Staff Profile

Newcastle University: Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Epitranscriptomics (since September 2021 part-time employed)

Heidelberg University: Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Director of the Department of Cardiovascular Research (main affiliation)

Other roles

European Heart Journal, Editorial Board Reviewer

European Research Council (ERC) Grant Holder

Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine, Assistant Editor

Cardiovascular Research, Editorial Board Member

Fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA)

Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (FESC)

The Konstantinos Stellos Lab studies the interplay between RNA-based mechanisms and cardiovascular resilience and disease with the scope to develop new strategies to address the residual risk in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Despite the current evidence-based guidelines on clinical practice of cardiovascular medicine, the clinical manifestations of atherosclerotic heart disease remain the major causes of morbidity and mortality. Our laboratory investigates the role of RNA modifications in cardiovascular homeostasis and disease, develops precision therapies for the treatment of atherosclerotic / ischemic heart disease, and determines the clinical value of novel biomarkers for risk stratification in cardiovascular secondary prevention.

We are using high throughput deep sequencing, molecular and cellular biology approaches, and mouse disease models to investigate at a single nucleotide resolution the role of novel RNA metabolism mechanisms in gene expression, and cellular and organ function in cardiovascular homeostasis and disease. The relevance of our bench findings is further investigated in clinical studies involving patients with subclinical and manifested cardiovascular disease.

Our lab provides a supportive and challenging environment to its members enabling them to perform cutting edge research in the innovative field of epitranscriptomics and inflammation in cardiovascular disease.

Further information: https://www.StellosLab.com

I teach to students enrolled at:

MRes Cardiovascular Science in Health and Disease, more info available here

Medicine and Surgery MB BS Honours, more info available here

and to research students and fellows of the Newcastle University

• Gatsiou A, Georgiopoulos G, Vlachogiannis NI, Pfisterer L, Fischer A, Sachse M, Laina A, Bonini F, Delialis D, Tual-Chalot S, Zormpas E, Achangwa R, Jiang L, Kontogiannis C, Patras R, Hermeking H, Zeiher AM, Stamatelopoulos K, Dimmeler S, Stellos K. Additive contribution of microRNA-34a/b/c to human arterial ageing and atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis 2021, 327, 49-58.
• Vlachogiannis NI, Sachse M, Georgiopoulos G, Zormpas E, Bampatsias D, Delialis D, Bonini F, Galyfos G, Sigala F, Stamatelopoulos K, Gatsiou A, Stellos K. Adenosine-to-inosine Alu RNA editing controls the stability of the pro-inflammatory long noncoding RNA NEAT1 in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology 2021, 160, 111-120.
• Lambrinoudaki I, Delialis D, Georgiopoulos G, Tual-Chalot S, Vlachogiannis NI, Patras R, Aivalioti E, Armeni E, Augoulea A, Tsoltos N, Soureti A, Stellos K, Stamatelopoulos K. Circulating Amyloid Beta 1-40 Is Associated with Increased Rate of Progression of Atherosclerosis in Menopause: A Prospective Cohort Study. Thrombosis and Haemostasis 2021, 121(05), 650-658.
• Tektonidou MG, Kravvariti E, Vlachogiannis NI, Georgiopoulos G, Mantzou A, Sfikakis PP, Stellos K, Stamatelopoulos K. Clinical value of amyloid-beta1-40 as a marker of thromboinflammation in Antiphospholipid Syndrome. Rheumatology 2021, 60(4), 1669-1675.
• Sobolewska B, Fehrenbacher B, Munzer P, Kalbacher H, Geue S, Stellos K, Schaller M, Ziemssen F. Human Platelets Take up Anti-VEGF Agents. Journal of Ophthalmology 2021, 2021, 8811672.
• Gatsiou A, Sopova K, Tselepis A, Stellos K. Interleukin-17A Triggers the Release of Platelet-Derived Factors Driving Vascular Endothelial Cells toward a Pro-Angiogenic State. Cells 2021, 10(8), 1855.
• Tual-Chalot S, Stellos K. MicroRNA-based therapy of postmyocardial infarction heart failure. Hellenic Journal of Cardiology 2021, 62(2), 149-151.
• Coelho-Lima J, Georgiopoulos G, Ahmed J, Adil Syeda, Gaskin D, Bakogiannis C, Sopova k, Ahmed F, Ahmed H, Spray L, Richardson G, Bagnall A, Stellos K, Stamatelopoulos K, Spyridopoulos I. Prognostic value of admission high-sensitivity troponin in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Heart BMJ 2021, 107(23), 1881-1888.
• Gladka M, Stellos K. Scientists on the Spot: RNA modifications in atherosclerosis. Cardiovascular research 2021, 117(1), e9-e9.
• Spray L, Park C, Cormack S, Mohammed A, Panahi P, Boag S, Bennaceur K, Sopova K, Richardson G, Stangl V, Rech L, Rainer P, Ramos G, Hofmann U, Stellos K, Spyridopoulos I. The Fractalkine Receptor CX3CR1 Links Lymphocyte Kinetics in CMV-Seropositive Patients and Acute Myocardial Infarction With Adverse Left Ventricular Remodeling. Frontiers in Immunology 2021, 12, 605857.
• Tual-Chalot S, Stellos K. Therapeutic potential of adenosine kinase inhibition in vascular disease. Cardiovascular research 2021, 117(2), 354-356.
• Vlachogiannis NI, Stellos K. Circulating Progenitor Cells Predict Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease and Renal Insufficiency. JACC: Basic to Translational Science 2020, 5(8), 783-785.
• Cormack S, Mohammed A, Panahi P, Das R, Steel AJ, Chadwick T, Bryant A, Egred M, Stellos K, Spyridopoulos I. Effect of ciclosporin on safety, lymphocyte kinetics and left ventricular remodelling in acute myocardial infarction. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2020, 86(7), 1387-1397.
• Lazaridis C, Vlachogiannis NI, Bakogiannis C, Spyridopoulos I, Stamatelopoulos K, Kanakakis I, Vassilikos V, Stellos K. Involvement of cardiovascular system as the critical point in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prognosis and recovery. Hellenic Journal of Cardiology 2020, 61(6), 381-395.
• Spray L, Park C, Cormack S, Mohammad A, Panahi P, Boag S, Bennaceur K, Richardson G, Arthur H, Stellos K, Spyridopoulos I. Role of CMV-serostatus and CX3CR1 on lymphocyte kinetics and left ventricular remodelling in patients with acute myocardial infarction. European Heart Journal 2020, 41(Suppl. 2), ehaa946.1289.
