Ji-Eun Seo Ph.D.
Staff Fellow — Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology
Ji-Eun Seo, Ph.D.
(870) 543-7121
NCTRResearch@fda.hhs.gov
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Background
Dr. Ji-Eun Seo received a Ph.D. in biological chemistry from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology at the University of Science and Technology, where she studied the age-related mechanisms of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of Multiple Sclerosis. She also conducted bio-doping tests for detecting performance‐enhancing drugs in blood and urine samples of athletes. Dr. Seo joined the Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology (DGMT) at FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education postdoctoral fellow, training with Dr. Xiaoqing Guo. She developed high‐throughput (HT) in vitro genotoxicity assays in metabolically competent human liver cells and adopted quantitative dose-response approaches using the benchmark dose method to evaluate the data. Dr. Seo has published more than 25 papers in peer-reviewed journals and has received multiple scientific achievement awards, including Society of Toxicology (SOT) and Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society (EMGS) travel awards, EMGS Best New Investigator Poster Award, Young Soo Choi Scholarship Award, NCTR Director’s Award, NCTR Outstanding Service Award, and FDA Group Recognition Award. Following her postdoctoral work, she has continued her research career as an FDA staff fellow at NCTR/DGMT.
Research Interests
Dr. Seo’s research involves developing new approach methodologies for better evaluating the preclinical genotoxicity of products intended for human use. She has established appropriate human-based in vitro cell models with metabolic competence with the aim of generating data more relevant to human in vivo exposures. Dr. Seo optimized cell culture systems for conducting HT genotoxicity assays in different types of human liver cells (e.g., HepaRG, HepG2, and primary human hepatocytes). These systems have been used to evaluate the genotoxicity of FDA-relevant compounds having different genotoxicity and carcinogenicity modes of action using the HT CometChip assay and HT flow-cytometry-based micronucleus (MN) assay. The HT genotoxicity data have been evaluated using computational dose-response modeling to derive benchmark dose metrics, which have been used to compare the genotoxicity of compounds in the different cell models. Dr. Seo has expanded the application of HT in vitro genotoxicity in a 3D culture system for better predicting in vivo genotoxicity. Recently, she adapted 3D HepaRG spheroids to the HT CometChip and MN assays for detecting DNA strand breaks and MN formation. Another research interest of hers is exploring approaches for using error-corrected next generation sequencing (ecNGS) to evaluate in vitro mutagenicity in mammalian cells. The advanced ecNGS technology combined with 3D HepaRG spheroids can improve the accuracy of mutagenicity evaluation and provide additional evidence for the risk assessment of mutagenic compounds.
Professional Societies/National and International Groups
Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society (EMGS)
Member
2017 – Present
Society of Toxicology (SOT)
Member
2014 – Present
SOT Korean Toxicologists Association in America (KTAA)
Postdoctoral Representative
2019 – 2021
SOT South Central Regional Chapters (SCC)
Postdoctoral Representative
2018 – 2019
Selected Publications
Evaluation of an In Vitro Three-Dimensional HepaRG Spheroid Model for Genotoxicity Testing Using the High-Throughput CometChip Platform.
Seo J.E., He X., Muskhelishvili L., Malhi P., Mei N., Manjanatha M., Bryant M., Zhou T., Robison T., and Guo X.
ALTEX. 2022, 39(4):583-604. doi: 10.14573/altex.2201121 [Epub 2022 Mar 18].
Genotoxicity Evaluation Using Primary Hepatocytes Isolated from Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta).
Seo J.E., Davis K., Malhi P., He X., Bryant M., Talpos J., Burks S., Mei N., and Guo X.
Toxicology. 2021, 462:152936. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.152936 [Epub 2021 Sep 9].
Mechanistic Evaluation of Black Cohosh Extract-Induced Genotoxicity in Human Cells.
Seo J.E., Guo X., Petibone D.M., Shelton S.D., Chen Y., Li X., Tryndyak V., Smith-Roe S.L., Witt K.L., Mei N., and Manjanatha M.G.
Toxicol Sci. 2021, 182(1):96-106. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfab044.
Employing Metabolomic Approaches to Determine the Influence of Age on Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE).
Lee S.H., Lee G., Seo J.E., Hasan M., Kwon O.S., and Jung B.H.
Mol Immunol. 2021, 135:84-94. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2021.04.008 [Epub 2021 Apr 17].
Performance of HepaRG and HepG2 Cells in the High-Throughput Micronucleus Assay for In Vitro Genotoxicity Assessment.
Guo X., Seo J.E., Petibone D., Tryndyak V., Lee U.J., Zhou T., Robison T.W., and Mei N.
J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2020, 83(21-22):702-717. doi: 10.1080/15287394.2020.1822972 [Epub 2020 Sep 27].
Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Apoptosis Underlie the Hepatotoxicity of Perhexiline.
Ren Z., Chen S., Seo J.E., Guo X., Li D., Ning B., and Guo L.
Toxicol In Vitro. 2020, 69:104987. doi: 10.1016/j.tiv.2020.104987 [Epub 2020 Aug 28].
Performance of High-Throughput CometChip Assay Using Primary Human Hepatocytes: A Comparison of DNA Damage Responses with In Vitro Human Hepatoma Cell Lines.
