INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
 
  Infrastructure
  NMR Spectroscopy
  Mass Spectrometry
  Protein X-ray Crystallography
  Flow Cytometry Facility
  Analytical Equipment
  Computational Facilities
  Animal Lab Facility

 

Animal Lab Facility

Animal Lab Facility

 

The Animal Lab Facility of the Institute of Chemical Biology of the National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF) fully complies with the national and international standards and specifications of the existing legislation regarding animal research facilities. Our department meets all the requirements for achieving excellence in research.

The department either breeds or purchases (and supplies) laboratory animals to be used in the development of cutting-edge technologies in both the academic and research field, in toxicity studies, in pre-clinical research in the pharmaceutical industry, and for educational purposes.
The plant facilities have been licensed by the Veterinary Service of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food. PD / 56/2013 Specifically:

  • License number EL 25 BIObr 031 as a breeding facility.
  • License number EL 25 BIOsup 032 as a supply facility
  • License number for EL 25 BIO 033exp as a research installation

The facility covers an area of 150 square meters, consisting of 8 separate spaces in total and one antechamber. Specifically, the facility contains a quarantine area, a kiln (newly refurbished with optional computer control functions if required), a cleaning area, two spaces for the construction of experimental models other than quarantine, two storage rooms, an operating (surgery) room, and a two-room office with lavatory and shower facilities.

The air conditioning and environmental control system of the Animal Standards Unit has been recently upgraded (2017-2018). The recently installed modern system is fully automated and all functions can be remote controlled and/or cloud operated.

The facility has in place a fire detection system that complies with the current fire-safety regulation. The space is also monitored real time via several web cameras and every viewing can be recorded and monitored remotely through the internet using a computer or mobile device.

The Animal Lab Facility of the Institute of Chemical Biology of the National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF) is highly specialized in preclinical studies and xenografts. The attached publications in high impact factor journals highlight the important collaborations that have been developed in recent years with Academics and research institutions both in our country and abroad.

file_iconQuality Policy | Πολιτική Ποιότητας [pdf]

 

Contact

For more information please contact
Dr. Vassilis Zoumpourlis [vzub@eie.gr] and Nikos Youroukos [nyourouk@eie.gr]

 

 

Both BAT and Tau mediate in vivo antitumor action in a xenograft model. (A) Schematic experimental design. A total of 1 × 106 RKO cells were subcutaneously injected into the right/left flank of severe combined immune-deficient (SCID) mice (day −12). When the tumors became palpable, reaching the appropriate volume of 30–40 mm3 (day 1), the tumor-bearing mice were randomly assigned to 3 groups (6 mice/group). The first group was used as a negative control (NC) group, injected with phosphate buffer solution (PBS), and the other groups received an injection (3 mg/mouse, total 5 doses) of either agent directly into the tumor on specific days according to the timeline. Mice were sacrificed 28 days after the first day of tumor appearance (day 1). (B) Graph representation of the mean tumor volume in an approximately 28-day period. (C) Statistical analysis of the mean tumor volume between the BAT or Tau-treated groups and the negative control (NC) group. ns: not significant, * p < 0.05. **** p < 0.0001 (1).

 

 

