Institute of Life Science 1 internal Atrium view up

Dr Spyridon Theofilopoulos

Ser Cymru II Rising Star Fellow, Biomedical Sciences

+44 (0) 1792 513603

s.theofilopoulos@swansea.ac.uk

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1986-0943

Office - 037
Ground Floor
Institute of Life Science 1
Singleton Campus

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

About

Spyridon Theofilopoulos PhD DIC is Sêr Cymru II Rising Star Fellow and Associate Professor at the Institute of Life Science 1, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea, UK. He has completed a BSc and PhD at Imperial College London. After completing the compulsory military service in Greece, he worked for two years at the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens and at the School of Medicine of the University of Thessaly, as a postdoctoral scientist and lecturer respectively. He then worked for several years at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden as a Forskare.

Areas Of Expertise

Regenerative Neurobiology
Lipid Biochemistry

Career Highlights

Teaching Interests

BSc, Applied Medical Science

Supervision Opportunities:

Highly enthusiastic postdoctoral scientists and PhD students with experience and interest in in vitro techniques (such as nuclear receptor activation assays, mouse CNS primary cultures and neural stem cells), in-vivo models of PD (such as the 6-OHDA model), immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry, quantitative PCR, imaging and related techniques are encouraged to apply for research work in our laboratory.

