Dr ILIAS KAZANIS

University position

Senior Research Associate

Departments

Department of Veterinary Medicine

Institutes

Cambridge Stem Cell Initiative

Email

ik255@cam.ac.uk

Home page

http://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/researc...

Research Themes

Developmental Neuroscience

Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

The Cambridge Neuroscience Community

Interests

My research focuses on the regulation of adult brain cytogenesis, especilly on the biology of the subependymal zone neurogenic/gliogenic niche. I am interested in the role of components of the extracellular matrix (ECM/ such as integrins, laminins and tenascin-C), as well as of structural elements of the niche (such as ependymal cells and blood vessels) in the regulation of adult stem cell behaviour. When and how the neural stem cell transforms from a very active progenitor into a relatively quiescent cell? What is the contribution of ECM molecules in this process? How is the niche microenvironment altered when stem cells become activated in order to regenerate the neural tissue? Recently I have started exploring more intensively the oligodendrogenic properties of the subependymal zone, especially in the context of the ageing brain, as well as the potential to develop new methods to isolate neural progenitors from the niche.

Adult neural stem cells are BrdU-retaining (green) cells with astroglial morphology (GFAP-blue). The pictured stem cell is beta1 integrin (red) negative, in contrast to its neighbouring progenitors.
Click image to view full-size

Research Focus

Keywords

neural stem cell

niche

extracellular matrix

oligodendrocyte precursor

regeneration

Clinical conditions

Cancers

Cerebrovascular disorders

Dementia

Multiple sclerosis

Parkinson's disease

Stroke

Equipment

Cell culture

Computational modelling

Confocal microscopy

Fluorescence microscopy

Immunohistochemistry

Microscopy

Collaborators

Key publications

Kazanis I, Lathia JD, Vadakkan TJ, Raborn E, Wan R, Mughal MR, Eckley DM, Sasaki T, Patton B, Mattson MP, Hirschi KK, Dickinson ME, ffrench-Constant C (2010), “Quiescence and activation of stem and precursor cell populations in the subependymal zone of the mammalian brain are associated with distinct cellular and extracellular matrix signals.” J Neurosci 30(29):9771-81 Details

Kazanis I, Belhadi A, Faissner A, Ffrench-Constant C (2007), “The adult mouse subependymal zone regenerates efficiently in the absence of tenascin-C.” J Neurosci 27(51):13991-6 Details

Ekonomou A, Kazanis I, Malas S, Wood H, Alifragis P, Denaxa M, Karagogeos D, Constanti A, Lovell-Badge R, Episkopou V (2005), “Neuronal migration and ventral subtype identity in the telencephalon depend on SOX1.” PLoS Biol 3(6):e186 Details

Publications

2012

Kazanis I (2012), “Reforming the Greek health system: A role for non-medical, clinical bioscientists.” Health Policy Details

Kazanis I (2012), “Can adult neural stem cells create new brains? Plasticity in the adult mammalian neurogenic niches: realities and expectations in the era of regenerative biology.” Neuroscientist 18(1):15-27 Details

Kazanis I, Ffrench-Constant C (2012), “The number of stem cells in the subependymal zone of the adult rodent brain is correlated with the number of ependymal cells and not with the volume of the niche.” Stem Cells Dev 21(7):1090-6 Details

2011

Kazanis I, Ffrench-Constant C (2011), “Extracellular matrix and the neural stem cell niche.” Dev Neurobiol 71(11):1006-17 Details

2010

Marthiens V, Kazanis I, Moss L, Long K, Ffrench-Constant C (2010), “Adhesion molecules in the stem cell niche--more than just staying in shape?” J Cell Sci 123(Pt 10):1613-22 Details

2009

Kazanis I (2009), “The subependymal zone neurogenic niche: a beating heart in the centre of the brain: how plastic is adult neurogenesis? Opportunities for therapy and questions to be addressed.” Brain 132(Pt 11):2909-21 Details

2008

Kazanis I, Lathia J, Moss L, ffrench-Constant C (2008), “The neural stem cell microenvironment” StemBook doi/10.3824/stembook.1.15.1

2007

Kan L, Jalali A, Zhao LR, Zhou X, McGuire T, Kazanis I, Episkopou V, Bassuk AG, Kessler JA (2007), “Dual function of Sox1 in telencephalic progenitor cells.” Dev Biol 310(1):85-98 Details

2005

Kazanis I (2005), “CNS injury research; reviewing the last decade: methodological errors and a proposal for a new strategy.” Brain Res Brain Res Rev 50(2):377-86 Details

2004

Kazanis I, Giannakopoulou M, Philippidis H, Stylianopoulou F (2004), “Alterations in IGF-I, BDNF and NT-3 levels following experimental brain trauma and the effect of IGF-I administration.” Exp Neurol 186(2):221-34 Details

2003

Kazanis I, Bozas E, Philippidis H, Stylianopoulou F (2003), “Neuroprotective effects of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) following a penetrating brain injury in rats.” Brain Res 991(1-2):34-45 Details

Mantelas A, Stamatakis A, Kazanis I, Philippidis H, Stylianopoulou F (2003), “Control of neuronal nitric oxide synthase and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels by GABA-A receptors in the developing rat cortex.” Brain Res Dev Brain Res 145(2):185-95 Details

2001

Benekou A, Bolaris S, Kazanis E, Bozas E, Philippidis H, Stylianopoulou F (2001), “In utero radiation-induced changes in growth factor levels in the developing rat brain.” Int J Radiat Biol 77(1):83-93 Details

2000

Giannakopoulou M, Mansour M, Kazanis E, Bozas E, Philpipidis H, Stylianopoulou F (2000), “NMDA receptor mediated changes in IGF-II gene expression in the rat brain after injury and the possible role of nitric oxide.” Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 26(6):513-21 Details

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