Dongbao Chen

Picture of Dongbao Chen
Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology
School of Medicine
Professor, Pathology
School of Medicine
Ph.D., China (Beijing) Agricultural University, 1991, Reproductive Physiology
Postdoc, Baylor College of Medicine, Ob/Gyn, 1993
Postdoc, University of Kansas, SOM, 1998
Phone: (949) 824-2409
Fax: 949-824-2403
Email: dongbaoc@uci.edu
University of California, Irvine
Med Surge 1
Bldg. 810, Room 140
Mail Code: 3230
Irvine, CA 92697
Research Interests
Reactive sulfides and nitrogen species, Sulfhydration, Nitrosylation, Estrogen, Hormones, Growth factor, Angiogenesis, Placenta, Ovary, Uterus, Menopause, Pregnancy, Maternal physiology, Preeclampsia, Perinatal Vascular Biology, Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Websites
Appointments
07/2013 – Present: Professor, Dept of Ob/Gyn, UC Irvine
04/2010 – Present: Professor, Dept of Experimental Pathology, UC Irvine
06/2008 – 07/2013: Associate Professor and Director, Perinatal Research Laboratories, Dept of Ob/Gyn, UC Irvine
07/2007 - 05/2008: Associate Professor with Tenure, Dept of Reproductive Medicine, UC San Diego
07/2005 - 06/2007: Assistant Professor on Tenure-Track, Dept of Reproductive Medicine, UC San Diego
07/2003 - 06/2005: Assistant Adjunct Professor, Dept of Reproductive Medicine, UC San Diego
10/2001 - 07/2003: Specialist/Assistant Scientist, Dept of Reproductive Medicine, UC San Diego
06/2000 - 10/2000: Consultant, Genetics Computer Group (GCG)
01/1999 - 10/2001: Research Assistant Professor/Assistant Scientist, Perinatal Research Laboratories, Dept of Ob/Gyn, University of Wisconsin - Madison, WI
05/1995 - 05/1999: Postdoctoral Fellow/Research Associate, The Women’s Research Institute, Dept of Ob/Gyn, University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita, KS
07/1993 - 05/1995; Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept of Ob/Gyn, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Research Abstract
We are currently investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying hormone and growth factor regulation of vasodilatation and angiogenesis at the maternal, fetal and placental interface with focus on reactive nitrogen and oxygen species as well as reactive sulfides.
Awards and Honors
• Elected to Council, Perinatal Research Society, 2010-2012.
• NIH Young Investigator Award, Perinatal Research Society, 1999
• Lalor Postdoctoral Fellowship, Lalor Foundation, 1997-1998
Publications
1. Chen DB, Magness RR. Vascular smooth muscle cells during spiral artery remodeling in early human pregnancy. BOR. 2021 Feb;104(2):252-254. doi: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa220.

2. Bai J, Chen DB. Enhanced Sp1/YY1 expression directs CBS transcription to mediate VEGF-stimulated pregnancy-dependent H2S production in human uterine artery endothelial cells. 2021 Hypertension. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.121.18190. Online ahead of print.

3. Wang B, Xu T, Li Y, Wang W, Lyu C, Luo D, Yang Q, Ning N, Chen ZJ, Yan J, Chen DB, Li J. Trophoblast H2S maintains early pregnancy via regulating maternal-fetal interface immune hemostasis. JCEM. 2020 Dec 1;105(12). doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa357.

4. Li Y, Bai J, Yang YH, Hoshi N, Chen DB. Hydrogen sulfide relaxes human uterine artery via activating smooth muscle BKCa channels. Antioxidants (Basel). 2020 Nov 13;9(11). doi: 10.3390/antiox9111127.

5. Zhang HH, Chen JC, Sheibani L, Lechuga TJ, Chen DB. Pregnancy augments VEGF-stimulated in vitro angiogenesis and vasodilator (NO and H2S) production in human uterine artery endothelial cells. JCEM. 2017 Jul 1;102(7):2382-2393. doi: 10.1210/jc.2017-00437.