• Liberale L, Akhmedov A, Vlachogiannis NI, Bonetti NR, Nageswaran V, Miranda MX, Puspitasari YM, Schwarz L, Costantino S, Paneni F, Beer JH, Ruschitzka F, Montecucco F, Lüscher TF, Stamatelopoulos K, Stellos K, Camici GG. Sirtuin 5 promotes arterial thrombosis by blunting the fibrinolytic system. Cardiovascular Research 2021, 117(10), 2275–2288.
• Stakos DA, Stamatelopoulos K, Bampatsias D, Sachse M, Zormpas E, Vlachogiannis NI, Tual-Chalot S, Stellos K. The Alzheimer's Disease Amyloid-Beta Hypothesis in Cardiovascular Aging and Disease: JACC Focus Seminar. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2020, 75(8), 952-967.
• Georgiopoulos G, Kontogiannis C, Stakos D, Bakogiannis C, Koliviras A, Kyrkou A, Karapanou L, Benekos K, Augoulea A, Armeni E, Laina A, Stellos K, Lambrinoudaki I, Stamatelopoulos I. Abdominal Fat Tissue Echogenicity: A Marker of Morbid Obesity. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 2019, 104(2), 301-311.
• Mareti A, Kritsioti C, Georgiopoulos G, Vlachogiannis NI, Delialis D, Sachse M, Sopova K, Koutsoukis A, Kontogiannis C, Patras R, Tual-Chalot S, Koureas A, Gatsiou A, Stellos K, Stamatelopoulos K. Cathepsin B expression is associated with arterial stiffening and atherosclerotic vascular disease. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology 2019, 27(19), 2288-2291.
• Stellos K, Musunuru K. Challenges and advances of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing in therapeutics. Cardiovascular Research 2019, 115(2), e12-e14.
• Tatsidou PT, Chantzichristos VG, Tsoumani ME, Sidiropoulou S, Ntalas IV, Goudevenos JA, Stellos K, Tselepis AD. Circulating progenitor cells and their interaction with platelets in patients with an acute coronary syndrome. Platelets 2019, 30(3), 314-321.
• Stellos K, Spyridopoulos I. Exercise, telomerase activity, and cardiovascular disease prevention. European Heart Journal 2019, 40(1), 47-49.
• Vlachogiannis NI, Gatsiou A, Silvestris DA, Stamatelopoulos K, Tektonidou MG, Gallo A, Sfikakis PP, Stellos K. Increased adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing in rheumatoid arthritis. Journal of Autoimmunity 2020, 106, 102329.
• Stamatelopoulos K, Georgiopoulos G, Athanasouli F, Nikolaou P-E, Lykka M, Roussou M, Gavriatopoulou M, Laina A, Trakada G, Charakida M, Delialis D, Petropoulos I, Pamboukas C, Manios E, Karakitsou M, Papamichael C, Gatsiou A, Lambrinoudaki I, Terpos E, Stellos K, Andreadou I, Dimopoulos MA, Kastritis E. Reactive Vasodilation Predicts Mortality in Primary Systemic Light-Chain Amyloidosis. Circulation Research 2019, 125(8), 744-758.
• Dorn LE, Tual-Chalot S, Stellos K, Accornero F. RNA epigenetics and cardiovascular diseases. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology 2019, 129, 272-280.
• Kokras N, Papadopoulou E, Georgiopoulos G, Dalla C, Petropoulos I, Kontogiannis C, Laina A, Bampatsias D, Stellos K, Kouzoupis AV, Stamatelopoulos K. The effect of treatment response on endothelial function and arterial stiffness in depression. A prospective study. Journal of Affective Disorders 2019, 252, 190-200.
• Stamatelopoulos K, Mueller-Hennessen M, Georgiopoulos G, Sachse M, Boeddinghaus J, Sopova K, Gatsiou A, Amrhein C, Biener M, Vafaie M, Athanasouli F, Stakos D, Pateras K, Twerenbold R, Badertscher P, Nestelberger T, Dimmeler S, Katus HA, Zeiher AM, Mueller C, Giannitsis E, Stellos K. Amyloid-ß (1-40) and Mortality in Patients With Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Cohort Study. Annals of Internal Medicine 2018, 168(12), 855-865.
• Chantzichristos VG, Gkrozou F, Stellos K, Paschopoulos ME, Tselepis AD. Comparative Anti-Platelet Profiling Reveals a Potent Anti-Aggregatory Effect of CD34+ Progenitor Cell-Derived Late-Outgrowth Endothelial Cells in vitro. Journal of Vascular Research 2018, 55(1), 13-25.
• Gatsiou A, Stellos K. Dawn of Epitranscriptomic Medicine. Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine 2018, 11(9), e001927.
• Sobolewska B, Golenko J, Poeschel S, Grimmel C, Gatsiou A, Sopova K, Biedermann T, Schenke-Layland K, Stellos K, Ziemssen F. Influence of aflibercept on platelet activation profile. Experimental Eye Research 2018, 175, 166-172.
• Laina A, Stellos K. Low Birth Weight: A Novel Cardiovascular Risk Factor?. Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine 2018, 11(6), e002163.
