Katerina Akassoglou and her team have discovered new mechanisms that control the communication between the brain, the immune system, and the vascular system, and designed novel therapies for neurological diseases. Akassoglou’s lab pioneered studies showing that when the blood-brain barrier is disrupted, the blood-clotting factor fibrinogen can leak into the brain, where it induces neurodegeneration. Their findings indicate that fibrinogen leakage could contribute to a wide range of neurological conditions, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury, and stroke.
Disease Areas
Alzheimer’s Disease
Autoimmune Diseases
Depression
Epilepsy
Multiple Sclerosis
Spinal Cord Injury
Traumatic Brain Injury
Areas of Expertise
Blood-brain Barrier
Coagulation
Disease Models
In Vivo Imaging
Neuroimmunology
Two-photon Microscopy
Lab Focus
Identifying the functional role of blood-brain barrier disruption in inflammation, neurodegeneration, and repair in neurological diseases.
Searching for new molecular mechanisms that control brain-vascular-immune communication.
Developing new imaging methods for early detection of neuroinflammation and neurovascular alterations in neurological diseases.
Research Impact
Work from Akassoglou’s lab has led to a new way of thinking about neurological diseases by proposing a fundamental mechanism through which cerebrovascular dysfunction impairs the brain and spinal cord. Specifically, they demonstrated that the neurovascular interface is fundamentally changed in neurological disease, often resulting in increased blood-brain barrier permeability that promotes toxic brain inflammation. They identified the blood-clotting factor fibrinogen as a common driver for neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. They developed the first immunotherapy that blocks the deleterious functions of fibrin and protects from neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in animal models of multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, the team’s research has broad impact on the understanding of and ability to treat multiple neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis, stroke, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury.
Akassoglou’s team continues to investigate the mechanisms at the neurovascular interface that promote neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and cognitive decline. They hope to use their discoveries to develop fluid and imaging biomarkers, as well as innovative treatments for devastating neurological diseases.
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Professional Titles
Senior Investigator, Gladstone Institutes
Director, Gladstone-UCSF Center for Neurovascular Brain Immunology
Professor of Neurology, UC San Francisco
Bio
Katerina Akassoglou, PhD, is a senior Investigator at Gladstone Institutes and a professor of neurology at UC San Francisco (UCSF). A native of Greece, Akassoglou earned both a bachelor’s of science in biology and a PhD in neuroimmunology at the University of Athens, Greece, and trained in neuropathology with Hans Lassmann at the University of Vienna. She completed her postdoctoral work at the State University of New York at Stony Brook and Rockefeller University with Sidney Strickland, and at New York University with Moses Chao. Prior to joining Gladstone in 2008, Akassoglou was an assistant professor of pharmacology at UC San Diego.
Akassoglou has pioneered studies on the mechanisms that control the communication between the brain, immune and vascular systems—and in particular the role of the blood clotting–factor fibrinogen as a common thread in a wide range of neurologic diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and neurodegenerative diseases. She developed cutting-edge imaging tools to study the neurovascular interface and discovered a novel fibrin-targeting immunotherapy and small molecule compounds to protect the brain from pathogenic neuroinflammation. Akassoglou has led multiple international collaborations between academia and pharma, and has given over 200 lectures nationally and internationally. She is active in several scientific organizations, editorial boards, and funding agencies, has published over 95 papers, and is a named inventor on 20 patents and patent applications. Akassoglou is also the scientific founder and board director of the spin-out company Therini Bio.
Akassoglou has received several awards, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the US government on outstanding scientists and engineers beginning their independent careers. She has also been presented with the John J. Abel Award, the Dana Foundation for Brain and Immunoimaging Award, the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise honor, The Marilyn Hilton Award for Innovation in Multiple Sclerosis Research, the R35 Research Program Award by NINDS, and the Barancik Prize for Innovation in MS Research.
How Did You Get Your Start in Science?
“I was inspired by my biology high school teacher. She helped me get a summer internship in an immunology lab and I never looked back.”
