Stelios Psarras, PhD
Staff Research Scientist B'

Telephone : +30 210 6597 455
Fax : +30 210 6597 545
e-mail : spsarras@bioacademy.gr

Center :

Basic Research

Lab Site :

Psarras Lab

Core Facility Site :

Histology Histopathology

Brief Bio

Stelios Psarras’ research activities focus on the study of tissue remodeling mechanisms and their contribution to the pathologies of basic organs (e.g. heart, lung). In particular, he is interested in the characteristics of the inflammatory responses caused by intrinsic (e.g. de-regulated cell death) or extrinsic (e.g. viral or microbial infections) factors and the associated adverse tissue remodeling features, such as extended fibrosis or altered angiogenesis, as well the functional organ outcomes. He is currently studying the cardiopulmonary repair mechanisms and the role of innate immune and stromal cells and their interactions in tissue remodeling. To that end, he and his team are employing animal models, as well as relevant cell culture systems and human samples. Special emphasis is given to the contribution of inflammatory cells such as the macrophages, as well as their interaction with stromal cells, to the progress and regulation of pathogenic states (e.g. heart failure and comorbidities). Using whole gene expression analysis key molecular players have been identified which may serve both as biomarkers or modulators of the respective diseases. His ultimate goal will be the application of therapeutic interventions based on the understanding of common and unique mechanisms underlying adverse tissue remodeling and dysfunction of different organs that will modify particular cell populations and their secretomes.

Stelios Psarras is a National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) Chemist (Diploma in 1986), and conducted his PhD work in N.C.S.R. “Demokritos” (Dr. Stathakos lab) with a fellowship from the Greek Atomic Energy Commission (PhD obtained from NCUA Dept. of Biology in 1996). He was a post-doctoral fellow (1997-1999) in Dr. K. Khazaie’s group in DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany [Tumor Immunology Programme, Dir: Prof. Volker Schirrmacher], with a Schering AG fellowship, and in Faculté de Médecine Necker Enfants-Malades, Paris, France [Unité INSERM 373, Dir: Prof. Harald von Boehmer], with a “post-vert” position in INSERM. During 2000-04 he was Research Associate at the 2nd Pediatric Department, NKUA (Prof. NG Papadopoulos group). From 2004 to 2008 he was scientific collaborator at BRFAA (Prof. Yassemi Capetanaki group), and as of August 2008 he is Staff Research Scientist (Associate Professor Level) in the Center of Basic Research, BRFAA, and leads the Histology-Histopathology (ex-Histochemistry) Core Facility. He receives financial support for his own research and has actively participated in several funded research activities as collaborator/partner.

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Selected Publications

Psarras S. The Macrophage-Fibroblast Dipole in the Context of Cardiac Repair and Fibrosis. Biomolecules. 2024 Nov 4;14(11):1403. doi: 10.3390/biom14111403. PMID: 39595580; PMCID: PMC11591949.

Vlachou F, Varela A, Stathopoulou K, Ntatsoulis K, Synolaki E, Pratsinis H, Kletsas D, Sideras P, Davos CH, Capetanaki Y, Psarras S. Galectin-3 interferes with tissue repair and promotes cardiac dysfunction and comorbidities in a genetic heart failure model. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2022 Apr 19;79(5):250. doi: 10.1007/s00018-022-04266-6. PMID: 35441327

Psarras S, Beis D, Nikouli S, Tsikitis M, Capetanaki Y Three in a box: Understanding Cardiomyocyte, Fibroblast and Innate Immune Cell Interactions to Orchestrate Cardiac Repair Processes, Front. Cardiovasc. Med. 2019, 6:32. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2019.00032 

Zivlas C, Triposkiadis F, Psarras S, Giamouzis G, Skoularigis I, Chryssanthopoulos S, Kapelouzou A, Ramcharitar S, Barnes E, Papasteriadis E, Cokkinos D. Left atrial volume index in patients with heart failure and severely impaired left ventricular systolic function: the role of established echocardiographic parameters, circulating cystatin C and galectin-3. Ther Adv Cardiovasc Dis; 2017, 11:283-295. doi: 10.1177/1753944717727498,

Xintarakou A, Tzeis S, Psarras S, Asvestas D, Vardas P. Atrial fibrosis as a dominant factor for the development of atrial fibrillation: facts and gaps. Europace 2020, 22, 341-345, doi:10.1093/europace/euaa009

Vito O, Psarras S, Syggelou A, Wright VJ, Amanatidou V, Newton SM, Shailes H, Trochoutsou K, Tsagaraki M, Levin M, Kaforou M, Tsolia M. Novel RNA biomarkers improve discrimination of children with tuberculosis disease from those with non-TB pneumonia after in vitro stimulation. Front Immunol. 2024 Sep 26;15:1401647. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1401647. PMID: 39391304; PMCID: PMC11464340.

Nikouli S, Tsikitis M, Raftopoulou C, Gagos S, Psarras S, Capetanaki Y. Desmin Deficiency Affects the Microenvironment of the Cardiac Side Population and Sca1+ Stem Cell Population of the Adult Heart and Impairs their Cardiomyocyte Commitment. Cell Tissue Res. 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-022-03643-8

Zampas P, Li Z, Katsouda A, Varela A, Psarras S, Davos CH, Lefer DJ, Papapetropoulos A. Protective role of 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MPST) in the development of metabolic syndrome and vascular inflammation. Pharmacol Res. 2025 Jan;211:107542. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107542. Epub 2024 Dec 10. PMID: 39667544.

Tsikitis M, Galata Z, Mavroidis M, Psarras S, Capetanaki Y. Intermediate filaments in cardiomyopathy. Biophys Rev. 2018 Aug;10(4):1007-1031. doi: 10.1007/s12551-018-0443-2. Epub 2018 Jul 19. PMID: 30027462; PMCID: PMC6082300.

Psarras S, Mavroidis M, Sanoudou D, Davos CH, Xanthou G, Varela AE, Panoutsakopoulou V, Capetanaki Y. Regulation of adverse remodelling by osteopontin in a genetic heart failure model. Eur Heart J, 2012, 33, 1954-1963,

Mavroidis M, Davos CH, Psarras S, Varela A, C Athanasiadis N, Katsimpoulas M, Kostavasili I, Maasch C, Vater A, van Tintelen JP, Capetanaki Y. Complement system modulation as a target for treatment of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Basic Res Cardiol 110(3):27. doi: 10.1007/s00395-015-0485-6, 2015

Psarras S, Volonaki E, Skevaki, C, Hatzipsalti M, Bossios A, Pratsinis H, Tsigkos S, Gourgiotis D, Constantopoulos AG, Papapetropoulos A, Saxoni-Papageorgiou P, Papadopoulos NG. Vascular endothelial growth factor-mediated induction of angiogenesis by human rhinoviruses J Allergy Clin Immunol 117, 291-297, 2006

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