• Laina A, Gatsiou A, Georgiopoulos G, Stamatelopoulos K, Stellos K. RNA therapeutics in cardiovascular precision medicine. Frontiers in Physiology 2018, 9, 953.
• Stamatelopoulos K, Stellos K. Circulating Amyloid-Beta (1-40) Predicts Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure El amiloide beta (1-40) circulante predice eventos en pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca. Revista Espanola de Cardiologia 2017, 70(11), 905-906.
• Greco S, Zaccagnini G, Fuschi P, Voellenkle C, Carrara M, Sadeghi I, Bearzi C, Maimone B, Castelvecchio S, Stellos K, Gaetano C, Menicanti L, Martelli F. Increased BACE1-AS long noncoding RNA and β-amyloid levels in heart failure. Cardiovascular Research 2017, 113(5), 453-463.
• Leisegang MS, Fork C, Josipovic I, Richter FM, Preussner J, Hu J, Miller MJ, Epah J, Hofmann P, Gunther S, Moll F, Valasarajan C, Heidler J, Ponomareva Y, Freiman TM, Maegdefessel L, Plate KH, Mittelbronn M, Uchida S, Kunne C, Stellos K, Schermuly RT, Weissmann N, Devraj K, Wittig I, Boon RA, Dimmeler S, Pullamsetti SS, Looso M, Miller FJ, Brandes RP. Long Noncoding RNA MANTIS Facilitates Endothelial Angiogenic Function. Circulation 2017, 136(1), 65-79.
• Bakogiannis C, Sachse M, Stamatelopoulos K, Stellos K. Platelet-derived chemokines in inflammation and atherosclerosis. Cytokine 2017, 122, 154157.
• Georgiopoulos G, Lambrinoudaki I, Athanasouli F, Armeni E, Koliviras A, Augoulea A, Rizos D, Papamichael C, Protogerou A, Stellos K, Stamatelopoulos K. Prolactin as a predictor of endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness progression in menopause. Journal of Human Hypertension 2017, 31(8), 520-524.
• Stellos K. RNA in the spotlight: The dawn of RNA therapeutics in the treatment of human disease. Cardiovascular Research 2017, 113(12), e43-e44.
• Stellos K. The rise of epitranscriptomic era: Implications for cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular Research 2017, 113(5), e2-e3.
• Laina A, Stellos K, Stamatelopoulos K. Vascular ageing: Underlying mechanisms and clinical implications. Experimental Gerontology 2017, 109, 16-30.
• Stellos K, Gatsiou A, Stamatelopoulos K, Perisic Matic L, John D, Lunella FF, Jae N, Rossbach O, Amrhein C, Sigala F, Boon RA, Furtig B, Manavski Y, You X, Uchida S, Keller T, Boeckel J-N, Franco-Cereceda A, Maegdefessel L, Chen W, Schwalbe H, Bindereif A, Eriksson P, Hedin U, Zeiher AM, Dimmeler S. Adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing controls cathepsin S expression in atherosclerosis by enabling HuR-mediated post-transcriptional regulation. Nature Medicine 2016, 22(10), 1140-1150.
• Roeben B, Maetzler W, Vanmechelen E, Schulte C, Heinzel S, Stellos K, Godau J, Huber H, Brockmann K, Wurster I, Gaenslen A, Gruner E, Niebler R, Eschweiler GW, Berg D. Association of Plasma Aβ₄₀ Peptides, but Not Aβ₄₂, with Coronary Artery Disease and Diabetes Mellitus. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease 2016, 52(1), 161-169.
• Chantzichristos VG, Agouridis AP, Moutzouri E, Stellos K, Elisaf MS, Tselepis AD. Effect of rosuvastatin or its combination with omega-3 fatty acids on circulating CD34+ progenitor cells and on endothelial colony formation in patients with mixed dyslipidaemia. Atherosclerosis 2016, 251, 240-247.
• Georgiopoulos GA, Lambrinoudaki I, Athanasouli F, Armeni E, Rizos D, Kazani M, Karamanou M, Manios E, Augoulea A, Stellos K, Papamichael C, Stamatelopoulos K. Free androgen index as a predictor of blood pressure progression and accelerated vascular aging in menopause. Atherosclerosis 2016, 247, 177-183.
• Chantzichristos VG, Agouridis AP, Moutzouri E, Stellos K, Elisaf MS, Tselepis AD. Plasma VEGF and IL-8 levels in patients with mixed dyslipidaemia. Effect of rosuvastatin monotherapy or its combination at a lower dose with omega-3 fatty acids: A pilot study. Current Vascular Pharmacology 2016, 14(5), 474-480.
• Nording H, Giesser A, Patzelt J, Sauter R, Emschermann F, Stellos K, Gawaz M, Langer HF. Platelet bound oxLDL shows an inverse correlation with plasma anaphylatoxin C5a in patients with coronary artery disease. Platelets 2016, 27(6), 593-597.
• Stamatelopoulos K, Sibbing D, Rallidis LS, Georgiopoulos G, Stakos D, Braun S, Gatsiou A, Sopova K, Kotakos C, Varounis C, Tellis CC, Kastritis E, Alevizaki M, Tselepis AD, Alexopoulos P, Laske C, Keller T, Kastrati A, Dimmeler S, Zeiher AM, Stellos K. Amyloid-beta (1-40) and the risk of death from cardiovascular causes in patients with coronary heart disease. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2015, 65(9), 904-916.