Katerina Akassoglou, PhD
Honors and Awards
2019 Barancik Prize for Innovation in Multiple Sclerosis Research, National Multiple Sclerosis Society
2019 Greek Top Women Award
2018 Annals of Neurology Fellow
2016 R35 NINDS Research Program Award
2015 The Marilyn Hilton Award for Innovation in MS Research, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
2015 Secretary/Treasurer, Molecular Pharmacology Division, American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
2009 Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Biomedical Research (Finalist), Vilcek Foundation
2009 Exceptional Unconventional Research Enabling Knowledge Acceleration Award EUREKA, National Institutes of Health
2008 John J. Abel Award in Pharmacology, American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
2007 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, The White House
2007 The Dana Award in Brain and Immunoimaging
2006 Young Investigator Award, International Fibrinogen Society
2002 Young Investigator Award, International Society for Neurochemistry
2000 Young Investigator Award, International Society for Fibrinolysis and Proteolysis
1999 Fellow, Human Frontiers Science Program
1998 Women in Neuroimmunology Award, International Society of Neuroimmunology
1998 European League Against Rheumatism
Publications
- BMP receptor blockade overcomes extrinsic inhibition of remyelination and restores neurovascular homeostasis. Petersen MA, Tognatta R, Meyer-Franke A, Bushong EA, Mendiola AS, Yan Z, Muthusamy A, Merlini M, Meza-Acevedo R, Cabriga B, Zhou Y, Thomas R, Ryu JK, Lassmann H, Ellisman MH, Akassoglou K. Brain. 2021 Sep 04; 144(8):2291-2301.
- ApoE and immunity in Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies: Low-density lipoprotein receptor to the rescue. Mendiola AS, Tognatta R, Yan Z, Akassoglou K. Neuron. 2021 08 04; 109(15):2363-2365.
- In vivo functions of p75NTR: challenges and opportunities for an emerging therapeutic target. Malik SC, Sozmen EG, Baeza-Raja B, Le Moan N, Akassoglou K, Schachtrup C. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2021 Sep; 42(9):772-788.
- In vivo two-photon microscopy protocol for imaging microglial responses and spine elimination at sites of fibrinogen deposition in mouse brain. Tognatta R, Merlini M, Yan Z, Schuck R, Davalos D, Akassoglou K. STAR Protoc. 2021 Sep 17; 2(3):100638.
- Blood Coagulation Factor Fibrinogen in Tumor Pathogenesis of Central Nervous System B-Cell Lymphoma. Chan JP, Merlini M, Gao HX, Mendiola AS, Akassoglou K, Rubenstein JL, Ryu JK. Am J Pathol. 2021 03; 191(3):575-583.
- Microglial Gi-dependent dynamics regulate brain network hyperexcitability. Merlini M, Rafalski VA, Ma K, Kim KY, Bushong EA, Rios Coronado PE, Yan Z, Mendiola AS, Sozmen EG, Ryu JK, Haberl MG, Madany M, Sampson DN, Petersen MA, Bardehle S, Tognatta R, Dean T, Acevedo RM, Cabriga B, Thomas R, Coughlin SR, Ellisman MH, Palop JJ, Akassoglou K. Nat Neurosci. 2021 01; 24(1):19-23.
- The immunology of blood: connecting the dots at the neurovascular interface. Akassoglou K. Nat Immunol. 2020 07; 21(7):710-712.
- Transcriptional profiling and therapeutic targeting of oxidative stress in neuroinflammation. Mendiola AS, Ryu JK, Bardehle S, Meyer-Franke A, Ang KK, Wilson C, Baeten KM, Hanspers K, Merlini M, Thomas S, Petersen MA, Williams A, Thomas R, Rafalski VA, Meza-Acevedo R, Tognatta R, Yan Z, Pfaff SJ, Machado MR, Bedard C, Rios Coronado PE, Jiang X, Wang J, Pleiss MA, Green AJ, Zamvil SS, Pico AR, Bruneau BG, Arkin MR, Akassoglou K. Nat Immunol. 2020 05; 21(5):513-524.
- Fibrinogen induces neural stem cell differentiation into astrocytes in the subventricular zone via BMP signaling. Pous L, Deshpande SS, Nath S, Mezey S, Malik SC, Schildge S, Bohrer C, Topp K, Pfeifer D, Fernández-Klett F, Doostkam S, Galanakis DK, Taylor V, Akassoglou K, Schachtrup C. Nat Commun. 2020 01 31; 11(1):630.
- Imaging the dynamic interactions between immune cells and the neurovascular interface in the spinal cord. Borjini N, Paouri E, Tognatta R, Akassoglou K, Davalos D. Exp Neurol. 2019 12; 322:113046.
- Extracellular vesicle fibrinogen induces encephalitogenic CD8+ T cells in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. Willis CM, Nicaise AM, Menoret A, Ryu JK, Mendiola AS, Jellison ER, Givogri MI, Han DK, Bongarzone ER, Akassoglou K, Vella AT, Crocker SJ. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 05 21; 116(21):10488-10493.