Research Award Highlights Collaborations

Publications

Research Highlights

Meljon, A., Theofilopoulos, S., Shackleton, C., Watson, G., Javitt, N., Knolker, H., Saini, R., Arenas, E., Wang, Y., Griffiths, W., Griffiths, W., Wang, Y., & Theofilopoulos, S. (2012). Analysis of bioactive oxysterols in newborn mouse brain by LC/MS. Journal of Lipid Research, 53(11), 2469-2483.
https://doi.org/10.1194/jlr.d028233, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa12880
http://dx.doi.org/10.1194/jlr.d028233
Griffiths, W., Crick, P., Meljon, A., Theofilopoulos, S., Abdel-Khalik, J., Yutuc, E., Parker, J., Kelly, D., Kelly, S., Arenas, E., & Wang, Y. (2019). Additional pathways of sterol metabolism: Evidence from analysis of Cyp27a1−/− mouse brain and plasma. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids, 1864(2), 191-211.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbalip.2018.11.006, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa46057
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbalip.2018.11.006
Cajanek, L., Ganji, R., Henriques-Oliveira, C., Theofilopoulos, S., Konik, P., Bryja, V., Arenas, E., & Theofilopoulos, S. (2013). Tiam1 Regulates the Wnt/Dvl/Rac1 Signaling Pathway and the Differentiation of Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 33(1), 59-70.
https://doi.org/10.1128/mcb.00745-12, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52577
http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/mcb.00745-12
Ribeiro, D., Ellwanger, K., Glagow, D., Theofilopoulos, S., Corsini, N., Martin-Villalba, A., Niehrs, C., & Arenas, E. (2011). Dkk1 Regulates Ventral Midbrain Dopaminergic Differentiation and Morphogenesis. PLoS ONE, 6(2), e15786
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0015786, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52578
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0015786
Griffiths, W., Wang, Y., Brenton, A., Hall, L., Arenas, E., Lockhart, A., Theofilopoulos, S., Sjövall, J., & Ogundare, M. (2010). Cerebrospinal Fluid Steroidomics: Are Bioactive Bile Acids Present in Brain?. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 285(7), 4666-4679.
https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.m109.086678, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52579
http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.m109.086678
Griffiths, W., Arenas, E., Sjövall, J., Karu, K., Theofilopoulos, S., Hornshaw, M., Sacchetti, P., Bodin, K., Sousa, K., Woffendin, G., & Wang, Y. (2009). Targeted lipidomic analysis of oxysterols in the embryonic central nervous system. Molecular BioSystems, 5(5), 529
https://doi.org/10.1039/b819502a, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52580
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/b819502a
Theofilopoulos, S., Lykidis, A., Leondaritis, G., Mangoura, D., & Theofilopoulos, S. (2008). Novel function of the human presqualene diphosphate phosphatase as a type II phosphatidate phosphatase in phosphatidylcholine and triacylglyceride biosynthesis pathways. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids, 1781(11-12), 731-742.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbalip.2008.09.001, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52581
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbalip.2008.09.001
Mangoura, D., Theofilopoulos, S., Karouzaki, S., Tsirimonaki, E., & Theofilopoulos, S. (2006). 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate-dependent up-regulation of dopaminergic gene expression requires Ras and neurofibromin in human IMR-32 neuroblastoma. Journal of Neurochemistry, 97, 97-103.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2005.03483.x, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52582
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2005.03483.x
S. Riaz, S., Theofilopoulos, S., Jauniaux, E., Stern, G., & Bradford, H. (2004). The differentiation potential of human foetal neuronal progenitor cells in vitro. Developmental Brain Research, 153(1), 39-51.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.devbrainres.2004.07.006, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52583
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.devbrainres.2004.07.006
Theofilopoulos, S., Goggi, J., Riaz, S., Jauniaux, E., Stern, G., & Bradford, H. (2001). Parallel induction of the formation of dopamine and its metabolites with induction of tyrosine hydroxylase expression in foetal rat and human cerebral cortical cells by brain-derived neurotrophic factor and glial-cell derived neurotrophic factor. Developmental Brain Research, 127(2), 111-122.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165-3806(01)00125-0, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52584
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0165-3806(01)00125-0
Goggi, J., Theofilopoulos, S., Riaz, S., Jauniaux, E., Stern, G., & Bradford, H. (2000). The neuronal survival effects of rasagiline and deprenyl on fetal human and rat ventral mesencephalic neurones in culture. NeuroReport, 11(18), 3937-3941.
https://doi.org/10.1097/00001756-200012180-00007, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52585
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00001756-200012180-00007
Theofilopoulos, S., Oliveira, W., Yang, S., Yutuc, E., Saeed, A., Abdel-Khalik, J., Ullgren, A., Cedazo-Minguez, A., Björkhem, I., Wang, Y., Griffiths, W., & Arenas, E. (2019). 24(S),25-Epoxycholesterol and cholesterol 24S-hydroxylase (CYP46A1) overexpression promote midbrain dopaminergic neurogenesis in vivo. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 294(11), 4169-4176.
https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.ra118.005639, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa48277
http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.ra118.005639
Theofilopoulos, S. & Arenas, E. (2015). Liver X receptors and cholesterol metabolism: role in ventral midbrain development and neurodegeneration. F1000Prime Reports, 7
https://doi.org/10.12703/P7-37, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34742
Theofilopoulos, S., Griffiths, W., Crick, P., Yang, S., Meljon, A., Ogundare, M., Kitambi, S., Lockhart, A., Tuschl, K., Clayton, P., Morris, A., Martinez, A., Reddy, M., Martinuzzi, A., Bassi, M., Honda, A., Mizuochi, T., Kimura, A., Nittono, H...., & Wang, Y. (2014). Cholestenoic acids regulate motor neuron survival via liver X receptors. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 124(11), 4829-4842.
https://doi.org/10.1172/jci68506, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34741
http://dx.doi.org/10.1172/jci68506
Theofilopoulos, S., Wang, Y., Kitambi, S., Sacchetti, P., Sousa, K., Bodin, K., Kirk, J., Saltó, C., Gustafsson, M., Toledo, E., Karu, K., Gustafsson, J., Steffensen, K., Ernfors, P., Sjövall, J., Griffiths, W., & Arenas, E. (2013). Brain endogenous liver X receptor ligands selectively promote midbrain neurogenesis. Nature Chemical Biology, 9(2), 126-133.
https://doi.org/10.1038/nchembio.1156, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34740
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nchembio.1156
Sacchetti, P., Sousa, K., Hall, A., Liste, I., Steffensen, K., Theofilopoulos, S., Parish, C., Hazenberg, C., Richter, L., Hovatta, O., Gustafsson, J., & Arenas, E. (2009). Liver X Receptors and Oxysterols Promote Ventral Midbrain Neurogenesis In Vivo and in Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Cell Stem Cell, 5(4), 409-419.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2009.08.019, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34739
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2009.08.019
Hedlund, E., Belnoue, L., Theofilopoulos, S., Salto, C., Bye, C., Parish, C., Deng, Q., Kadkhodaei, B., Ericson, ., Arenas, E., Perlmann, T., & Simon, A. (2016). Dopamine Receptor Antagonists Enhance Proliferation and Neurogenesis of Midbrain Lmx1a-expressing Progenitors. Scientific Reports, 6(1), 26448
https://doi.org/10.1038/srep26448, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa39501
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep26448
Gyllborg, D., Ahmed, M., Toledo, E., Theofilopoulos, S., Yang, S., ffrench-Constant, C., & Arenas, E. (2018). The Matricellular Protein R-Spondin 2 Promotes Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurogenesis and Differentiation. Stem Cell Reports, 11(3), 651-664.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.07.014, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa43582
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.07.014
Meljon, A., Crick, P., Yutuc, E., Yau, J., Seckl, J., Theofilopoulos, S., Arenas, E., Wang, Y., & Griffiths, W. (2019). Mining for Oxysterols in Cyp7b1−/− Mouse Brain and Plasma: Relevance to Spastic Paraplegia Type 5. Biomolecules, 9(4), 149
https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9040149, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa50029
Griffiths, W., Abdel-Khalik, J., Moore, S., Wijeyekoon, R., Crick, P., Yutuc, E., Farrell, K., Breen, D., Williams-Gray, C., Theofilopoulos, S., Arenas, E., Trupp, M., Barker, R., & Wang, Y. (2021). The Cerebrospinal Fluid Profile of Cholesterol Metabolites in Parkinson’s Disease and Their Association With Disease State and Clinical Features. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 13, 685594
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2021.685594, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa57043