Seo J.E., Wu Q., Bryant M., Ren L., Shi Q., Robison T.W., Mei N., Manjanatha M.G., and Guo X.
Arch Toxicol. 2020, 94(6):2207-2224. doi: 10.1007/s00204-020-02736-z [Epub 2020 Apr 22].
Development and Application of TK6-Derived Cells Expressing Human Cytochrome P450s for Genotoxicity Testing.
Li X., Chen S., Guo X., Wu Q., Seo J.E., Guo L., Manjanatha M.G., Zhou T., Witt K.L., and Mei N.
Toxicol Sci. 2020, 175(2):251-265. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfaa035.
Genetic Toxicity Assessment Using Liver Cell Models: Past, Present, and Future.
Guo X., Seo J.E., Li X., and Mei N.
J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev. 2020, 23(1):27-50. doi: 10.1080/10937404.2019.1692744 [Epub 2019 Nov 20].
Quantitative Comparison of In Vitro Genotoxicity Between Metabolically Competent HepaRG Cells and HepG2 Cells Using the High-Throughput High-Content CometChip Assay.
Seo J.E., Tryndyak V., Wu Q., Dreval K., Pogribny I., Bryant M., Zhou T., Robison T.W., Mei N., and Guo X.
Arch Toxicol. 2019, 93(5):1433-1448. doi: 10.1007/s00204-019-02406-9 [Epub 2019 Feb 21].
Whole Genome Sequencing Analysis of Small and Large Colony Mutants from the Mouse Lymphoma Assay.
Guo X., Pan B., Seo J.E., Chen Y., Yan J., Mei N., and Chen T.
Arch Toxicol. 2018, 92(12):3585-3595. doi: 10.1007/s00204-018-2318-5 [Epub 2018 Oct 17].
The Development of a Database for Herbal and Dietary Supplement Induced Liver Toxicity.
Zhu J., Seo J.E., Wang S., Ashby K., Ballard R., Yu D., Ning B., Agarwal R., Borlak J., Tong W., and Chen M.
Int J Mol Sci. 2018, 19(10):2955. doi: 10.3390/ijms19102955.
Comparative Genotoxicity of TEMPO and 3 of Its Derivatives in Mouse Lymphoma Cells.
Guo X., Seo J.E., Bryce S.M., Tan J.A., Wu Q., Dial S.L., Moore M.M., and Mei N.
Toxicol Sci. 2018, 163(1):214-225. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfy022.
Novel Genes in Brain Tissues of EAE-Induced Normal and Obese Mice: Upregulation of Metal Ion-Binding Protein Genes in Obese-EAE Mice.
Hasan M., Seo J.E., Rahaman K.A., Min H., Kim K.H., Park J.H., Sung C., Son J., Kang M.J., Jung B.H., Park W.S., and Kwon O.S.
Neuroscience. 2017, 343:322-336. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.12.002 [Epub 2016 Dec 10].
A Leading Role for NADPH Oxidase in an In-Vitro Study of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis.
Seo J.E., Hasan M., Rahaman K.A., Kang M.J., Jung B.H., and Kwon O.S.
Mol Immunol. 2016, 72:19-27. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2016.02.009 [Epub 2016 Feb 27].
Increased Levels of Brain Serotonin Correlated with MMP-9 Activity and IL-4 Levels Resulted in Severe Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) in Obese Mice.
Hasan M., Seo J.E., Rahaman K.A., Kang M.J., Jung B.H., and Kwon O.S.
Neuroscience. 2016, 319:168-82. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.01.045 [Epub 2016 Jan 25].
Dependency of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Induction on MOG35-55 Properties Modulating Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 and Interleukin-6.
Seo J.E., Hasan M., Han J.S., Kim N.K., Lee J.E., Lee K.M., Park J.H., Kim H.J., Son J., Lee J., and Kwon O.S.
Neurochem Res. 2016, 41(4):666-76. doi: 10.1007/s11064-015-1732-9 [Epub 2015 Oct 13].
Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis and Age-Related Correlations of NADPH Oxidase, MMP-9, and Cell Adhesion Molecules: The Increased Disease Severity and Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability in Middle-Aged Mice.
Seo J.E., Hasan M., Han J.S., Kang M.J., Jung B.H., Kwok S.K., Kim H.Y., and Kwon O.S.
J Neuroimmunol. 2015, 287:43-53. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2015.08.005 [Epub 2015 Aug 12].
Acute Toxicity and Tissue Distribution of CdSe/CdS-MPA Quantum Dots after Repeated Intraperitoneal Injection to Mice.
Haque M.M., Im H.Y., Seo J.E., Hasan M., Woo K., and Kwon O.S.
J Appl Toxicol. 2013, 33(9):940-50. doi: 10.1002/jat.2775 [Epub 2012 Jun 25].
In Vitro Screening of NADPH Oxidase Inhibitors and In Vivo Effects of L-leucinethiol on Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis-Induced Mice.
Kandagaddala L.D., Kang M.J., Haque M.M., Im H.Y., Seo J.E., Chung B.C., Jung B.H., Patterson T.A., and Kwon O.S.
J Neurol Sci. 2012, 318(1-2):36-44. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2012.04.009 [Epub 2012 May 2].
- Contact Information
- Ji-Eun Seo
- (870) 543-7121
- Expertise
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ExpertiseApproachDomainTechnology & DisciplineToxicology