Nan Mei Ph.D.

Research Biologist — Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology

Nan Mei, Ph.D.
(870) 543-7121
NCTRResearch@fda.hhs.gov

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Background

Dr. Nan Mei received an M.D. from the Hebei Medical University, China, and a Ph.D. from the University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan. He began his scientific career in clinical cancer research at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University. He worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Experimental Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute in Canada and as a research fellow in the Department of Environmental Oncology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences in Japan. He joined FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) research fellow in the Division of Genetic and Molecular Toxicology in 2002 and became an FDA research biologist in 2005. During his research career, Dr. Mei has published over 120 peer-reviewed research articles in scientific journals and 16 book chapters. He has given more than 35 oral presentations at national/international scientific meetings.

Research Interests

Dr. Mei’s research program is focused on using appropriate in vivo and in vitro mutation assays and toxicogenomic techniques to provide key toxicological information for FDA priority chemicals. He uses the in vivo cII transgenic mutation assay, the in vitro standard test battery for genotoxicity, and gene expression and pathway analysis to evaluate FDA-relevant chemicals or model carcinogens for their mutagenicity and for determining the mechanisms involved in chemically-induced genetic toxicity. His completed and on-going projects include the evaluation of the genotoxic effects of direct and indirect mutagens and carcinogens, herbal dietary supplements and their constituents, nanoparticles, ingredients in cosmetics and other retail products, nitrosamine drug impurities, and tobacco products. Dr. Mei has incorporated toxicogenomic approaches into his research to elucidate molecular mechanisms and create gene signatures for developing potential biomarkers. His research results demonstrate that both in vivo and in vitro mutation assays serve as reliable tools for detecting the types of mutations found in cancer genes and are useful for the hazard-identification portion of human risk assessment.

Professional Societies/National and International Groups

Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society
Member
2001 – Present

Education, Student and New Investigator Affairs Committee Member
2014 – Present

Awards and Honors Committee Member
2017 – Present

Councilor
2017 – 2020

International Life Sciences Institute – Health and Environmental Sciences Institute
Genetic Toxicology Technical Committee
2016 – Present

Botanical Safety Consortium
2019 – Present

Society of Toxicology (SOT)
Member
2003 – Present

SOT—American Association of Chinese in Toxicology
Member
2013 – Present

President
2021 – 2022

SOT—South Central Chapter
Member
2011 – Present

Select Publications

Use of Lentivirus-Based Method for Establishing TK6 Human Cell Lines Expressing Cytochrome P450 and its Applications in Genotoxicity Testing.
Li X., Chen S., He X., Wu Q., Guo L., and Mei N.
Current Protocols. 2024, 4(3):e1003.

Evaluation of Weak Genotoxicity of Hydroxychloroquine in Human TK6 Cells.
Li X., Le Y., Li Y., Chen S., Guo L., Fu X., Manjanatha M.G., and Mei N.
Toxicol Lett. 2024, 393:84-95.

Revisiting the Mutagenicity and Genotoxicity of N-Nitroso Propranolol on Bacterial and Human In Vitro Assays.
Li X., Le Y., Seo J.E., Guo X., Li Y., Chen S., Mittelstaedt R.A., Moore N., Guerrero S., Sims A., King S.T., Atrakchi A.H., McGovern T., Davis-Bruno K.L., Keire D.A., Elespuru R.K., Heflich R.H., and Mei N.
Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2023, 141:105410.

Genotoxicity Evaluation of Nitrosamine Impurities Using Human TK6 Cells Transduced with Cytochrome P450s.
Li X., He X., Le Y., Guo X., Bryant M.S., Atrakchi A.H., McGovern T., Davis Bruno K.L., Keire D., Heflich R.H., and Mei N.
Arch Toxicol. 2022, 96(11):3077-3089.

The Expression of Phase II Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes in Human B-Lymphoblastoid TK6 Cells.
Li X., Li Y., Ning K.G., Chen S., Guo L., Bonzo J.A., and Mei N.
J Environ Sci Health C Toxicol Carcinog. 2022, 40(1):106-118.