All Research

Journal Articles

Griffiths, W., Abdel-Khalik, J., Moore, S., Wijeyekoon, R., Crick, P., Yutuc, E., Farrell, K., Breen, D., Williams-Gray, C., Theofilopoulos, S., Arenas, E., Trupp, M., Barker, R., & Wang, Y. (2021). The Cerebrospinal Fluid Profile of Cholesterol Metabolites in Parkinson’s Disease and Their Association With Disease State and Clinical Features. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 13, 685594
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2021.685594, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa57043
Meljon, A., Crick, P., Yutuc, E., Yau, J., Seckl, J., Theofilopoulos, S., Arenas, E., Wang, Y., & Griffiths, W. (2019). Mining for Oxysterols in Cyp7b1−/− Mouse Brain and Plasma: Relevance to Spastic Paraplegia Type 5. Biomolecules, 9(4), 149
https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9040149, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa50029
Theofilopoulos, S., Oliveira, W., Yang, S., Yutuc, E., Saeed, A., Abdel-Khalik, J., Ullgren, A., Cedazo-Minguez, A., Björkhem, I., Wang, Y., Griffiths, W., & Arenas, E. (2019). 24(S),25-Epoxycholesterol and cholesterol 24S-hydroxylase (CYP46A1) overexpression promote midbrain dopaminergic neurogenesis in vivo. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 294(11), 4169-4176.
https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.ra118.005639, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa48277
http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.ra118.005639
Griffiths, W., Crick, P., Meljon, A., Theofilopoulos, S., Abdel-Khalik, J., Yutuc, E., Parker, J., Kelly, D., Kelly, S., Arenas, E., & Wang, Y. (2019). Additional pathways of sterol metabolism: Evidence from analysis of Cyp27a1−/− mouse brain and plasma. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids, 1864(2), 191-211.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbalip.2018.11.006, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa46057
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbalip.2018.11.006
Gyllborg, D., Ahmed, M., Toledo, E., Theofilopoulos, S., Yang, S., ffrench-Constant, C., & Arenas, E. (2018). The Matricellular Protein R-Spondin 2 Promotes Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurogenesis and Differentiation. Stem Cell Reports, 11(3), 651-664.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.07.014, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa43582
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.07.014
Hedlund, E., Belnoue, L., Theofilopoulos, S., Salto, C., Bye, C., Parish, C., Deng, Q., Kadkhodaei, B., Ericson, ., Arenas, E., Perlmann, T., & Simon, A. (2016). Dopamine Receptor Antagonists Enhance Proliferation and Neurogenesis of Midbrain Lmx1a-expressing Progenitors. Scientific Reports, 6(1), 26448
https://doi.org/10.1038/srep26448, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa39501
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep26448
Theofilopoulos, S. & Arenas, E. (2015). Liver X receptors and cholesterol metabolism: role in ventral midbrain development and neurodegeneration. F1000Prime Reports, 7
https://doi.org/10.12703/P7-37, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34742
Theofilopoulos, S., Griffiths, W., Crick, P., Yang, S., Meljon, A., Ogundare, M., Kitambi, S., Lockhart, A., Tuschl, K., Clayton, P., Morris, A., Martinez, A., Reddy, M., Martinuzzi, A., Bassi, M., Honda, A., Mizuochi, T., Kimura, A., Nittono, H...., & Wang, Y. (2014). Cholestenoic acids regulate motor neuron survival via liver X receptors. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 124(11), 4829-4842.
https://doi.org/10.1172/jci68506, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34741
http://dx.doi.org/10.1172/jci68506
Theofilopoulos, S., Wang, Y., Kitambi, S., Sacchetti, P., Sousa, K., Bodin, K., Kirk, J., Saltó, C., Gustafsson, M., Toledo, E., Karu, K., Gustafsson, J., Steffensen, K., Ernfors, P., Sjövall, J., Griffiths, W., & Arenas, E. (2013). Brain endogenous liver X receptor ligands selectively promote midbrain neurogenesis. Nature Chemical Biology, 9(2), 126-133.
https://doi.org/10.1038/nchembio.1156, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34740
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nchembio.1156
Cajanek, L., Ganji, R., Henriques-Oliveira, C., Theofilopoulos, S., Konik, P., Bryja, V., Arenas, E., & Theofilopoulos, S. (2013). Tiam1 Regulates the Wnt/Dvl/Rac1 Signaling Pathway and the Differentiation of Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 33(1), 59-70.
https://doi.org/10.1128/mcb.00745-12, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52577
http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/mcb.00745-12
