• Agarwal, Rajesh, Ph.D.
• Anchordoquy, Thomas J., Ph.D.
• Anderson, Peter, Pharm.D.
• Aquilante, Christina, Pharm.D.
• Bain, David L., Ph.D.
• Carpenter, John, Ph.D.
• Franklin, Christopher, Ph.D.
• Hail, Jr., Numsen, Ph.D.
• Irons, Richard D., Ph.D.
• Jones Braun, LaToya, Ph.D.
• Ju, Cynthia, Ph.D.
• Kiser, Jennifer, Pharm.D.
• Kompella Uday B., PhD
• Malkinson, Alvin M., Ph.D.
• Mallela, Krishna M. G., Ph.D.
• Maluf, N. Karl, Ph.D.
• Patel, Manisha, Ph.D.
• Petersen, Dennis R., Ph.D.
• Radcliffe, Richard, Ph.D.
• Ross, David, Ph.D.
• Ruth, James. A., Ph.D.
• Scheinman, Robert I., Ph.D.
• Thompson, John A., Ph.D.
• Vasiliou, Vasilis, Ph.D.

Vasilis K. Vasiliou, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Molecular Toxicology, Director of the Toxicology Graduate Program

Mailing address:
4200 E. 9th Ave, C238
Denver, CO 80262

Telephone:
Voice:     303- 315-6153
Lab:        303-315-6037
Fax:        303-315-0274
E-Mail:  vasilis.vasiliou@uchsc.edu

Affiliation:
Member, University of Colorado Cancer Center

Training and Education:
B..S., Chemistry, University of Ioannina, Greece
Ph.D., Biochemical Pharmacology, University of Ioannina, School of Medicine
Postdoctoral Fellow in Molecular Toxicology and Pharmacogenetics, University of Cincinnati Medical Center

Research Interests:
Cellular responses to endogenous and exogenous oxidative stress. Our research is focused on cellular mechanisms against oxidative stress caused by physical agents (e.g., UV radiation), and the metabolism of both endogenous and foreign chemicals.  The roles of several aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDH3A1, ALDH1A1, ALDH7A1 and ALDH3B1) expressed in tissue-specific manner are currently studied using genetically engineered cell lines and transgenic knockout mouse lines.    
Genetic factors involved in the alcohol drinking preference and toxicity. Individual differences in alcohol preference are clearly genetically determined, which may translate into a genetic predisposition for alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Specific genes responsible for the increased or decreased susceptibility to alcohol abuse remain largely unknown. Our laboratory studies the role of two aldehyde dehydrogenase genes, ALDH1A1 and ALDH2, two Cytochrome P450 genes (CYP2E1 and CYP1A2), and Catalase as genetic factors associated with alcohol drinking and toxicity. Experimental approaches include transcriptional regulation and generation of transgenic mouse lines having homozygous disruptions of the above genes.   
Evolution and functional genomics of the aldehyde dehydrogenases.

Alcohol Enzyme Database

Teaching:
Professional Program: Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology Graduate Program: Pharmacogenetics, Molecular Biology

Representative Publications:
Pappa A, Brown D, Koutalos Y, DeGregori J, White C, Vasiliou V. Human aldehyde dehydrogenase 3A1 (ALDH3A1) inhibits proliferation and promotes survival of human corneal epithelial cells. J Biol Chem 280: 27998-28006, 2005.
Vasiliou V, Ziegler T L, Bludeau P, Petersen D R, Gonzalez F J and Deitrich RA. CYP2E1 and catalase influence ethanol sensitivity in the central nervous system. Pharmacogenet Genomics 16: 51-58, 2006.
Vasiliou V, Ross D and Nebert DW. Update of the NAD(P)H:Quinone oxidoreductase (NQO) gene family. Hum Genomics 2: 329-335, 2006.
Estey T, Piatigorsky J, Lassen N and Vasiliou V. ALDH3A1: A corneal crystallin with diverse functions. Exp Eye Res,2006.
Vasiliou V., Nebert DW. Analysis and update of the human aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) gene family. Hum Genomics  2: 138-143, 2005.
Lassen N, Estey T, Tanguay RL, Pappa A, Reimers MJ, Vasiliou V. Molecular cloning, baculovirus expression, and tissue distribution of the zebrafish aldehyde dehydrogenase 2. Drug Metab Dispos 33: 649-656, 2005.

Curriculum Vitae
Recent Publications

Last updated: 6/25/07