The prevalence of obesity caused by excessive energy intake and sedentary lifestyle has significantly increased in recent decades. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the major symptom found in obese adults and is accompanied by multiple metabolic dysfunctions.

Gene related to anergy in lymphocytes (Grail) was first discovered in anergic CD4+ T cell clones. The major function of Grail (RNF128) is to regulate T-lymphocyte unresponsiveness, and it also exerts multiple biological capacities in metabolism.

We are interested in the role of Grail (RNF128) in NAFLD, inflammatory diseases and cancer. We have developed several in vitro and in vivo systems to determine potential effects of Grail on NAFLD, inflammatory diseases and cancer.

1. Yu-Lung Lin, Pei-Yao Liu, Yu-Ling Tsai, Chien-Ming Lin, Yu-Guang Chen, Jun-Ren Sun, Yu-Chan Chang, Wen-Chiuan Tsai, Yi-Xuan Ding, Chi-Wei Liu, Shih-Yun Wang, Ying-Chuan Chen*. RNF128 regulates the adaptive metabolic response to fasting by modulating PPARα function. Cell Death & Differentiation. 33, 512–524 (2026). (SCI, IF:15.4). 責任作者.
2. Yi-Fang Yang, Zhao-Jing He, Han-Hsi Kuo, Yu-Yu Lin, Cheorl-Ho Kim, Huei-Yu Cai, Chi-Long Chen, Michael Hsiao, Ying-Chung Chen, Peter Mu-Hsin Chang and Yu-Chan Chang. Targeting ESR1 restores SQSTM1-dependent autophagy and sensitizes ER-positive breast cancer to oxidative and radiation stress. Cell Death Discovery. 2025 Oct 7;11(1):451. (SCI, IF:7)
3. Chun-Hao Chu, Ying-Chuan Chen, Pei-Yao Liu, Chun-Chieh Hu, Yu-Lung Lin, Feng-Chih Kuo, Chieh-Hua Lu, Tzu-Ju Hsu, Yu-Tung Hung, Fuu-Jen Tsai, Chien-Ming Lin. Long-term epidemiological insights into rickets: a nationwide population-based retrospective study. Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics. 2025 Aug 20. (SCI, IF:3.6)
4. Yuan-Jen Tsai, Chia-Min Kuo, Jhih-Wei Hsu, Chun-Chang Chen, Chien-Ming Lin, Ying-Chuan Chen, Yang-Ching Chen. Sweeteners and puberty: investigating genetic and dietary influences on central precocious puberty. Journal of Endocrinological Investigation. 2025 Aug 8. (SCI, IF:3.5)
5. Jong-Shiaw Jin, Jung-Mao Chou, Wen Chiuan Tsai, Ying-Chuan Chen, Ying Chen, Jiann-Ruey Ong, Yu-Ling Tsai. Effectively α-Terpineol Suppresses Glioblastoma Aggressive Behavior and Downregulates KDELC2 Expression. Phytomedicine. 2024 May:127:155471. (SCI, IF:8.3)
6. Pei-Yao Liu, Chih-Yuan Chen, Yu-Lung Lin, Chien-Ming Lin, Wen-Chiuan Tsai, Yu-Ling Tsai, Gu-Jiun Lin, Yu-Guang Chen, Shih-Yun Wang, Rui-Nong Sun, Yu-Chuan Huang, Hung Chang*, Ying-Chuan Chen*. RNF128 regulates neutrophil infiltration and myeloperoxidase functions to prevent acute lung injury. Cell Death & Disease. 2023 Jun 21;14(6):369. (SCI, IF:9.6). 責任作者.
7. Kai-Fen Chuang, Chih-Hung Wang, Hang-Kang Chen, Yuan-Yung Lin, Chia-Hsin Lin, Yi-Chun Lin, Cheng-Ping Shih, Chao-Yin Kuo, Ying-Chuan Chen*, Hsin-Chien Chen*. GRAIL gene knockout mice protect against aging-related and noise-induced hearing loss. J Chin Med Assoc. 2023 Oct. (SCI, IF:3.0) 責任作者.
8. Yu-Ling Tsai, Ying Chen, Ying-Chuan Chen*, Wen-Chiuan Tsai*. KDELC2 Upregulates Glioblastoma Angiogenesis via Reactive Oxygen Species Activation and Tumor-Associated Macrophage Proliferation. Antioxidants. 2023 Apr 13;12(4):923. (SCI, IF:7.0) 責任作者.
9. Pei-Yao Liu, Cheng-Cheung Chen, Chia-Ying Chin, Te-Jung Liu, Wen-Chiuan Tsai, Jian-Liang Chou, Chuan-Yu Huang, Yu-Guang Chen, Ying-Chuan Chen*. E3 ubiquitin ligase Grail promotes hepatic steatosis through Sirt1 inhibition. Cell Death and Disease. 2021 Mar 26;12(4):323. (SCI, IF:9.6). 責任作者.
10. Ying-Chuan Chen, J Y-H Chan, Y-L Chiu, S-T Liu, G Lozano, S-L Wang, C-L Ho and SM Huang. Grail as a molecular determinant for the functions of the tumor suppressor p53 in tumorigenesis. Cell Death and Differentiation. 2013 May. (SCI, IF:15.4). 第一作者.