Actein Contributes to Black Cohosh Extract-Induced Genotoxicity in Human TK6 Cells.
Le Y., Li X., Chen S., Ning K.G., Guo X., Wu C.G., Manjanatha M.G., and Mei N.
J Appl Toxicol. 2022, 42(9):1491-1502.

Appropriate In Vivo Follow-Up Assays to an In Vitro Bacterial Reverse Mutation (Ames) Test Positive Investigational Drug Candidate (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient), Drug-Related Metabolite, and Drug-Related Impurities.
Robison T.W., Heflich R.H., Manjanatha M.G., Elespuru R., Atrakchi A., Mei N., and Ding W.
Mutat Res Genet Toxicol Environ Mutagen. 2021, 868-869:503386.

Comparative Potency Analysis of Whole Smoke Solutions in the Bacterial Reverse Mutation Test.
Meng F., Mei N., Yan J., Guo X., Richter P.A., Chen T., and De M.
Mutagenesis. 2021, 36:321-329.

Differentiating Between Micronucleus Dose-Responses Induced by Whole Cigarette Smoke Solutions with Benchmark Dose Potency Ranking.
Mittelstaedt R.A., Shaddock J.G., Bhalli J.A., Guo X., Li Y., Mei N., De M., Richter P.A., and Heflich R.H.
Mutat Res Genet Toxicol Environ Mutagen. 2021, 866:503351.

The Genotoxicity Potential of Luteolin is Enhanced by CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 in Human Lymphoblastoid TK6 Cells.
Li X., He X., Chen S., Le Y., Bryant M.S., Guo L., Witt K.L., and Mei N.
Toxicol Lett. 2021, 344: 58-68.

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.

Evaluation of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid-Induced Genotoxicity Using Metabolically Competent TK6 Cell Lines.
Li X., He X., Chen S., Guo X., Bryant M.S., Guo L., Manjanatha M.G., Zhou T., Witt K.L., and Mei N.
Food Chem Toxicol. 2020, 145: 111662.

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.

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.

Aristolochic Acid-Induced Genotoxicity and Toxicogenomic Changes in Rodents.
Li X., Guo X., Wang H., Chen T., and Mei N.
World J Tradit Chin Med. 2020, 6(1): 12-25.

In Vivo Genotoxicity Testing Strategies: Report From the 7th International Workshop on Genotoxicity Testing (IWGT).
Kirkland D., Uno Y., Luijten M., Beevers C., van Benthem J., Burlinson B., Dertinger S., Douglas G.R., Hamada S., Horibata K., Lovell D.P., Manjanatha M., Martus H.J., Mei N., Morita T., Ohyama W., and Williams A.
Mutat Res. 2019, 847: 403035.

Benchmark Dose Modeling of In Vitro Genotoxicity Data: A Reanalysis.
Guo X. and Mei N.
Toxicol Res. 2018, 34(4): 303-310.

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.

Quantitative Differentiation of Whole Smoke Solution-Induced Mutagenicity in the Mouse Lymphoma Assay.
Guo X., Heflich R.H., Dial S.L., De M., Richter P.A., and Mei N.
Environ Mol Mutagen. 2018, 59(2): 103-113.

ROS Generation and JNK Activation Contribute to 4-Methoxy-TEMPO-Induced Cytotoxicity, Autophagy, and DNA Damage in HepG2 Cells.
Zhang Z., Ren Z., Chen S., Guo X., Liu F., Guo L., and Mei N.
Arch Toxicol. 2018, 92(2): 717-728.

Lab Members

Contact information for all lab members:
(870) 543-7121
NCTRResearch@fda.hhs.gov

Stacey L. Dial
Biologist

Xilin (Shawn) Li, Ph.D.
Visiting Scientist

Yuhan Wang, Ph.D.
ORISE Fellow

Contact Information: Nan Mei; (870) 543-7121

Expertise: Expertise

Approach

Domain

Technology & Discipline

Toxicology