Michaela Filiou
Group Leader, Associate Professor of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina
Our lab studies the molecular mechanisms of neuropsychiatric disorders. Our goal is to:
- Understand how mitochondria shape anxiety- and stress-related behaviors and can be pharmacologically targeted to exert therapeutic effects
- Elucidate the interplay of dietary interventions and high anxiety at the behavioral and molecular level
- Identify molecular signatures and candidate biomarkers for neuropsychiatric phenotypes and treatment responses
We work with mouse models and use behavioral biology, proteomics/metabolomics, mitochondrial biochemistry and pharmacology approaches. Our vision is to create a collaborative environment, fostering scientific growth and communication.
- Mitochondria as regulatory hubs and therapeutic targets for high anxiety and stress
The molecular etiopathology of neuropsychiatric disorders remains largely unresolved. Mitochondria are cellular organelles that produce energy, regulate oxidative stress and modulate neurotransmission in the brain (Filiou and Sandi 2019, Trends Neurosci). We have previously found that mitochondrial pathways change in high anxiety and stress responses (Filiou et al. 2011, Biol Psychiatry; Lopes et al. 2017 Cereb Cortex). We are now investigating how different stress types and environmental/lifestyle interventions affect mitochondrial functions (Thomou*, Nussbaumer*, Grammenou* et al. 2024, Mol Neurobiol). We also focus on how mitochondrial dynamics, i.e. the mitochondrial-centered quality control mechanisms, shape stress- and anxiety-related behaviors (Papageorgiou and Filiou 2024, Neurosci Biobehav Rev).
Existing pharmacological strategies for neuropsychiatric disorders suffer from severe side-effects, slow mode of action and low remission rates. Therefore, identifying novel pharmacological targets is critical for developing optimized therapies. We have shown for the first time that selective mitochondrial targeting exerts anxiolytic effects in vivo (Nussbaumer et al. 2016, Neuropsychopharmacology). Currently, we are characterizing the effects of mitochondria-centered treatments and assess their therapeutic and prophylactic potential in animal models of neuropsychiatric phenotypes and cell culture.
- Crosstalk of dietary interventions and high anxiety
Anxiety and eating disorders are increasingly prevalent in modern societies, highly comorbid and more common in women. We are studying how divergent eating habits, such as temporal and caloric food restriction, affect the behavior and brain region-specific molecular profiles of female high anxiety mice. We additionally look for mitochondrial mechanisms that govern the regulation of eating behaviors in highly anxious populations and can be pharmacologically manipulated to exert beneficial effects.
- Molecular biosignatures for neuropsychiatric phenotypes and treatment responses
To date, no valid molecular biomarkers exist in clinical psychiatry. Unraveling biosignatures for neuropsychiatric disorders will significantly facilitate diagnosis, personalized treatment and biomarker discovery. We decipher disease-specific proteomic and metabolomic profiles in the brain and peripheral material of animal models and patient cohorts of pertinent pathologies (Papageorgiou*, Theodoridou* et al. 2024 Curr Neuropharmacol). We also explore molecular patterns which are characteristic for responses to pharmacological treatment.
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