Shuo  Chen, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Shuo Chen's lab research interests are focused on several areas:

1) To determine molecular mechanisms of the tissue-specific dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) during tooth development. Mutations of this gene are associated with dentinogenesis imperfecta (DGI). DGI is the most common dentin genetic disorder. We have discovered that domain (s) of DSP as ligands bind to cellular membrane receptor (s) and regulate intracellular signal pathways during odontogenesis. The DSP domains as tissue-specific niches induce dental pulp cell differentiation and dentin regeneration.

2) To determine roles of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (Bmp2) during tooth development. Using Bmp2 conditional knock-out (cKO) animal models, we are studying how Bmp2 signal controls dentin and enamel formation. We have uncovered that Bmp2 regulates tooth formation via a complex signals including epigenetic, transcriptional and posttranslational pathways.

3) To determine biological functions of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in vitro and in vivo during tooth formation. We found MMP-9 is able to catalyze amelogenin and DSPP into specific fragments in vitro and in vivo. Teeth with MMP-9 null mice display phenotypes similar to amelogenesis imperfeacta (AI) and DGI. Currently, we are studying how this enzyme is involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling for tooth formation.

• Professional Background

  Education

  • 1998 - Postdoctoral Fellowship - Molecular Biology - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
  • 1997 - PhD - Molecular Biology - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
  • 1986 - MD - Neuroanatomy - Fujain Medical College
  • 1983 - Residency - Ear, Nose and Throat - Fujian Medical College
  • 1982 - MD - Medicine - Fujian medical College

  Appointments

  • 9/2015 - Professor - , Developmental Dentistry, San Antonio
  • 12/2013 - Adjunct Professor - Wuhan University, Dental SchoolWuhan
  • 4/2011 - Faculty Member - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Graduate School, Physiology, San Antonio
  • 9/2010 - Associate Professor with Tenure - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Developmental Dentistry, San Antonio
  • 8/2009 - Adjunct Faculty and Adjunct Professor - University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME), Graduate School, TXSan Antonio
  • 9/2007 - Faculty Member - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Periodontic Graduate Student Program
  • 7/2007 - Faculty Member - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Cancer Track, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, San Antonio

• Instruction & Training

  • 7/2014 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, Fujian Medical University, China
  • 11/2013 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, Zhejiang University, China
  • 8/2012 - Present, Masters' Thesis Directed, Periodontics Graduate Program, UTHSCSA
  • 4/2012 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, UTHSCSA
  • 2/2012 - Present, Ph.D. Dissertations Directed, Peking University
  • 2/2012 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, Peking University
  • 1/2012 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, UTHSCSA
  • 7/2011 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, Gazi Univ. Turkey
  • 7/2010 - Present, Masters' Thesis Directed, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
  • 3/2010 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, UTHSCSA
  • 3/2010 - Present, Pediatric Dentistry, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 9/2009 - Present, Biomedical Core Course Dentinogenesis
  • 7/2008 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision
  • 3/2008 - Present, Development of Dentition, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 9/2006 - Present, Biomedical Core Course Craniofacial Development
  • 6/2005 - Present, Investigative Project

• Research & Grants

  In project 1: My laboratory has uncovered the dentin ECM sialoprotein (DSP) plays an important role in tooth development and formation. DSP mutations in humans and mice cause dentin deficiencies; dentinogenesis imperfecta (DGI) and dentin dysplasia type II (DD-II), which are the most common dentin genetic disorders. Furthermore, we found that DSP acts as a ligand and binds to cellular membrane proteins (receptors), integrin beta 6, occludin (Ocln), CD105 (endologin), activating intracellular signaling transduction for dental cell differentiation and dentin formation.

• Publications

  Journal Article

  Fang Q, Yang W, Li H, Hu W, Chen L, Jiang S, Dong K, Song Q, Wang C, Chen S, Liu F, Jia W. Negative Regulation of Disulfide-bond A Oxidoreductase-like Protein (DsbA-L) Gene Expression by the Transcription Factor Sp1 Diabetes 2014 Jul;.