- Fibrinogen Induces Microglia-Mediated Spine Elimination and Cognitive Impairment in an Alzheimer's Disease Model. Merlini M, Rafalski VA, Rios Coronado PE, Gill TM, Ellisman M, Muthukumar G, Subramanian KS, Ryu JK, Syme CA, Davalos D, Seeley WW, Mucke L, Nelson RB, Akassoglou K. Neuron. 2019 03 20; 101(6):1099-1108.e6.
- Maresin 1 attenuates neuroinflammation in a mouse model of perioperative neurocognitive disorders. Yang T, Xu G, Newton PT, Chagin AS, Mkrtchian S, Carlström M, Zhang XM, Harris RA, Cooter M, Berger M, Maddipati KR, Akassoglou K, Terrando N. Br J Anaesth. 2019 Mar; 122(3):350-360.
- Fibrin-targeting immunotherapy protects against neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Ryu JK, Rafalski VA, Meyer-Franke A, Adams RA, Poda SB, Rios Coronado PE, Pedersen LØ, Menon V, Baeten KM, Sikorski SL, Bedard C, Hanspers K, Bardehle S, Mendiola AS, Davalos D, Machado MR, Chan JP, Plastira I, Petersen MA, Pfaff SJ, Ang KK, Hallenbeck KK, Syme C, Hakozaki H, Ellisman MH, Swanson RA, Zamvil SS, Arkin MR, Zorn SH, Pico AR, Mucke L, Freedman SB, Stavenhagen JB, Nelson RB, Akassoglou K. Nat Immunol. 2018 11; 19(11):1212-1223.
- Pericytes: The Brain's Very First Responders? Rafalski VA, Merlini M, Akassoglou K. Neuron. 2018 10 10; 100(1):11-13.
- Differential effects of partial and complete loss of TREM2 on microglial injury response and tauopathy. Sayed FA, Telpoukhovskaia M, Kodama L, Li Y, Zhou Y, Le D, Hauduc A, Ludwig C, Gao F, Clelland C, Zhan L, Cooper YA, Davalos D, Akassoglou K, Coppola G, Gan L. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 10 02; 115(40):10172-10177.
- Retrograde Degenerative Signaling Mediated by the p75 Neurotrophin Receptor Requires p150Glued Deacetylation by Axonal HDAC1. Pathak A, Stanley EM, Hickman FE, Wallace N, Brewer B, Li D, Gluska S, Perlson E, Fuhrmann S, Akassoglou K, Bronfman F, Casaccia P, Burnette DT, Carter BD. Dev Cell. 2018 08 06; 46(3):376-387.e7.
- Spatiotemporal distribution of fibrinogen in marmoset and human inflammatory demyelination. Lee NJ, Ha SK, Sati P, Absinta M, Luciano NJ, Lefeuvre JA, Schindler MK, Leibovitch EC, Ryu JK, Petersen MA, Silva AC, Jacobson S, Akassoglou K, Reich DS. Brain. 2018 06 01; 141(6):1637-1649.
- Fibrinogen in neurological diseases: mechanisms, imaging and therapeutics. Petersen MA, Ryu JK, Akassoglou K. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2018 05; 19(5):283-301.
- In Vivo Imaging of CNS Injury and Disease. Akassoglou K, Merlini M, Rafalski VA, Real R, Liang L, Jin Y, Dougherty SE, De Paola V, Linden DJ, Misgeld T, Zheng B. J Neurosci. 2017 11 08; 37(45):10808-10816.
- Fibrinogen Activates BMP Signaling in Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells and Inhibits Remyelination after Vascular Damage. Petersen MA, Ryu JK, Chang KJ, Etxeberria A, Bardehle S, Mendiola AS, Kamau-Devers W, Fancy SPJ, Thor A, Bushong EA, Baeza-Raja B, Syme CA, Wu MD, Rios Coronado PE, Meyer-Franke A, Yahn S, Pous L, Lee JK, Schachtrup C, Lassmann H, Huang EJ, Han MH, Absinta M, Reich DS, Ellisman MH, Rowitch DH, Chan JR, Akassoglou K. Neuron. 2017 Dec 06; 96(5):1003-1012.e7.
- Metabolic control of TH17 and induced Treg cell balance by an epigenetic mechanism. Xu T, Stewart KM, Wang X, Liu K, Xie M, Ryu JK, Li K, Ma T, Wang H, Ni L, Zhu S, Cao N, Zhu D, Zhang Y, Akassoglou K, Dong C, Driggers EM, Ding S. Nature. 2017 08 10; 548(7666):228-233.
- Alzheimer disease makes new blood contacts. Merlini M, Akassoglou K. Blood. 2017 05 04; 129(18):2462-2463.
