Kyriaki (Kiki) Thermos

Kyriaki (Kiki)Thermos, Ph.D

Professor of Pharmacology

University of Crete

School of Medicine

Department of Basic Sciences

email: Αυτή η διεύθυνση ηλεκτρονικού ταχυδρομείου προστατεύεται από τους αυτοματισμούς αποστολέων ανεπιθύμητων μηνυμάτων. Χρειάζεται να ενεργοποιήσετε τη JavaScript για να μπορέσετε να τη δείτε.

Tel: 2810 394533

CV

Education

1976 BS in Chemistry, University of Patras, Patras, Greece

1979 MSc. In Chemistry, New York University, New York, USA

1984 PhD in Chemistry, New York University, New York, USA

1984-86 Postdoctoral Fellow, Training Program in Neuropsychopharmacology
              University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA
              Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA (collaborator in training program)
1986-88 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA

Research Interests

The main focus of our studies is to understand the underlying mechanisms involved in ischemia induced retinal diseases (e.g. excitotoxicity, oxidative stress) and to investigate new therapeutic targets. We examine the pharmacology of the endocannabinoid system, neurosteroidal neurotrophins, NADPH Oxidase (NOX1,2,4) inhibitors in the rodent retina with emphasis on their role in neuroprotection, inflammation and angiopathy. The pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic (intraperitoneal and eye drop administration) profiles of selective agents from these three pharmacological families are studied using in vivo experimental models of retinopathy. Pertaining specifically to the endocannabioid system, we study the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties of the acute and/or chronic treatment of CB1 receptor agonists/antagonists, CB2 agonists, and inhibitors of endocannabinoid metabolic enzymes.

Funding

ARISTEIA II, ELIDEK, HORIZON2020

Selected Publications

Kokona, D, Spyridakos, D., Tzatzarakis, M., Papadogkonaki, S., Filidou, E, Arvanitidis, K.I, Kolios, G., Lamani, M., Makriyannis, A., Malamas, M., Thermos K. (2021) Neuropharmacology 1;185:108450. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm. 2021.108450

Spyridakos, D., Dionysopoulou, S., Papadogkonaki, S., Thermos, K. (2020) Effect of acute and subchronic administration of (R)-WIN55,212-2 induced neuroprotection and anti- inflammatory actions in rat retina: CB1 and CB2 receptor involvement. Neurochemistry International. 142: 104907. doi: 10.1016/j.neuint.2020.104907.  

Dionysopoulou, S., Wikstrom, P., Walum, E., Thermos, K. (2020) Effect of NADPH Oxidase inhibitors  in an experimental retinal model of excitotoxity. Experimental Eye Research  200:108232.  doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2020.108232.

Papadogkonaki S., Theodorakis K, Thermos K. (2019). Endogenous and synthetic cannabinoids induce the downregulation of cannabinoid CB1 receptor in retina. Experimental Eye Research 185, 107694.

Ibán-Arias R.,  Lisa S., Poulaki S.,  Mastrodimou N., Charalampopoulos I.,  Gravanis A., Thermos K. (2019) Effect of topical administration of the microneurotrophin BNN27 in the diabetic rat retina. Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, 257:2429-2436.

Ibán-Arias R., Lisa S., Mastrodimou N., Kokona D., Koulakis E., Iordanidou, P., Kouvarakis A., Fothiadaki M ., Papadogkonaki S., Sotiriou A., Katerinopoulos H.E., Gravanis A., Charalampopoulos I.,Thermos K. (2018) Diabetes 67:321-333

Kokona D., Georgiou P-C., Kounenidakis M.,Kiagiadaki F., and Thermos K. (2016) Endogenous and Synthetic Cannabinoids as Therapeutics in Retinal Disease. Neural Plasticity, Special Issue on “Cannabinoids in the Brain: New Vistas on an old dilemma”, doi:10.1155/2016/8373020.

Kokona D. & Thermos K. (2015) Synthetic and endogenous cannabinoids protect retinal neurons from AMPA excitotoxicity in vivo, via activation of CB1 receptors: Involvement of PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK signaling pathways. Experimental Eye Research, 136:45-58.