Meljon, A., Theofilopoulos, S., Shackleton, C., Watson, G., Javitt, N., Knolker, H., Saini, R., Arenas, E., Wang, Y., Griffiths, W., Griffiths, W., Wang, Y., & Theofilopoulos, S. (2012). Analysis of bioactive oxysterols in newborn mouse brain by LC/MS. Journal of Lipid Research, 53(11), 2469-2483.
https://doi.org/10.1194/jlr.d028233, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa12880
http://dx.doi.org/10.1194/jlr.d028233
Ribeiro, D., Ellwanger, K., Glagow, D., Theofilopoulos, S., Corsini, N., Martin-Villalba, A., Niehrs, C., & Arenas, E. (2011). Dkk1 Regulates Ventral Midbrain Dopaminergic Differentiation and Morphogenesis. PLoS ONE, 6(2), e15786
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0015786, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52578
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0015786
Griffiths, W., Wang, Y., Brenton, A., Hall, L., Arenas, E., Lockhart, A., Theofilopoulos, S., Sjövall, J., & Ogundare, M. (2010). Cerebrospinal Fluid Steroidomics: Are Bioactive Bile Acids Present in Brain?. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 285(7), 4666-4679.
https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.m109.086678, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52579
http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.m109.086678
Sacchetti, P., Sousa, K., Hall, A., Liste, I., Steffensen, K., Theofilopoulos, S., Parish, C., Hazenberg, C., Richter, L., Hovatta, O., Gustafsson, J., & Arenas, E. (2009). Liver X Receptors and Oxysterols Promote Ventral Midbrain Neurogenesis In Vivo and in Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Cell Stem Cell, 5(4), 409-419.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2009.08.019, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34739
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2009.08.019
Griffiths, W., Arenas, E., Sjövall, J., Karu, K., Theofilopoulos, S., Hornshaw, M., Sacchetti, P., Bodin, K., Sousa, K., Woffendin, G., & Wang, Y. (2009). Targeted lipidomic analysis of oxysterols in the embryonic central nervous system. Molecular BioSystems, 5(5), 529
https://doi.org/10.1039/b819502a, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52580
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/b819502a
Theofilopoulos, S., Lykidis, A., Leondaritis, G., Mangoura, D., & Theofilopoulos, S. (2008). Novel function of the human presqualene diphosphate phosphatase as a type II phosphatidate phosphatase in phosphatidylcholine and triacylglyceride biosynthesis pathways. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids, 1781(11-12), 731-742.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbalip.2008.09.001, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52581
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbalip.2008.09.001
Mangoura, D., Theofilopoulos, S., Karouzaki, S., Tsirimonaki, E., & Theofilopoulos, S. (2006). 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate-dependent up-regulation of dopaminergic gene expression requires Ras and neurofibromin in human IMR-32 neuroblastoma. Journal of Neurochemistry, 97, 97-103.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2005.03483.x, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52582
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2005.03483.x
S. Riaz, S., Theofilopoulos, S., Jauniaux, E., Stern, G., & Bradford, H. (2004). The differentiation potential of human foetal neuronal progenitor cells in vitro. Developmental Brain Research, 153(1), 39-51.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.devbrainres.2004.07.006, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52583
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.devbrainres.2004.07.006
Theofilopoulos, S., Goggi, J., Riaz, S., Jauniaux, E., Stern, G., & Bradford, H. (2001). Parallel induction of the formation of dopamine and its metabolites with induction of tyrosine hydroxylase expression in foetal rat and human cerebral cortical cells by brain-derived neurotrophic factor and glial-cell derived neurotrophic factor. Developmental Brain Research, 127(2), 111-122.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165-3806(01)00125-0, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52584
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0165-3806(01)00125-0
Goggi, J., Theofilopoulos, S., Riaz, S., Jauniaux, E., Stern, G., & Bradford, H. (2000). The neuronal survival effects of rasagiline and deprenyl on fetal human and rat ventral mesencephalic neurones in culture. NeuroReport, 11(18), 3937-3941.
https://doi.org/10.1097/00001756-200012180-00007, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52585
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00001756-200012180-00007

Supervision

Untitled (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Spyridon Theofilopoulos

Other supervisor: Prof Yuqin Wang

Dr Spyridon Theofilopoulos

Telephone number

Email address

LinkedIn Account