- Microglial NFκB-TNFα hyperactivation induces obsessive-compulsive behavior in mouse models of progranulin-deficient frontotemporal dementia. Krabbe G, Minami SS, Etchegaray JI, Taneja P, Djukic B, Davalos D, Le D, Lo I, Zhan L, Reichert MC, Sayed F, Merlini M, Ward ME, Perry DC, Lee SE, Sias A, Parkhurst CN, Gan WB, Akassoglou K, Miller BL, Farese RV, Gan L. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017 05 09; 114(19):5029-5034.
- Microglial complement receptor 3 regulates brain Aβ levels through secreted proteolytic activity. Czirr E, Castello NA, Mosher KI, Castellano JM, Hinkson IV, Lucin KM, Baeza-Raja B, Ryu JK, Li L, Farina SN, Belichenko NP, Longo FM, Akassoglou K, Britschgi M, Cirrito JR, Wyss-Coray T. J Exp Med. 2017 04 03; 214(4):1081-1092.
- Plasminogen Deficiency Delays the Onset and Protects from Demyelination and Paralysis in Autoimmune Neuroinflammatory Disease. Shaw MA, Gao Z, McElhinney KE, Thornton S, Flick MJ, Lane A, Degen JL, Ryu JK, Akassoglou K, Mullins ES. J Neurosci. 2017 04 05; 37(14):3776-3788.
- Fractalkine Signaling Attenuates Perivascular Clustering of Microglia and Fibrinogen Leakage during Systemic Inflammation in Mouse Models of Diabetic Retinopathy. Mendiola AS, Garza R, Cardona SM, Mythen SA, Lira SA, Akassoglou K, Cardona AE. Front Cell Neurosci. 2016; 10:303.
- Finding the 'ubiquitous' threads in infection and autoimmune neuroinflammation. Bardehle S, Rafalski V, Akassoglou K. Nat Immunol. 2016 12 16; 18(1):7-8.
- Orthopedic surgery modulates neuropeptides and BDNF expression at the spinal and hippocampal levels. Zhang MD, Barde S, Yang T, Lei B, Eriksson LI, Mathew JP, Andreska T, Akassoglou K, Harkany T, Hökfelt TG, Terrando N. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016 10 25; 113(43):E6686-E6695.
- Neurovascular and Immuno-Imaging: From Mechanisms to Therapies. Proceedings of the Inaugural Symposium. Akassoglou K, Agalliu D, Chang CJ, Davalos D, Grutzendler J, Hillman EM, Khakh BS, Kleinfeld D, McGavern DB, Nelson SJ, Zlokovic BV. Front Neurosci. 2016; 10:46.
- p75 Neurotrophin Receptor Regulates Energy Balance in Obesity. Baeza-Raja B, Sachs BD, Li P, Christian F, Vagena E, Davalos D, Le Moan N, Ryu JK, Sikorski SL, Chan JP, Scadeng M, Taylor SS, Houslay MD, Baillie GS, Saltiel AR, Olefsky JM, Akassoglou K. Cell Rep. 2016 Jan 12; 14(2):255-68.
- Breaking boundaries-coagulation and fibrinolysis at the neurovascular interface. Bardehle S, Rafalski VA, Akassoglou K. Front Cell Neurosci. 2015; 9:354.
- Blood coagulation protein fibrinogen promotes autoimmunity and demyelination via chemokine release and antigen presentation. Ryu JK, Petersen MA, Murray SG, Baeten KM, Meyer-Franke A, Chan JP, Vagena E, Bedard C, Machado MR, Rios Coronado PE, Prod'homme T, Charo IF, Lassmann H, Degen JL, Zamvil SS, Akassoglou K. Nat Commun. 2015 Sep 10; 6:8164.
- Nuclear pore complex remodeling by p75(NTR) cleavage controls TGF-β signaling and astrocyte functions. Schachtrup C, Ryu JK, Mammadzada K, Khan AS, Carlton PM, Perez A, Christian F, Le Moan N, Vagena E, Baeza-Raja B, Rafalski V, Chan JP, Nitschke R, Houslay MD, Ellisman MH, Wyss-Coray T, Palop JJ, Akassoglou K. Nat Neurosci. 2015 Aug; 18(8):1077-80.
- SIRT1 deacetylates RORγt and enhances Th17 cell generation. Lim HW, Kang SG, Ryu JK, Schilling B, Fei M, Lee IS, Kehasse A, Shirakawa K, Yokoyama M, Schnölzer M, Kasler HG, Kwon HS, Gibson BW, Sato H, Akassoglou K, Xiao C, Littman DR, Ott M, Verdin E. J Exp Med. 2015 Jun 01; 212(6):973.
