Dr. Shao-yu Chen’s Lab
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About
Dr. Chen’s laboratory applies cutting-edge technologies to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Combining CRISPR/Cas9, RNA-seq, human embryonic stem cells, brain organoids, and in vivo mouse and zebrafish models, the laboratory conducts innovative research into how prenatal alcohol exposure disrupts early development. Recent work has focused on epigenetic mechanisms and the role of exosomes in the ethanol-induced disruption of neural crest cell development. The laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding how ethanol impairs neural crest cell differentiation, migration, and survival, and its role in the pathogenesis of FASD. Notably, the group was the first to identify enhancer-mediated transcriptional dysregulation in neural crest cells as a critical mechanism in FASD pathogenesis. They also discovered that exosomes coordinate the migration of neural crest and placode cells, and that ethanol disrupts this process, resulting in craniofacial abnormalities. Using human brain organoids, they have demonstrated that ethanol exposure impairs the formation of radial glial processes and the generation of outer radial glial cells, and disrupts cortical development. The lab has also shown the protective effects of microRNA mimics and inhibitors, sulforaphane, broccoli sprout extracts, and grape-derived exosome-like nanoparticles against ethanol-induced developmental abnormalities. These findings offer promising molecular targets and therapeutic strategies to mitigate the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure in at-risk pregnancies.
Key Research Areas
- Investigating the impact of ethanol on neural crest cell differentiation, migration, and survival, and its contribution to the pathogenesis of FASD.
- Elucidating microRNA or enhancer-mediated transcriptional dysregulation and other epigenetic mechanisms involved in ethanol-induced developmental abnormalities.
- Investigating how exosomes coordinate the migration of neural crest and placode cells, and how ethanol disrupts these interactions in the pathogenesis of FASD.
- Studying the effects of ethanol on radial glial process formation, outer radial glial cell generation, and cortical development using human brain organoids.
- Developing and evaluating novel preventive strategies for FASD by assessing the efficacy of microRNA-based therapies, sulforaphane, broccoli sprout extracts, and grape-derived exosome-like nanoparticles in mitigating alcohol-induced developmental damage.
- Integrating artificial intelligence and CRISPR-based gene editing to identify and validate epigenetic targets for nutrient-based interventions in FASD.
Team
- Miao Bai, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Associate Email: miao.bai@louisville.edu
- Xiaoqing Wang, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Associate. Email: xiaoqing.wang@louisville.edu
- Hongjia Qian, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Associate. Email: hongjia.qian@louisville.edu
- Jie Liu, M.S., Laboratory manager Email: jie.liu@louisville.edu