann J, Bache RJ, and Chen Y. Endogenous adenosine protects the hart from severe systolic overload induced ventricular hypertrophy and congestive heart failure. Hypertension 2008, 51:1557-1564; 

12. Zhang P, Hu X, Xu X, Zhu G., Viollet B, Wayne Xu W, Wiczer B, Bernlohr DA, Bache RJ, Chen YJ. AMPKa2 deficiency exacerbates pressure-overload induced left ventricular hypertrophy, dysfunction and activation of mTOR pathway. Hypertension 2008, 52: 918-924.  PMID: 18838626

13. van Deel ED, Lu  Z, Xu X, Zhu G, Hu X, Oury TD, Bache RJ, Duncker DJ, Chen Y. Extracellular SOD protects the heart against oxidative stress and hypertrophy after myocardial infarction. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. 2008, 44:1305-1313.  PMID: 18206658

14. Lu Z, Xu X, Hu X, Zhu G, Zhang P, van Deel ED, French J, Fassett J, Oury TD, Bache RJ, Chen Y. Extracellular Superoxide dismutase deficiency exacerbates pressure overload induced left ventricular hypertrophy and dysfunction. Hypertension. 2008  51:19-25;  PMID: 17998475

15. Xu X, Hu X, Zhang P, Lu, Zhao L, Bache R, Chen Y. Effects of Xanthine Oxidase Inhibition on Systolic Overload-induced Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Mice. Journal of Cardiac Failure J Card Fail. 2008 Nov;14(9):746-53.  PMID: 18995179

16. Xu X, Zhao L, Hu X, Zhang P, Wessale J, Bache RJ, Chen Y. Delayed treatment effects of xanthine oxidase inhibition on systolic overload-induced left ventricular hypertrophy and fysfunction.  LNCN Nucleosides, Nucleotides and Nucleic Acids.  2010 Jun;29(4-6):306-13. PMID: 20544512   

17. Traverse JH, Chen Y, Hou M, Li Y, Bache RJ. Effect of K+ATP Channel and Adenosine Receptor Blockade During Rest and Exercise in Congestive Heart Failure. Circulation Research. 2007;100(11):1643-9.  

18. Zhang P, Xu X, Hu X, van Deel ED, Zhu G, Chen Y. Inducible nitric oxide synthase deficiency protects the heart from systolic overload-induced ventricular hypertrophy and congestive heart failure. Circulation Research. 2007 Apr 13;100(7):1089-98.  PMID: 17363700, 

19. Bryan PM, Xu X, Dickey DM, Chen Y, Potter LR.  Renal hyporesponsiveness to atrial natriuretic peptide in congestive heart failure results from reduced atrial natriuretic peptide receptor concentrations. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2007 May;292(5):F1636-44.

20. Dickey DM, Flora DR, Bryan PM, Xu X, Chen Y, Potter LR. Differential Regulation of Membrane Guanylyl Cyclases in Congestive Heart Failure: NPR-B, Not NPR-A, Is the Predominant Natriuretic Peptide Receptor in the Failing Heart. Endocrinology. 2007 Jul;148(7):3518-22.