Alex F. Chen, MD, PhD
Professor of Surgery



Dr. Chen is the Director of VA Vascular Surgery Research, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He is also a Professor of Surgery, a member of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and a member of the Cellular and Molecular Pathology Graduate Training Program.

Office Location:
W902 BST
200 Lothrop Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213 		Contact Information:
Office Telephone: 412-624-6769
Email chena5@upmc.edu

Education

  • MD - Hunan Medical University, China, 1985
  • PhD - Southern Illinois University, 1995

Research Interests

  • Vascular disease, injury and repair
  • Vascular complications of diabetes and hypertension
  • Endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress
  • Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC)
  • MicroRNA regulation of EPC function and angiogenesis
  • Wound healing and repair

Selected Publications

View Dr. Chen's publications on PubMed

Du YH, Guan YY, Alp NJ, Channon KM, Chen AF. Endothelial-specific GTP cyclohydrolase I overexpression attenuates blood pressure progression in salt-sensitive low renin hypertension. Circulation 117, 1045-1154, 2008.

Zhao T, Li J, Chen AF. MicroRNA-34a induces endothelial progenitor cell senescence and impedes its angiogenesis via suppressing silent information regulator 1. American Journal of Physiology (Endocrinol Metab), 299: E110-E116, 2010.

Xie HH, Zhou S, Chen DD, Channon KM, Su DF, Chen AF. GTP cyclohydrolase I/BH4 pathway protects EPCs via suppressing oxidative stress and thrombospondin-1 in salt-sensitive hypertension. Hypertension 56:1137-1144, 2010.

Marrotte EJ, Chen, DD, Hakim JS, Chen AF. Restoration of endothelial progenitor cell function with manganese superoxide dismutase accelerates wound healing in type 2 diabetic mice. Journal of Clinical Investigation 120: 4207-4219, 2010.

Wang XR, Zhang MW, Chen DD, Zhang Y, Chen AF. AMPK rescues the angiogenic functions of endothelial progenitor cells via manganese superoxide dismutase induction in type 1 diabetes. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 300, E1135-E1145, 2011.

Li S, Zhu J, Zhang K, Zhang W, Ma X, Popescu LM, Rong R, Zhang M, Xiao C, Chen AF, Yang X, Cai J. Signature microRNA expression profile of essential hypertension and its novel link to human cytomegalovirus infection. Circulation 124:175-184, 2011.

Chen AF, Chen DD, Daiber A, Faraci FM, Li H, Rembold CM, Laher I. Free radical biology of the cardiovascular system. Clinical Science 123: 73-91, 2012

Chen, DD, Dong YG, Chen AF. Endothelin 1 activation of endothelin A receptor/NADPH oxidase pathway and diminished antioxidants critically contribute to endothelial progenitor cell reduction and dysfunction in salt-sensitive hypertension. Hypertension 59, 2012, In Press.