- SIRT1 deacetylates RORγt and enhances Th17 cell generation. Lim HW, Kang SG, Ryu JK, Schilling B, Fei M, Lee IS, Kehasse A, Shirakawa K, Yokoyama M, Schnölzer M, Kasler HG, Kwon HS, Gibson BW, Sato H, Akassoglou K, Xiao C, Littman DR, Ott M, Verdin E. J Exp Med. 2015 May 04; 212(5):607-17.
- Stimulation of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor protects against neuroinflammation after tibia fracture and endotoxemia in mice. Terrando N, Yang T, Ryu JK, Newton PT, Monaco C, Feldmann M, Ma D, Akassoglou K, Maze M. Mol Med. 2015 Mar 17; 20:667-75.
- Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α in Astrocytes and/or Myeloid Cells Is Not Required for the Development of Autoimmune Demyelinating Disease Le Moan N, Baeten KM, Rafalski VA, Ryu JK, Rios Coronado PE, Bedard C, Syme C, Davalos D, Akassoglou K. eNeuro. 2015 Mar-Apr; 2(2).
- Coagulation takes center stage in inflammation. Akassoglou K. Blood. 2015 Jan 15; 125(3):419-20.
- Systemic inflammation regulates microglial responses to tissue damage in vivo. Gyoneva S, Davalos D, Biswas D, Swanger SA, Garnier-Amblard E, Loth F, Akassoglou K, Traynelis SF. Glia. 2014 Aug; 62(8):1345-60.
- Early detection of thrombin activity in neuroinflammatory disease. Davalos D, Baeten KM, Whitney MA, Mullins ES, Friedman B, Olson ES, Ryu JK, Smirnoff DS, Petersen MA, Bedard C, Degen JL, Tsien RY, Akassoglou K. Ann Neurol. 2014 Feb; 75(2):303-8.
- p75 neurotrophin receptor is a clock gene that regulates oscillatory components of circadian and metabolic networks. Baeza-Raja B, Eckel-Mahan K, Zhang L, Vagena E, Tsigelny IF, Sassone-Corsi P, Ptácek LJ, Akassoglou K. J Neurosci. 2013 Jun 19; 33(25):10221-34.
- Reduced mural cell coverage and impaired vessel integrity after angiogenic stimulation in the Alk1-deficient brain. Chen W, Guo Y, Walker EJ, Shen F, Jun K, Oh SP, Degos V, Lawton MT, Tihan T, Davalos D, Akassoglou K, Nelson J, Pile-Spellman J, Su H, Young WL. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2013 Feb; 33(2):305-10.
- Suppression of oxidative stress by β-hydroxybutyrate, an endogenous histone deacetylase inhibitor. Shimazu T, Hirschey MD, Newman J, He W, Shirakawa K, Le Moan N, Grueter CA, Lim H, Saunders LR, Stevens RD, Newgard CB, Farese RV, de Cabo R, Ulrich S, Akassoglou K, Verdin E. Science. 2013 Jan 11; 339(6116):211-4.
- Whole-organism screening for gluconeogenesis identifies activators of fasting metabolism. Gut P, Baeza-Raja B, Andersson O, Hasenkamp L, Hsiao J, Hesselson D, Akassoglou K, Verdin E, Hirschey MD, Stainier DY. Nat Chem Biol. 2013 Feb; 9(2):97-104.
- In vivo imaging of the neurovascular unit in CNS disease. Merlini M, Davalos D, Akassoglou K. Intravital. 2012 Dec 01; 1(2):87-94.
- Mutant huntingtin impairs immune cell migration in Huntington disease. Kwan W, Träger U, Davalos D, Chou A, Bouchard J, Andre R, Miller A, Weiss A, Giorgini F, Cheah C, Möller T, Stella N, Akassoglou K, Tabrizi SJ, Muchowski PJ. J Clin Invest. 2012 Dec; 122(12):4737-47.
- Glucose homeostasis and p75NTR: the sweet side of neurotrophin receptor signaling. Baeza-Raja B, Akassoglou K. . 2012 Sep 01; 11(17):3151-2.
- p75 neurotrophin receptor regulates glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. Baeza-Raja B, Li P, Le Moan N, Sachs BD, Schachtrup C, Davalos D, Vagena E, Bridges D, Kim C, Saltiel AR, Olefsky JM, Akassoglou K. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Apr 10; 109(15):5838-43.
- p75 (NTR) and hypoxia: a breath of fresh air in neurotrophin receptor signaling. Le Moan N, Baeza-Raja B, Akassoglou K. . 2012 Mar 01; 11(5):829-30.
