Yunan Tang Ph.D., DABT

Toxicologist — Division of Biochemical Toxicology

Yunan Tang, Ph.D., DABT
(870) 543-7121
NCTRResearch@fda.hhs.gov

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Background

Dr. Yunan Tang studied laboratory medicine at the West China University of Medical Sciences (WCUMS) and then earned a Master of Science degree in hygienic toxicology and a Ph.D. in nutrition and food hygiene at WCUMS. He conducted toxicological laboratory research work at WCUMS before completing postdoctoral training at Peking University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was employed as a senior research associate scientist at the University of Louisville in Kentucky from 2007 to 2013. Dr. Tang has been a board-certified toxicologist since 2012 and joined FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) as a toxicologist in 2013.

Research Interests

Dr. Tang conducts inhalation studies in collaboration with FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) to characterize and quantify the health risk associated with selected chemicals found in cigarette smoke. Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemical compounds, including over 70 that are known to cause cancer. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and CTP, it is currently estimated that 19.3% of adults in the United States smoke cigarettes and that 480,000 people die prematurely each year from tobacco-related diseases in the United States. CTP was formed following the mandates of the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention Tobacco Control Act. This act provides a broad authority to regulate the manufacturing, distribution, and marketing of tobacco products.

Professional Societies

American Society for Nutrition
Member
2006 – Present

Society of Toxicology
Member
2007 – Present

Select Publications

90-Day Nose-Only Inhalation Toxicity Study of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1- butanone (NNK) in Sprague-Dawley Rats.
Hu S.C., Min S., Kang H.K., Yang D.J., Basavarajappa M., Lewis S.M., Davis K.J., Patton R.E., Bryant M.S., Sepehr E., Trbojevich R., Pearce M.G., Bishop M.E., Ding W., Heflich R.H., Maisha M.P., Felton R., Chemerynski S., Yee S., Coraggio M., Rosenfeldt H., Yeager R.P., Howard P.C., and Tang Y.
Food and Chemical Toxicology. 2022, 160, 112780.

14-Day Nose-Only Inhalation Toxicity and Haber's Rule Study of NNK in Sprague-Dawley Rats.
Hu S.C., Min S., Kang H.K., Yang D.J., Lewis S.M., Davis K.J., Patton R.E., Bryant M.S., Sepehr E., Trbojevich R., Pearce M.G., Bishop M.E., Heflich R.H., Maisha M.P., Felton R., Chemerynski S., Yee S.B., Coraggio M., Rosenfeldt H., Yeager R.P., Howard P.C., and Tang Y.
Toxicol Sci. 2021, 183(2):319-337.

Toxicokinetic and Genotoxicity Study of NNK in Male Sprague Dawley Rats Following Nose-Only Inhalation Exposure, Intraperitoneal Injection, and Oral Gavage.
Hu S.C., Bryant M.S., Sepehr E., Kang H.K., Trbojevich R., Lagaud G., Mehta D., Ding W., Mittelstaedt R.A., Pearce M.G., Bishop M.E., Davis K.J., Lewis S.M., Chemerynski S., Yee S.B., Coraggio M., Rosenfeldt H., Yeager R.P., Howard P.C., and Tang Y.
Toxicol Sci. 2021, 182(1):10-28.

Evaluation of 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-Pyridyl)-1-Butanone (NNK) Mutagenicity Using In Vitro and In Vivo Pig-a Assays.
Mittelstaedt R.A., Dobrovolsky V.N., Revollo J.R., Pearce M.G., Wang Y., Dad A., McKinzie P.B., Rosenfeldt H., Yucesoy B., Yeager R., Hu S.C., Tang Y., Min S., Kang H.K., Yang D.J., Basavarajappa M., and Heflich R.H.
Mutat Res Genet Toxicol Environ Mutagen. 2019, 837:65-72.

CCR7 Maintains Non-Resolving Lymph Node and Adipose Inflammation in Obesity.
Hellmann J., Sansbury B.E., Holden C.R., Tang Y., Wong B., Wysoczynski M., Rodriguez J., Bhatnagar A., Hill B.G., and Spite M.
Diabetes. 2016, 65(8):2268-81.

Atf3 Negatively Regulates Ptgs2/Cox2 Expression During Acute Inflammation.
Hellmann J., Tang Y., Zhang M.J., Hai T., Bhatnagar A., Srivastava S., and Spite M.
Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat. 2015, 116-117:49-56.

Increased Saturated Fatty Acids in Obesity Alter Resolution of Inflammation in Part by Stimulating Prostaglandin Production.
Hellmann J., Zhang M.J., Tang Y., Rane M., Bhatnagar A., and Spite M.
J Immunol. 2013, 191(3):1383-92.

