Research & Professional Achievements
Research & Professional Achievements
My expertise in the physiology of the central and peripheral nervous system, as well as the neuroimmunology of neurological disorders, is grounded in extensive experience working with post-mortem human tissue from donors with multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and ischemic stroke, alongside rodent models of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. My technical skill set includes immunohistochemistry, advanced microscopy, and a broad range of molecular biology techniques.
My research focuses on the interplay between innate immunity, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration, with the aim of elucidating disease mechanisms and identifying potential therapeutic targets. In this context, I have contributed to the development of novel therapeutic strategies, including experimental work on a pharma-funded therapeutic agent targeting complement activation.
My research focuses on the role of complement in neurological diseases.
It also investigates complement activation on extracellular vesicles in multiple sclerosis (in collaboration with Karolinska Institutet).
Prior R., Silva A., Vangansewinkel T., Idkowiak J., Tharkeshwar A.K., Hellings T.P., Michailidou I. et al (2024). PMP22 duplication dysregulates lipid homeostasis and plasma membrane organization in developing human Schwann cells. Brain. 147, 3113–3130.
Seidel F., Fluiter K., Kleemann R., Worms N., van Nieuwkoop A., Caspers M.P.M., Grigoriadis N., Kiliaan A.J., Baas F., Michailidou I., Morrison M.C. (2023). Ldlr-/-.Leiden mice develop neurodegeneration, age-dependent astrogliosis and obesity-induced changes in microglia immunophenotype which are partly reversed by complement component 5 neutralizing antibody. Front. Cell. Neurosci. 17:1205261.
Michailidou I, Vreijling J, Rumpf M et al (2023). The systemic inhibition of the terminal complement system reduces neuroinflammation but does not improve motor function in mouse models of CMT1A with overexpressed PMP22. Curr Res Neurobiol. 4:100077.
van Erp IAM, Michailidou I, van Essen TA et al (2023). Tackling Neuroinflammation After Traumatic Brain Injury: Complement Inhibition as a Therapy for Secondary Injury. Neurotherapeutics. 20(1):284-303. Review
Gytz Olesen H, Michailidou I, Zelek WM et al (2022). Development, Characterization, and in vivo Validation of a Humanized C6 Monoclonal Antibody that Inhibits the Membrane Attack Complex. J Innate Immun. 15(1):16-36.
Ahmed SM, Fransen NL, Touil H, Michailidou I et al (2022). Accumulation of meningeal lymphocytes correlates with white matter lesion activity in progressive multiple sclerosis. JCI Insight. 7(5):e151683.
van Olst L, Rodriguez-Mogeda C, Picon-Munoz C, Kiljan S, James RE, Kamermans A, van der Pol SMA, Knoop L, Michailidou I et al (2021). Meningeal inflammation in multiple sclerosis induces phenotypic changes in cortical microglia that differentially associate with neurodegeneration. Acta Neuropathol. 141(6):881-899.
Michailidou I, Jongejan A , Vreijling JP et al (2018). Systemic inhibition of the membrane attack complex impedes neuroinflammation in chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Acta Neuropathologica Communications, 6, pg 36, 2018.
Michailidou I, Naessens DMP, Hametner S et al (2016). Complement C3 on microglial clusters in multiple sclerosis occur in chronic but not acute disease: implication for disease pathogenesis. GLIA, 65, pg 264-277, 2016.
Michailidou I, Willems JGP, Kooi E–J et al (2015). Complement C1q– C3 associated synaptic changes in multiple sclerosis hippocampus. Annals of Neurology, 77, pg 1007-1026.