血管分子生物實驗室（Vascular Molecular Biology Laboratory）主要研究動脈粥狀硬化及血管病變之分子機制與開發潛在的治療策略。動脈粥狀硬化是導致多數心血管疾病及死亡率的重要病理因素，而高血壓、高血脂、糖尿病及異常的血流剪應力皆為促進動脈粥狀硬化形成的重要風險因子。

本實驗室探討多種參與血管病變的細胞，例如血管內皮細胞、平滑肌細胞及巨噬細胞，在動脈粥狀硬化形成過程中的基因表現、細胞內訊息傳遞及細胞功能變化，尋找與動脈粥狀硬化相關之生物標記與創新分子機制，以協助研發可能應用於臨床治療的新型療法。

本實驗室與三軍總醫院急診醫學部、心臟內科及心臟外科密切合作，取得臨床檢體進行分析，且已建立初代血管內皮與平滑肌細胞培養、細胞共培養系統、基因剔除鼠及血流剪應力設備，並結合多重分子生物學技術，從細胞、動物與人體多面向完整探討血管病變的相關機制。

1. Jen-Chun Wang, Min-Chien Tsai, Shih-Hung Tsai, Po-Hsun Huang. MicroRNA-325 ameliorates angiotensin II-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm by inhibiting the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition through regulation of the MAPK/SNAI1/MMP-2 pathway. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. 2025 Jul;188:118140.（IF=7.5；R=19/352）
2. Sy-Jou Chen, Hung-Che Chien, Shih-Hung Tsai, Yu-Sin Jheng, Yi Chen, Po-Shiuan Hsieh, Pi-Fen Tsui, Shu Chien, Min-Chien Tsai*. Melatonin ameliorates atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability by regulating PPARδ-associated smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching. Journal of Pineal Research. 2024 Aug;76(5):e12988.（責任作者）（IF=8.3；R=3/85）
3. Hung-Che Chien, Yu-Lin Wang, Yun-Chin Tu, Pi-Fen Tsui, Min-Chien Tsai*. Activation of heme oxygenase-1 by laminar shear stress ameliorates high glucose-induced endothelial cell and smooth muscle cell dysfunction. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry. 2024 May;125(5):e30563.（責任作者）（IF=4；R=119/285）
4. Min-Chien Tsai, Rou-Ling Cho, Chin-Sheng Lin, Yu-Sin Jheng, Chih-Feng Lien, Chien-Chang Chen, Bing-Hsiean Tzeng. Cav3.1 T-type calcium channel blocker NNC 55-0396 reduces atherosclerosis by increasing cholesterol efflux. Biochemical Pharmacology. 2024 Apr;222:116096.（第一作者）（IF=5.3；R=34/354）
5. Chih-Feng Lien, Chin-Sheng Lin, Song-Kun Shyue, Po-Shiuan Hsieh, Sy-Jou Chen, Yi-Tan Lin, Shu Chien, Min-Chien Tsai*. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ improves the features of atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability by regulating smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching. British Journal of Pharmacology. 2023 Aug;180(16):2085-2101.（責任作者）（IF=9.473；R=18/279）
6. Chih-Feng Lien, Sy-Jou Chen, Min-Chien Tsai*, Chin-Sheng Lin. Potential Role of Protein Kinase C in the Pathophysiology of Diabetes-Associated Atherosclerosis. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2021 Jul 2;12:716332.（共同責任作者）（IF=5.4；R=60/356）
7. Liv Weichien Chen, Min-Chien Tsai, Ching-Yuh Chern, Sy-Jou Chen, Pi-Fen Tsui, Yao-Wen Liu, Hsien-Jui Lu, Wan-Lin Wu, Wei-Shiang Lin, Chin-Sheng Lin. A chalcone derivative, 1m-6, exhibits atheroprotective effects by increasing cholesterol efflux and reducing inflammation-induced endothelial dysfunction. British Journal of Pharmacology. 2020 Jun 6;177:5375-5392.（共同第一作者）（IF=7.73；R=9/271）