6. Sheibani L, Lechuga TJ, Zhang HH, Hameed A, Wing DA, Kumar S , Rosenfeld CR, Chen DB. Augmented H2S production via cystathionine-beta-synthase upregulation plays a role in pregnancy-associated uterine vasodilation. BOR 2017 Mar; 96(3):664-672. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.116.143834.

7. Tan K, An L, Miao K, Ren L, Hou Z, Tao L, Zhang Z, Wang X, Xia W, Liu J, Wang Z, Xi G, Gao S, Sui L, Zhu DS, Wang S, Wu Z, Bach I, Chen DB, Tian J. Impaired imprinted X chromosome inactivation is responsible for the skewed sex ratio following in vitro fertilization. PNAS. 2016 Mar 22;113(12):3197-202. doi: 10.1073/pnas.

8. Lechuga TJ, Zhang HH, Sheibani L, Karim M, Jia J, Magness RR, Rosenfeld CR, Chen DB. Estrogen replacement therapy in ovariectomized nonpregnant ewes stimulates uterine artery hydrogen sulfide biosynthesis by selectively up-regulating cystathionine ß-synthase expression. Endocrinology. 2015 Jun;156(6):2288-98. doi: 10.1210/en.2015-1086.

9. Wang W, Feng L, Zhang H, Hachy S, Satohisa S, Laurent LC, Parast M, Zheng J, Chen DB. Preeclampsia up-regulates angiogenesis-associated microRNA (i.e., miR-17, -20a, and -20b) that target ephrin-B2 and EPHB4 in human placenta. JCEM. 2012 Jun;97(6):E1051-9. doi: 10.1210/jc.2011-3131.

10. Mata-Greenwood E, Liao WX, Wang W, Zheng J, Chen DB. Activation of AP-1 transcription factors differentiates FGF2 and vascular endothelial growth factor regulation of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase expression in placental artery endothelial cells. JBC. 2010 Jun 4;285(23):17348-58. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M109.092791.

11. Liao WX, Feng L, Zhang H, Zheng J, Moore TR, Chen DB. Compartmentalizing VEGF-induced ERK2/1 signaling in placental artery endothelial cell caveolae: a paradoxical role of caveolin-1 in placental angiogenesis in vitro. Mol Endocrinol. 2009 Sep;23(9):1428-44. doi: 10.1210/me.2008-0475.

12. Magness RR, Phernetton TM, Gibson TC, Chen DB. Uterine blood flow responses to ICI 182 780 in ovariectomized oestradiol-17beta-treated, intact follicular and pregnant sheep. J Physiol. 2005 May 15;565(Pt 1):71-83. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2005.086439.

13. Chen DB, Bird IM, Zheng J, Magness RR. Membrane estrogen receptor-dependent extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway mediates acute activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase by estrogen in uterine artery endothelial cells. Endocrinology. 2004 Jan;145(1):113-25. doi: 10.1210/en.2003-0547.

14. Chen DB, Zheng J. Regulation of placental angiogenesis. Microcirculation. 2014 Jan;21(1):15-25. doi: 10.1111/micc.12093.

15. Chen DB, Wang W. Human placental microRNAs and preeclampsia. BOR. 2013 May;88(5):130. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.113.107805.
Grants
NIH RO1 HL70562 (09/01/2001- 05/31/2026); Estrogen Actions in Uterine Artery Endothelium. NIH R01HD105699-01 (08/01/2021 - 07/30/2026) H2S and Uterine Vasodilation in Pregnancy and Preeclampsia. NIH R01 AR073172-01 (04/01/2018- 03/31/2023); Vascular Pathogenesis of Port Wine Stain (PI, Tan, Univ. of S. Carolina); UCI subaward PI-Investigator
Professional Societies
• Society for the Study of Reproduction, 1995 -
• Society for Gynecological Investigation, 1999 -
• Perinatal Research Society, 2003 -
• Endocrine Society, 2007 -
• American Heart Association, 2011-
Other Experience
Graduate Programs
Cellular and Molecular Biosciences
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Last updated
11/29/2023