Publications

Publications related to preclinical studies

  1. Baliou S , Goulielmaki M, Ioannou  P, Cheimonidi Ch , Trougakos , NaglM, Kyriakopoulos  A and Vassilis Zoumpourlis. Bromamine T (BAT) Exerts Stronger Anti-Cancer Properties than Taurine (Tau). Cancers 2021, 13, 182. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13020182
  2. Lambrinidis G, Gouedard C, Stasinopoulou S, Angelopoulou A, Ganou V, Meligova AK, Mitsiou DJ, Marakos P, Pouli N, Mikros E, Alexis MN. Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of New Raloxifene Analogues of Improved Antagonist Activity and Endometrial Safety. Under Revision, Bioorganic Chemistry
  3. Sommerova L, Ondrouskova E, Martisova A, Zoumpourlis V, Galtsidis S, Hrstka R. ZEB1/miR-200c/AGR2: A New Regulatory Loop Modulating the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Lung Adenocarcinomas. Cancers (Basel). 2020 Jun 18;12(6):1614. doi:10.3390/cancers12061614. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32570918/
  4. Goulielmaki M, Assimomytis N, Rozanc J, Taki E, Christodoulou I, Alexopoulos LG, Zoumpourlis V, Pintzas A, Papahatjis D. DPS-2: A Novel Dual MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT Pathway Inhibitor with Powerful Ex Vivo and In Vivo Anticancer Properties. Transl Oncol. 2019 Jul;12(7):932-950. doi: 10.1016/j.tranon.2019.04.005. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31096110/
  5. Karavasili C, Andreadis DA, Katsamenis OL, Panteris E, Anastasiadou P, Kakazanis Z, Zoumpourlis V, Markopoulou CK, Koutsopoulos S, Vizirianakis IS, Fatouros DG. Synergistic Antitumor Potency of a Self-Assembling Peptide Hydrogel for the Local Co-delivery of Doxorubicin and Curcumin in the Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer. Mol Pharm. 2019 Jun 3;16(6):2326-2341. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31026168/
  6. Pampalakis G, Zingkou E, Sidiropoulos KG, Diamandis EP, Zoumpourlis V, Yousef GM, Sotiropoulou G Biochemical pathways mediated by KLK6 protease in breast cancer. Mol Oncol. 2019 Nov;13(11):2329-2343. doi: 10.1002/1878-0261.12493. Epub 2019 Sep 30. PMID: 30980596. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30980596/
  7. Angelopoulou A, Kolokithas-Ntoukas A, Papaioannou L, Kakazanis Z, Khoury N, Zoumpourlis V, Papatheodorou S, Kardamakis D, Bakandritsos A, Hatziantoniou S, Avgoustakis K.Canagliflozin-loaded magnetic nanoparticles as potential treatment of hypoxic tumors in combination with radiotherapy. Nanomedicine (Lond). 2018 Oct;13(19):2435-2454. doi: 10.2217/nnm-2018-0145. Epub 2018 Oct 12 PMID: 30311542. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30311542/
  8. Khoury N, Zingkou E, Pampalakis G, Sofopoulos M, Zoumpourlis V, Sotiropoulou G. KLK6 protease accelerates skin tumor formation and progression. Carcinogenesis. 2018 Dec 31;39(12):1529-1536. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgy110. PMID: 30137206 . https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30137206/
  9. Panagiotaki KN, Sideratou Z, Vlahopoulos SA, Paravatou-Petsotas M, Zachariadis M, Khoury N, Zoumpourlis V, Tsiourvas D. A Triphenylphosphonium-Functionalized Mitochondriotropic Nanocarrier for Efficient Co-Delivery of Doxorubicin and Chloroquine and Enhanced Antineoplastic Activity. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2017 Nov 21;10(4):91. doi: 10.3390/ph10040091. PMID: 29160846 Free PMC article. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29160846/
  10. Galtsidis, S.; Logotheti, S.; Pavlopoulou, A.; Zampetidis, C. P.; Papachristopoulou, G.; Scorilas, A.; Vojtesek, B.; Gorgoulis, V.; Zoumpourlis, V. Unravelling a P73-Regulated Network: The Role of a Novel P73-Dependent Target, MIR3158, in Cancer Cell Migration and Invasiveness. Cancer Lett. (2017), 388. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27919789/
  11. Voulgari, E.; Bakandritsos, A.; Galtsidis, S.; Zoumpourlis, V.; Burke, B. P.; Clemente, G. S.; Cawthorne, C.; Archibald, S. J.; Tucek, J.; Zboril, R.; Kantarelou, V.; Karydas, A. G.; Avgoustakis, K. Synthesis, Characterization and in Vivo Evaluation of a Magnetic Cisplatin Delivery Nanosystem Based on PMAA-Graft-PEG Copolymers. J. Control. RELEASE (2016), 243, 342–356. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27793687/
  12. Nekulova M, Holcakova J, Gu X, Hrabal V, Galtsidis S, Orzol P, Liu Y, Logotheti S, Zoumpourlis V, Nylander K, Coates PJ, Vojtesek B. ΔNp63α expression induces loss of cell adhesion in triple-negative breast cancer cells. BMC Cancer. 2016 Oct 10;16(1):782. doi: 10.1186/s12885-016-2808-x. PMID: 27724925 Free PMC article. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27724925/
  13. Logotheti, S.; Khoury, N.; Vlahopoulos, S. A. S. A.; Skourti, E.; Papaevangeliou, D.; Liloglou, T.;Gorgoulis, V.; Budunova, I.; Kyriakopoulos, A. M. A. M.; Zoumpourlis, V. N-Bromotaurine Surrogates for Loss of Antiproliferative Response and Enhances Cisplatin Efficacy in Cancer Cells with Impaired Glucocorticoid Receptor. Transl. Res. (2016), 173, 58–73.e2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27063960/
  14. Skourti, E.; Logotheti, S.; Kontos, C. K.; Pavlopoulou, A.; Dimoragka, P. T.; Trougakos, I. P.;Gorgoulis, V.; Scorilas, A.; Michalopoulos, I.; Zoumpourlis, V. Progression of Mouse Skin Carcinogenesis Is Associated with the Orchestrated Deregulation of Mir-200 Family Members, Mir-205 and Their Common Targets. Mol. Carcinog. (2016), 55 (8), 1229–1242. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26527515/
