Vassilis I. Zannis, PhD
Emeritus Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Medicine
Cardiovascular Medicine

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



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.

Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Biochemistry & Cell Biology


Member
Boston University
Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research


Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students)
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences




Apolipoprotein Variation and Human Disease
05/01/2000 - 04/30/2005 (PI)
NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
5 R01 HL33952 19

Role of ApoE in Cholesterol and Triglyceride Homeostasis
11/01/2001 - 06/30/2004 (PI)
NATO

ApoE Functions Relevant to AD and Gene Transfer to the Brain Using Recombinant Viral Vectors
09/01/2000 - 08/31/2003 (PI)
Alzheimer's Association



Title


Yr Title Project-Sub Proj Pubs
2011 Molecular and Funcitonal Analysis of Human A-I 5R01HL048739-15 54
2010 Functions of apoE in cholesterol and triglyceride homeostasis 5R01HL068216-09 27
2010 Molecular and Funcitonal Analysis of Human A-I 5R01HL048739-14 54
2009 Functions of apoE in cholesterol and triglyceride homeostasis 5R01HL068216-08 27
2009 Molecular and Funcitonal Analysis of Human A-I 5R01HL048739-13 54
2008 INTRACELLULAR MODIFICATIONS OF HUMAN APOLIPOPROTEIN E 5P41RR010888-12-5227 259
2008 Functions of apoE in cholesterol and triglyceride homeostasis 5R01HL068216-07 27
2008 Molecular and Funcitonal Analysis of Human A-I 2R01HL048739-12A2 54
2007 INTRACELLULAR MODIFICATIONS OF HUMAN APOLIPOPROTEIN E 2P41RR010888-11-8048 259
2007 Functions of apoE in cholesterol and triglyceride homeostasis 5R01HL068216-06 27
Showing 10 of 51 results. Show All Results

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

iCite Analysis       Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

  1. 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
     
  2. 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.View Related Profiles. PMID: 34875308
     
  3. 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
     
  4. 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
     
  5. Kelley M, Zannis VI, Hussain MM. Synthesis of HDL apolipoproteins by rat hepatocytes. 2018.
  6. Zannis VI, Su S, Fotakis P. Role of apolipoproteins, ABCA1 and LCAT in the biogenesis of normal and aberrant high density lipoproteins. J Biomed Res. 2017 Nov 04; 31(6):471-85. PMID: 29109329; PMCID: PMC6307667; DOI: 10.7555/JBR.31.20160082;
     
  7. Daminelli EN, Fotakis P, Mesquita CH, Maranhão RC, Zannis VI. Tissue Uptake Mechanisms Involved in the Clearance of Non-Protein Nanoparticles that Mimic LDL Composition: A Study with Knockout and Transgenic Mice. Lipids. 2017 Dec; 52(12):991-998. PMID: 29094255
     
  8. Jauhiainen M, Dafnis I, Metso J, Zannis VI, Chroni A. Effects of apoE variants on PLTP interaction and activation of low and high activity forms of PLTP. Atherosclerosis. 2016; 252:e118. View Publication
  9. Tamehiro N, Park MH, Hawxhurst V, Nagpal K, Adams ME, Zannis VI, Golenbock DT, Fitzgerald ML. LXR Agonism Upregulates the Macrophage ABCA1/Syntrophin Protein Complex That Can Bind ApoA-I and Stabilized ABCA1 Protein, but Complex Loss Does Not Inhibit Lipid Efflux. Biochemistry. 2015 Nov 24; 54(46):6931-41. PMID: 26506427; PMCID: PMC4874254; DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.5b00894;
     
  10. Dafnis I, Metso J, Zannis VI, Jauhiainen M, Chroni A. Influence of Isoforms and Carboxyl-Terminal Truncations on the Capacity of Apolipoprotein E To Associate with and Activate Phospholipid Transfer Protein. Biochemistry. 2015 Sep 29; 54(38):5856-66. PMID: 26337529; DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.5b00681;
     
Showing 10 of 218 results. Show More

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 215 publications over 41 distinct years, with a maximum of 10 publications in 1991 and 2000 and 2001

YearPublications
19802
19814
19827
19836
19842
19855
19868
19872
19889
19894
19906
199110
19925
19933
19943
19952
19963
19977
19983
19997
200010
200110
20027
20038
20046
20055
20068
20079
20086
20098
20105
20118
20124
20134
20143
20158
20161
20172
20183
20211
20221

In addition to these self-described keywords below, a list of MeSH based concepts is available here.

biochemistry
gene therapy
molecular biology
molecular genetics
Contact for Mentoring:

700 Albany St Ctr for Adv Biomed Res
Boston MA 02118
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