- Propofol neurotoxicity is mediated by p75 neurotrophin receptor activation. Pearn ML, Hu Y, Niesman IR, Patel HH, Drummond JC, Roth DM, Akassoglou K, Patel PM, Head BP. Anesthesiology. 2012 Feb; 116(2):352-61.
- In vivo imaging of the mouse spinal cord using two-photon microscopy. Davalos D, Akassoglou K. J Vis Exp. 2012 Jan 05; (59):e2760.
- Fibrinogen-induced perivascular microglial clustering is required for the development of axonal damage in neuroinflammation. Davalos D, Ryu JK, Merlini M, Baeten KM, Le Moan N, Petersen MA, Deerinck TJ, Smirnoff DS, Bedard C, Hakozaki H, Gonias Murray S, Ling JB, Lassmann H, Degen JL, Ellisman MH, Akassoglou K. Nat Commun. 2012; 3:1227.
- Resolving postoperative neuroinflammation and cognitive decline. Terrando N, Eriksson LI, Ryu JK, Yang T, Monaco C, Feldmann M, Jonsson Fagerlund M, Charo IF, Akassoglou K, Maze M. Ann Neurol. 2011 Dec; 70(6):986-995.
- Oxygen-dependent cleavage of the p75 neurotrophin receptor triggers stabilization of HIF-1α. Le Moan N, Houslay DM, Christian F, Houslay MD, Akassoglou K. Mol Cell. 2011 Nov 04; 44(3):476-90.
- Extracellular matrix and matrix receptors in blood-brain barrier formation and stroke. Baeten KM, Akassoglou K. Dev Neurobiol. 2011 Nov; 71(11):1018-39.
- Fibrinogen as a key regulator of inflammation in disease. Davalos D, Akassoglou K. Semin Immunopathol. 2012 Jan; 34(1):43-62.
- Hepatic stellate cells and astrocytes: Stars of scar formation and tissue repair. Schachtrup C, Le Moan N, Passino MA, Akassoglou K. . 2011 Jun 01; 10(11):1764-71.
- Chronic optical access through a polished and reinforced thinned skull. Drew PJ, Shih AY, Driscoll JD, Knutsen PM, Blinder P, Davalos D, Akassoglou K, Tsai PS, Kleinfeld D. Nat Methods. 2010 Dec; 7(12):981-4.
- Fibrinogen triggers astrocyte scar formation by promoting the availability of active TGF-beta after vascular damage. Schachtrup C, Ryu JK, Helmrick MJ, Vagena E, Galanakis DK, Degen JL, Margolis RU, Akassoglou K. J Neurosci. 2010 Apr 28; 30(17):5843-54.
- Fibrinogen signal transduction in the nervous system. Ryu JK, Davalos D, Akassoglou K. J Thromb Haemost. 2009 Jul; 7 Suppl 1:151-4.
- Acute vascular disruption and aquaporin 4 loss after stroke. Friedman B, Schachtrup C, Tsai PS, Shih AY, Akassoglou K, Kleinfeld D, Lyden PD. Stroke. 2009 Jun; 40(6):2182-90.
- Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 is an essential receptor for myelin phagocytosis. Gaultier A, Wu X, Le Moan N, Takimoto S, Mukandala G, Akassoglou K, Campana WM, Gonias SL. J Cell Sci. 2009 Apr 15; 122(Pt 8):1155-62.
- p75 neurotrophin receptor regulates agonist-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction. Xu M, Remillard CV, Sachs BD, Makino A, Platoshyn O, Yao W, Dillmann WH, Akassoglou K, Yuan JX. . 2008 Oct; 295(4):H1529-38.
- NF-kappaB links innate immunity to the hypoxic response through transcriptional regulation of HIF-1alpha. Rius J, Guma M, Schachtrup C, Akassoglou K, Zinkernagel AS, Nizet V, Johnson RS, Haddad GG, Karin M. Nature. 2008 Jun 05; 453(7196):807-11.
- Stable in vivo imaging of densely populated glia, axons and blood vessels in the mouse spinal cord using two-photon microscopy. Davalos D, Lee JK, Smith WB, Brinkman B, Ellisman MH, Zheng B, Akassoglou K. J Neurosci Methods. 2008 Mar 30; 169(1):1-7.
- Characterization of agonist-induced vasoconstriction in mouse pulmonary artery. Xu M, Platoshyn O, Makino A, Dillmann WH, Akassoglou K, Remillard CV, Yuan JX. . 2008 Jan; 294(1):H220-8.