  15. Pampalakis G, Obasuyi O, Papadodima O, Chatziioannou A, Zoumpourlis V, Sotiropoulou G. The KLK5 protease suppresses breast cancer by repressing the mevalonate pathway. Oncotarget. 2014 May 15;5(9):2390-403. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.1235. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24158494/
  16. Velimezi G, Liontos M, Vougas K, Roumeliotis T, Bartkova J, Sideridou M, Dereli-Oz A, Kocylowski M, Pateras IS, Evangelou K, Kotsinas A, Orsolic I, Bursac S, Cokaric-Brdovcak M, Zoumpourlis V, Kletsas D, Papafotiou G, Klinakis A, Volarevic S, Gu W, Bartek J, Halazonetis TD, Gorgoulis VG. Functional interplay between the DNA-damage-response kinase ATM and ARF tumour suppressor protein in human cancer. Nat Cell Biol. 2013 Aug;15(8):967-77. doi: 10.1038/ncb2795. Epub 2013 Jul 14. PMID: 23851489. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23851489/
  17. Logotheti S, Papaevangeliou D, Michalopoulos I, Sideridou M, Tsimaratou K, Christodoulou I, Pyrillou K, Gorgoulis V, Vlahopoulos S, Zoumpourlis V. Progression of mouse skin carcinogenesis is associated with increased ERα levels and is repressed by a dominant negative form of ERα. PLoS One. 2012;7(8):e41957. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041957. Epub 2012 Aug 3. PMID: 22870269 16. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22870269/
  18. Pampalakis G, Prosnikli E, Agalioti T, Vlahou A, Zoumpourlis V, Sotiropoulou G A tumor-protective role for human kallikrein-related peptidase 6 in breast cancer mediated by inhibition of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Cancer Res. 2009 May 1;69(9):3779-87. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-08-1976. Epub 2009 Apr 21 PMID: 19383923. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19383923/
  19. Oikonomou E, Makrodouli E, Evagelidou M, Joyce T, Probert L, Pintzas A. BRAF(V600E) efficient transformation and induction of microsatellite instability versus KRAS(G12V) induction of senescence markers in human colon cancer cells. Neoplasia. 2009 Nov;11(11):1116-31. doi: 10.1593/neo.09514.
  20. Liontos M, Koutsami M, Sideridou M, Evangelou K, Kletsas D, Levy B, Kotsinas A, Nahum O, Zoumpourlis V, Kouloukoussa M, Lygerou Z, Taraviras S, Kittas C, Bartkova J, Papavassiliou AG, Bartek J, Halazonetis TD, Gorgoulis VG.Deregulated overexpression of hCdt1 and hCdc6 promotes malignant behavior. Cancer Res. 2007 Nov 15;67(22):10899-909. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-2837. PMID: 18006835. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18006835/
  21. Oikonomou E, Kothonidis K, Taoufik E, Probert E, Zografos G, Nasioulas G, Andera L, Pintzas A.Newly established tumourigenic primary human colon cancer cell lines are sensitive to TRAIL-induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Br J Cancer. 2007 Jul 2;97(1):73-84. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6603835. Epub 2007 Jun 5.
  22. Bartkova J, Rezaei N, Liontos M, Karakaidos P, Kletsas D, Issaeva N, Vassiliou LV, Kolettas E, Niforou K, Zoumpourlis VC, Takaoka M, Nakagawa H, Tort F, Fugger K, Johansson F, Sehested M, Andersen CL, Dyrskjot L, Ørntoft T, Lukas J, Kittas C, Helleday T, Halazonetis TD, Bartek J, Gorgoulis VG. Oncogene-induced senescence is part of the tumorigenesis barrier imposed by DNA damage checkpoints. Nature. 2006 Nov 30;444(7119):633-7. doi: 10.1038/nature05268. PMID: 17136093. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17136093/
  23. Roberts ML, Drosopoulos KG, Vasileiou I, Stricker M, Taoufik E, Maercker C, Guialis A, Alexis MN, Pintzas A. Microarray analysis of the differential transformation mediated by Kirsten and Harvey Ras oncogenes in a human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line. Int J Cancer. 2006 Feb 1;118(3):616-27. doi: 10.1002/ijc.21386.
  24. Topinka J, Loli P, Hurbáková M, Kováciková Z, Volkovová K, Wolff T, Oesterle D, Kyrtopoulos SA, Georgiadis P. Benzo[a]pyrene-enhanced mutagenesis by man-made mineral fibres in the lung of lamda-lacI transgenic rats. Mutat Res. 2006 Mar 20;595(1-2):167-73. doi: 10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2005.11.003. PMID: 16375931. 
  25. Topinka Jb, Loli P, Dusinská M, Hurbánková M, Kováciková Z, Volkovová K, Kazimírová A, Barancoková M, Tatrai E, Wolff T, Oesterle D, Kyrtopoulos SA, Georgiadis P. Mutagenesis by man-made mineral fibres in the lung of rats. Mutat Res. 2006 Mar 20;595(1-2):174-83. doi: 10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2005.11.001. PMID: 16364376.
  26. Papassava P, Gorgoulis VG, Papaevangeliou D, Vlahopoulos S, van Dam H, Zoumpourlis V. Overexpression of activating transcription factor-2 is required for tumor growth and progression in mouse skin tumors. Cancer Res. 2004 Dec 1;64(23):8573-84. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-03-0955. PMID: 15574764. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15574764/

 

Contact

For more information please contact
Dr. Vassilis Zoumpourlis [vzub@eie.gr] and Nikos Youroukos [nyourouk@eie.gr]

 

 

 

 

© National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF), 48 Vassileos Constantinou Ave., 11635 Athens, Greece, Tel. +302107273700, Fax. +302107246618