Vassilis I. Zannis, PhD

Emeritus Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Zannis is Emeritus Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. The major focus of his research is on the structure and functions of apoA-I and apoE in relation to the biogenesis of HDL, atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. Using adenovirus-mediated gene transfer in apoA-I-deficient mice, we have established that apoA-I mutations inhibit discrete steps in a pathway that leads to the biogenesis and remodeling of HDL. To this point, five discrete categories of apoA-I mutants have been characterized that may affect the interactions of apoA-I with ABCA1 or LCAT or may influence the plasma PLTP activity or may cause various forms of dyslipidemia. Biogenesis of HDL is not a unique property of apoA-I. Using adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of apoE in apoA-I- or ABCA1-deficient mice, we have established that apoE also participates in a novel pathway of biogenesis of apoE-containing HDL particles. This process requires the functions of the ABCA1 lipid transporter and LCAT and it is promoted by substitution of hydrophobic residues in the 261 to 269 region of apoE by Ala. The apoE-containing HDL particles formed in the circulation may have atheroprotective properties. ApoE-containing HDL may also have important biological functions in the brain that confer protection from Alzheimer’s disease.

Publications

  • Published 7/6/2022

    Dalakoura-Karagkouni K, Tiniakou I, Zannis VI, Kardassis D. Using adenovirus-mediated gene transfer to study the effect of myeloperoxidase on plasma lipid levels, HDL structure and functionality in mice expressing human apoA-I forms. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2022 Sep 24; 622:108-114. PMID: 35843089.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 12/4/2021

    Valanti EK, Dalakoura-Karagkouni K, Fotakis P, Vafiadaki E, Mantzoros CS, Chroni A, Zannis V, Kardassis D, Sanoudou D. Reconstituted HDL-apoE3 promotes endothelial cell migration through ID1 and its downstream kinases ERK1/2, AKT and p38 MAPK. Metabolism. 2022 02; 127:154954. PMID: 34875308.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 6/18/2018

    Theofilatos D, Fotakis P, Valanti E, Sanoudou D, Zannis V, Kardassis D. HDL-apoA-I induces the expression of angiopoietin like 4 (ANGPTL4) in endothelial cells via a PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway. Metabolism. 2018 10; 87:36-47. PMID: 29928895.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 5/31/2018

    Dafnis I, Raftopoulou C, Mountaki C, Megalou E, Zannis VI, Chroni A. ApoE isoforms and carboxyl-terminal-truncated apoE4 forms affect neuronal BACE1 levels and Aß production independently of their cholesterol efflux capacity. Biochem J. 2018 05 31; 475(10):1839-1859. PMID: 29743204.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 1/1/2018

    Kelley M, Zannis VI, Hussain MM. Synthesis of HDL apolipoproteins by rat hepatocytes. 2018.

View All 218 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Other Positions

  • Professor, Biochemistry & Cell Biology
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
  • Member, Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research
    Boston University
  • Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students)
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences

Websites

Education

  • University of California, Berkeley, PhD
  • University of Athens, BS

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