- Regulation of cAMP by the p75 neurotrophin receptor: insight into drug design of selective phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Sachs BD, Akassoglou K. Biochem Soc Trans. 2007 Nov; 35(Pt 5):1273-7.
- Fibrinogen inhibits neurite outgrowth via beta 3 integrin-mediated phosphorylation of the EGF receptor. Schachtrup C, Lu P, Jones LL, Lee JK, Lu J, Sachs BD, Zheng B, Akassoglou K. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Jul 10; 104(28):11814-9.
- p75 neurotrophin receptor regulates tissue fibrosis through inhibition of plasminogen activation via a PDE4/cAMP/PKA pathway. Sachs BD, Baillie GS, McCall JR, Passino MA, Schachtrup C, Wallace DA, Dunlop AJ, MacKenzie KF, Klussmann E, Lynch MJ, Sikorski SL, Nuriel T, Tsigelny I, Zhang J, Houslay MD, Chao MV, Akassoglou K. J Cell Biol. 2007 Jun 18; 177(6):1119-32.
- Regulation of hepatic stellate cell differentiation by the neurotrophin receptor p75NTR. Passino MA, Adams RA, Sikorski SL, Akassoglou K. Science. 2007 Mar 30; 315(5820):1853-6.
- The fibrin-derived gamma377-395 peptide inhibits microglia activation and suppresses relapsing paralysis in central nervous system autoimmune disease. Adams RA, Bauer J, Flick MJ, Sikorski SL, Nuriel T, Lassmann H, Degen JL, Akassoglou K. J Exp Med. 2007 Mar 19; 204(3):571-82.
- Fibrinogen signal transduction as a mediator and therapeutic target in inflammation: lessons from multiple sclerosis. Adams RA, Schachtrup C, Davalos D, Tsigelny I, Akassoglou K. Curr Med Chem. 2007; 14(27):2925-36.
- P2Y2 and TrkA receptors interact with Src family kinase for neuronal differentiation. Arthur DB, Akassoglou K, Insel PA. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2006 Sep 01; 347(3):678-82.
- Inhibition of apoptosis by P2Y2 receptor activation: novel pathways for neuronal survival. Arthur DB, Georgi S, Akassoglou K, Insel PA. J Neurosci. 2006 Apr 05; 26(14):3798-804.
- P2Y2 receptor activates nerve growth factor/TrkA signaling to enhance neuronal differentiation. Arthur DB, Akassoglou K, Insel PA. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Dec 27; 102(52):19138-43.
- Nerve growth factor-independent neuronal survival: a role for NO donors. Akassoglou K. Mol Pharmacol. 2005 Oct; 68(4):952-5.
- Fibrin mechanisms and functions in nervous system pathology. Adams RA, Passino M, Sachs BD, Nuriel T, Akassoglou K. Mol Interv. 2004 Jun; 4(3):163-76.
- Fibrin depletion decreases inflammation and delays the onset of demyelination in a tumor necrosis factor transgenic mouse model for multiple sclerosis. Akassoglou K, Adams RA, Bauer J, Mercado P, Tseveleki V, Lassmann H, Probert L, Strickland S. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Apr 27; 101(17):6698-703.
- Brain-specific deletion of neuropathy target esterase/swisscheese results in neurodegeneration. Akassoglou K, Malester B, Xu J, Tessarollo L, Rosenbluth J, Chao MV. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Apr 06; 101(14):5075-80.
- Fibrin is a regulator of Schwann cell migration after sciatic nerve injury in mice. Akassoglou K, Akpinar P, Murray S, Strickland S. Neurosci Lett. 2003 Mar 06; 338(3):185-8.
- Exclusive tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling by the p75TNF receptor triggers inflammatory ischemia in the CNS of transgenic mice. Akassoglou K, Douni E, Bauer J, Lassmann H, Kollias G, Probert L. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Jan 21; 100(2):709-14.
- Fibrin inhibits peripheral nerve remyelination by regulating Schwann cell differentiation. Akassoglou K, Yu WM, Akpinar P, Strickland S. Neuron. 2002 Mar 14; 33(6):861-75.
- Nervous system pathology: the fibrin perspective. Akassoglou K, Strickland S. Biol Chem. 2002 Jan; 383(1):37-45.
- Glial expression of tumor necrosis factor in transgenic animals: how do these models reflect the "normal situation"? Probert L, Akassoglou K. Glia. 2001 Nov; 36(2):212-9.
- Plasmin-dependent and -independent effects of plasminogen activators and inhibitor-1 on ex vivo angiogenesis. Brodsky S, Chen J, Lee A, Akassoglou K, Norman J, Goligorsky MS. . 2001 Oct; 281(4):H1784-92.