Proresolution Therapy for the Treatment of Delayed Healing of Diabetic Wounds.
Tang Y., Zhang M.J., Hellmann J., Kosuri M., Bhatnagar A., and Spite M.
Diabetes. 2013, 62(2):618-27.

Chronic Alcohol Exposure Disturbs Lipid Homeostasis at the Adipose Tissue-Liver Axis in Mice: Analysis of Triacylglycerols Using High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry in Combination With In Vivo Metabolite Deuterium Labeling.
Wei X., Shi X., Zhong W., Zhao Y., Tang Y., Sun W., Yin X., Bogdanov B., Kim S., McClain C., Zhou Z., and Zhang X.
PLoS One. 2013, 8(2):e55382.

Overexpression of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Prevents Diet-Induced Obesity and Regulates Adipocyte Phenotype.
Sansbury B.E., Cummins T.D., Tang Y., Hellmann J., Holden C.R., Harbeson M.A., Chen Y., Patel R.P., Spite M.R., Bhatnagar A., and Hill B.G.
Circulation Research. 2012, 111(9):1176-89.

Proresolving Lipid Mediators and Diabetic Wound Healing.
Hellmann J., Tang Y., and Spite M.
Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2012, 19(2):104-8.

Chronic Alcohol Exposure Stimulates Adipose Tissue Lipolysis in Mice: Role of Reverse Triglyceride Transport in the Pathogenesis of Alcoholic Steatosis.
Zhong W., Zhao Y., Tang Y., Wei X., Shi X., Sun W., Sun X., Yin X., Sun X., Kim S., McClain C.J., Zhang X., and Zhou Z.
Am J Pathol. 2012, 180(3):998-1007.

Activation of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-Gamma by Rosiglitazone Improves Lipid Homeostasis at the Adipose Tissue-Liver Axis in Ethanol-Fed Mice.
Sun X., Tang Y., Tan X., Li Q., Zhong W., Sun X., Jia W., McClain C.J., and Zhou Z.
Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2012, 302(5):G548-57.

Deficiency of the Leukotriene B4 Receptor, BLT-1, Protects Against Systemic Insulin Resistance in Diet-Induced Obesity.
Spite M., Hellmann J., Tang Y., Mathis S.P., Kosuri M., Bhatnagar A., Jala V.R., and Haribabu B.
J Immunol. 2011, 187(4): 1942-9.

Resolvin D1 Decreases Adipose Tissue Macrophage Accumulation and Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Obese-Diabetic Mice.
Hellmann J., Tang Y., Kosuri M., Bhatnagar A., and Spite M.
FASEB J. 2011, 25(7): 2399-407.

Zinc Supplementation Partially Prevents Renal Pathological Changes in Diabetic Rats.
Tang Y., Yang Q., Lu J., Zhang X., Suen D., Tan Y., Jin L., Xiao J., Xie R., Rane M., Li X., and Cai L.
J Nutr Biochem. 2010, 21(3):237-46.

IFN-Beta1a Inhibits the Secretion of Th17-Polarizing Cytokines in Human Dendritic Cells Via TLR7 Up-Regulation.
Zhang X., Jin J., Tang Y., Speer D., Sujkowska D., and Markovic-Plese S.
J Immunol. 2009, 182(6):3928-36.

Degenerate TCR Recognition and Dual DR2 Restriction of Autoreactive T-Cells: Implications for the Initiation of the Autoimmune Response in Multiple Sclerosis.
Zhang X., Tang Y., Sujkowska D., Wang J., Ramgolam V., Sospedra M., Adams J., Martin R., Pinilla C., and Markovic-Plese S.
Eur J Immunol. 2008, 38(5):1297-309.

Effect of Folic Acid on Prenatal Alcohol-Induced Modification of Brain Proteome in Mice.
Xu Y., Tang Y., and Li Y.
Br J Nutr. 2008, 99(3):455-61.

The Maternal Combined Supplementation of Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 Suppresses Ethanol-Induced Developmental Toxicity in Mouse Fetuses.
Xu Y., Li Y., Tang Y., Wang J., Shen X., Long Z., and Zheng X.
Reprod Toxicol. 2006, 22(1): 56-61.

Lab Members

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

Seonggi Min, Ph.D.
Inhalation Physicist

Gregory Pellar, Ph.D.
Aerosol Scientist

Qiangen Wu, Ph.D., DABT
Toxicologist

Dong-Jin Yang, MS
Inhalation Chemist

Jinghai Yi, Ph.D.
Inhalation Mechanical Engineer

Contact Information: Yunan Tang; (870) 543-7121

Expertise: Expertise

Approach

Domain

Technology & Discipline

Toxicology