• Manios E, Michas F, Stamatelopoulos K, Koroboki E, Stellos K, Tsouma I, Vemmos K, Zakopoulos N. Association of isolated systolic, isolated diastolic, and systolic-diastolic masked hypertension with carotid artery intima-media thickness. Journal of Clinical Hypertension 2015, 17(1), 22-26.
• Sobolewska B, Grimmel C, Gatsiou A, Sopova K, Klein J, Biedermann T, Stellos K, Ziemssen F. Different Effects of Ranibizumab and Bevacizumab on Platelet Activation Profile. Ophthalmologica 2015, 234(4), 195-210.
• Boeckel J-N, Jae N, Heumuller AW, Chen W, Boon RA, Stellos K, Zeiher AM, John D, Uchida S, Dimmeler S. Identification and Characterization of Hypoxia-Regulated Endothelial Circular RNA. Circulation Research 2015, 117(10), 884-890.
• Manios E, Michas F, Stamatelopoulos K, Koroboki E, Tsouma I, Stellos K, Vemmos K, Zakopoulos N. Impact of masking effect on subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in normotensives and untreated masked hypertensive and hypertensive patients. Blood Pressure Monitoring 2015, 20(2), 64-68.
• Laske C, Stellos K, Kempter I, Stransky E, Maetzler W, Fleming I, Randriamboavonjy V. Increased cerebrospinal fluid calpain activity and microparticle levels in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's and Dementia 2015, 11(5), 465-474.
• Stellos K, Katsiki N, Tatsidou P, Bigalke B, Laske C. Association of platelet activation with vascular cognitive impairment: Implications in dementia development?. Current Vascular Pharmacology 2014, 12(1), 152-154.
• Muller KAL, Karathanos A, Tavlaki E, Stimpfle F, Meissner M, Bigalke B, Stellos K, Schwab M, Schaeffeler E, Muller II, Gawaz M, Geisler T. Combination of high on-treatment platelet aggregation and low deaggregation better predicts long-term cardiovascular events in PCI patients under dual antiplatelet therapy. Platelets 2014, 25(6), 439-446.
• Sopova K, Gatsiou K, Stellos K, Laske C. Dysregulation of Neurotrophic and Haematopoietic Growth Factors in Alzheimer's Disease: From Pathophysiology to Novel Treatment Strategies. Current Alzheimer Research 2014, 11(1), 27-39.
• Jorbenadze R, Schleicher E, Bigalke B, Stellos K, Gawaz M. Expression of platelet-bound stromal-cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and number of CD34⁺ progenitor cells in patients with congestive heart failure. Platelets 2014, 25(6), 409-415.
• Rath D, Chatterjee M, Borst O, Muller K, Stellos K, MacK AF, Bongartz A, Bigalke B, Langer H, Schwab M, Gawaz M, Geisler T. Expression of stromal cell-derived factor-1 receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7 on circulating platelets of patients with acute coronary syndrome and association with left ventricular functional recovery. European Heart Journal 2014, 35(6), 386-394.
• Erbel C, Akhavanpoor M, Okuyucu D, Wangler S, Dietz A, Zhao L, Stellos K, Little KM, Lasitschka F, Doesch A, Hakimi M, Dengler TJ, Giese T, Blessing E, Katus HA, Gleissner CA. IL-17A influences essential functions of the monocyte/macrophage lineage and is involved in advanced murine and human atherosclerosis. Journal of Immunology 2014, 193(9), 4344-4355.
• Tzikas S, Schlak D, Sopova K, Gatsiou A, Stakos D, Stamatelopoulos K, Stellos K, Laske C. Increased myeloperoxidase plasma levels in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease 2014, 39(3), 557-564.
• Randriamboavonjy V, Sopova K, Stellos K, Laske C. Platelets as potential link between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. Current Alzheimer Research 2014, 11(9), 862-868.
• Stamatelopoulos K, Bramos D, Manios E, Alexaki E, Kaladaridou A, Georgiopoulos G, Koroboki E, Kolyviras A, Stellos K, Zakopoulos N, Toumanidis S. Pleiotropic effects of the acute and chronic inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system in hypertensives. Journal of Human Hypertension 2014, 28(6), 378-383.
• Stellos K, Dimmeler S. Vascular microRNAs: From disease mechanisms to therapeutic targets. Circulation Research 2014, 114(1), 3-4.
• Laske C, Stellos K. Vascular pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease. Current Alzheimer Research 2014, 11(1), 1-3.