- TNFR1 signalling is critical for the development of demyelination and the limitation of T-cell responses during immune-mediated CNS disease. Probert L, Eugster HP, Akassoglou K, Bauer J, Frei K, Lassmann H, Fontana A. Brain. 2000 Oct; 123 ( Pt 10):2005-19.
- Tissue plasminogen activator-mediated fibrinolysis protects against axonal degeneration and demyelination after sciatic nerve injury. Akassoglou K, Kombrinck KW, Degen JL, Strickland S. J Cell Biol. 2000 May 29; 149(5):1157-66.
- Learning abilities, NGF and BDNF brain levels in two lines of TNF-alpha transgenic mice, one characterized by neurological disorders, the other phenotypically normal. Aloe L, Properzi F, Probert L, Akassoglou K, Kassiotis G, Micera A, Fiore M. Brain Res. 1999 Sep 04; 840(1-2):125-37.
- A tumor necrosis factor-induced model of human primary demyelinating diseases develops in immunodeficient mice. Kassiotis G, Bauer J, Akassoglou K, Lassmann H, Kollias G, Probert L. Eur J Immunol. 1999 03; 29(3):912-7.
- Transgenic models of TNF induced demyelination. Akassoglou K, Bauer J, Kassiotis G, Lassmann H, Kollias G, Probert L. Adv Exp Med Biol. 1999; 468:245-59.
- Oligodendrocyte apoptosis and primary demyelination induced by local TNF/p55TNF receptor signaling in the central nervous system of transgenic mice: models for multiple sclerosis with primary oligodendrogliopathy. Akassoglou K, Bauer J, Kassiotis G, Pasparakis M, Lassmann H, Kollias G, Probert L. Am J Pathol. 1998 Sep; 153(3):801-13.
- TNF-alpha transgenic and knockout models of CNS inflammation and degeneration. Probert L, Akassoglou K, Kassiotis G, Pasparakis M, Alexopoulou L, Kollias G. J Neuroimmunol. 1997 Feb; 72(2):137-41.
- Astrocyte-specific but not neuron-specific transmembrane TNF triggers inflammation and degeneration in the central nervous system of transgenic mice. Akassoglou K, Probert L, Kontogeorgos G, Kollias G. J Immunol. 1997 Jan 01; 158(1):438-45.
- Neurobehavioral alterations in developing transgenic mice expressing TNF-alpha in the brain. Fiore M, Probert L, Kollias G, Akassoglou K, Alleva E, Aloe L. Brain Behav Immun. 1996 Jun; 10(2):126-38.
- Dissection of the pathologies induced by transmembrane and wild-type tumor necrosis factor in transgenic mice. Probert L, Akassoglou K, Alexopoulou L, Douni E, Haralambous S, Hill S, Kassiotis G, Kontoyiannis D, Pasparakis M, Plows D, Kollias G. J Leukoc Biol. 1996 Apr; 59(4):518-25.
- Spontaneous inflammatory demyelinating disease in transgenic mice showing central nervous system-specific expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha. Probert L, Akassoglou K, Pasparakis M, Kontogeorgos G, Kollias G. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1995 Nov 21; 92(24):11294-8.
- Transgenic and knockout analyses of the role of TNF in immune regulation and disease pathogenesis. Douni E, Akassoglou K, Alexopoulou L, Georgopoulos S, Haralambous S, Hill S, Kassiotis G, Kontoyiannis D, Pasparakis M, Plows D, Probert L, Kollias G. J Inflamm. 1995-1996; 47(1-2):27-38.
Contact
Katerina Akassoglou
Email
415.734.2512
Andrea Mejia
Pre-Award Grants Administrator
415.734.2531
Email
Lab Members
Pilar Alzamora
Senior Research Associate
Belinda Cabriga
Senior Research Associate
Terry Dean Jr., MD, PhD
Visiting Scientist
Karuna Dixit, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar
Fanny Elahi, MD, PhD
Visiting Scientist
Yixin Liu, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar
Andrew Mendiola, PhD
Scientist
Mario Merlini, PhD
Visiting Scientist
Rosa Meza Acevedo
Senior Research Associate
Mark Petersen, MD
Visiting Scientist
Jae Ryu, PhD
Staff Research Scientist III
Renaud Schuck, PhD
Staff Research Scientist I
Elif Sozmen, MD, PhD
Visiting Scientist
Reshmi Tognatta, PhD
Scientist
Olivia Weaver
Visiting Researcher
Zhaoqi Yan, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar
Yu Yong, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar
Yungui Zhou, MS
Senior Research Associate