Date & Time

Date: Aug 22 Friday

Time: 2:30-3:30pm Keynote Lecture(chaired by Prof Linfeng Huang)

          3:30-4:30pm Underqrade Programs Discussion(moderated by Prof Anastasia Tsigkou)

Venue: IB 3106& Zoom

Zoom ID:  715 337 7467; Passcode: DNAS

Speaker：

Prof. Savvas Christoforidis

Professor of Biological Chemistry, University of Ioannina

Director, Biomedical Research Institute (FORTH), Greece

Abstract：

Endothelial cells play pivotal role in vascular physiology and are implicated in life threatening diseases, including cardiovascular and inflammatory disorders and angiogenesis in cancer, as well in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson. Given that these are highly diverse diseases, with distinct outcomes, a central question in the field is: “what are the common etiological mechanisms linked to vascular physiology?”

Interestingly, several key molecules playing fundamental role in these diseases are stored in specialized endothelial secretory organelles known as Weibel Palade bodies (WPBs). Upon cellular activation, WPBs secrete their cargo into the blood circulation. A critical trigger of this process is VEGF, whose main receptor, VEGFR2, undergoes endocytosis into endosomes, a process that is essential for regulating its signalling output. Intriguingly, although both endocytosis and exocytosis rely on similar signalling pathways, they have been studied so far in isolation. Our group investigates the spatio-temporal orchestration between endocytosis, signalling and exocytosis in endothelial cells and their implications in vascular physiology and related diseases. To achieve these objectives, we employ high-end microscopy techniques (i.e. super resolution STED microscopy, total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, electron microscopy and quantitative image analysis algorithms), as well as functional assays. These approaches allow us to uncover the molecular and physical connections between endosomes and WPBs, as well as the precise spatio-temporal relationship between endocytosis and exocytosis.

Overall, by studying membrane trafficking and signalling, we provide proof of concept that by manipulating endocytosis we can influence WPB secretion and, consequently, control a broad spectrum of serious vascular-related diseases, from cardiovascular disorders to cancer and Alzheimer’s. Our work is carried out in a joint collaborative setting between the Biomedical Research Institute of the Foundation for Research and Technology and the Department of Medicine of the University of Ioannina, providing unique opportunities for International collaborations and student research engagement, topics that I will discuss further in my presentation.

BIO：

Head of The Biomedical Research Institute (BRI) 

Group Leader & Director of BRI-FORTH and Professor of Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina

https://www.bri.forth.gr/en/research/Savvas-Christoforidis.1/