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  1. Science & Research (NCTR)

Si Chen Ph.D.

Research Biologist — Division of Biochemical Toxicology

Headshot of Dr. Si Chen

Si Chen, Ph.D.
(870) 543-7121
NCTRResearch@fda.hhs.gov  

Back to NCTR Principal Investigator page

About  |  Publications  |  Lab Members

Background

Dr. Si Chen graduated from Sun Yat-sen University (China) with a bachelor’s degree in preventive medicine and a master’s degree in biomedical engineering before receiving a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from Nankai University (China). Dr. Chen joined FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) in the Division of Biochemical Toxicology as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) fellow in 2012. In 2015, she was recruited to be a member of the Over-the-Counter (OTC) Monographs Team—a joint program between NCTR and the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research—and was converted to a staff fellow before becoming a Research Biologist in 2023. Dr. Chen has published more than 60 articles in peer-reviewed journals and eight book chapters. Her work has been cited more than 2,500 times, with an H-index of 28.
 

Research Interests

A major focus of Dr. Chen’s research is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of drug and herbal dietary supplement-associated liver toxicity. Dr. Chen has completed several mechanistic studies on the hepatotoxic effects of FDA-regulated products, including goldenseal, Ginkgo biloba, usnic acid, sertraline, dronedarone, and nitroxides. Another major focus of Dr. Chen’s research is to investigate male reproductive toxicities induced by cannabidiol and its main metabolites using mouse and human cell models.
 

Professional Societies/National and International Groups

Society of Toxicology
Member
2012 – Present
 

Select Publications

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.

Induction of Apoptosis by Cannabidiol and Its Main Metabolites in Human Leydig Cells.
Li Y., Li X., Cournoyer P., Choudhuri S., Guo L., and Chen S.
Arch Toxicol. 2023, 97(12):3227-3241.

The Involvement of Hepatic Cytochrome P450s in the Cytotoxicity of Lapatinib.
Chen S., Li X., Li Y., He X., Bryant M., Qin X., Li F., Seo J.E., Guo X., Mei N., and Guo L.
Toxicol Sci. 2023, 197(1):69-78.  

Revisiting the Mutagenicity and Genotoxicity of N-Nitroso Propranolol in 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.J., Davis-Bruno K.L., Keire D.A., Elespuru R.K., Heflich R.H., and Mei N.
Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2023, 141:105410.

Cannabidiol-Induced Transcriptomic Changes and Cellular Senescence in Human Sertoli Cells.
Li Y., Li X., Cournoyer P., Choudhuri S., Yu X., Guo L., and Chen S.
Toxicol Sci. 2023, 191(2):227-238.

Study of the Roles of Cytochrome P450 (CYPs) in the Metabolism and Cytotoxicity of Perhexiline.
Ren Z., Chen S., Qin X., Li F., and Guo L.
Arch Toxicol. 2022, 96(12):3219-3231.

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.

In Vitro Effects of Cannabidiol and Its Main Metabolites in Mouse and Human Sertoli Cells.
Li Y., Wu Q., Li X., Von Tungeln L.S., Beland F.A., Petibone D., Guo L., Cournoyer P., Choudhuri S., and Chen S.
Food Chem Toxicol. 2022, 159:112722.

Roles of CYP3A4, CYP3A5 and CYP2C8 Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes in Cellular Cytostatic Resistance.
Hofman J., Vagiannis D., Chen S., and Guo L.
Chem Biol Interact. 2021, 340:109448.

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.

Characterization of Cytochrome P450s (CYP)-Overexpressing HepG2 Cells for Assessing Drug and Chemical-Induced Liver Toxicity.
Chen S., Wu Q., Li X., Li D., Mei N., Ning B., Puig M., Ren Z., Tolleson W.H., and Guo L.
J Environ Sci Health C Toxicol Carcinog. 2021, 39(1):68-86.

A Mechanism of Perhexiline's Cytotoxicity in Hepatic Cells Involves Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and p38 Signaling Pathway.
Ren Z., Chen S., Pak S., and Guo L.
Chem Biol Interact. 2021, 334:109353.

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.

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

The Role of Hepatic Cytochrome P450s in the Cytotoxicity of Sertraline.
Chen S., Wu Q., Li X., Li D., Fan M., Ren Z., Bryant M., Mei N., Ning B., and Guo L. 
Arch Toxicol. 2020, 94(7):2401-2411.

Ensartinib (X-396) Effectively Modulates Pharmacokinetic Resistance Mediated by ABCB1 and ABCG2 Drug Efflux Transporters and CYP3A4 Biotransformation Enzyme.
Vagiannis D., Novotna E., Skarka A., Kammerer S., Küpper J.H., Chen S., Guo L., Staud F., and Hofman J.
Cancers (Basel). 2020, 12(4):813.

Long Noncoding RNA LINC00844-Mediated Molecular Network Regulates Expression of Drug Metabolizing Enzymes and Nuclear Receptors in Human Liver Cells.
Li D., Wu L., Knox B., Chen S., Tolleson W.H., Liu F., Yu D., Guo L., Tong W., and Ning B.
Arch Toxicol. 2020, 94(5):1637-1653.

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.

Methods for Establishing and Using a Stable Cell Line Expressing Both Gaussia Luciferase and Firefly Luciferase to Screen for Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress.
Ren Z., Chen S., and Guo L.
Methods Mol Biol. 2020, 2102:531-555.

Using a Lentivirus-Based Inducible RNAi Vector to Silence a Gene.
Chen S., Li D., Ren Z., Yu D., Ning B., Mei N., and Guo L.
Methods Mol Biol. 2020, 2102:195-210.

Lab Member

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

Lei Guo, Ph.D.
Biologist

Yuxi Li, Ph.D.
Staff Fellow

Contact Information
Si Chen
(870)543-7121
Expertise
Expertise
Approach
Domain
Technology & Discipline
Toxicology
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