Research Division: Molecular and regenerative medicine

The research division “Molecular and regenerative medicine” is focused on the following priority topics:
• New molecular biomarkers in oncological and inflammatory diseases (proteins, DNA, RNA, miRNA, epigenetic modifications)
• Cell metabolism and mitochondrial function in oncological and neurological diseases
• 3D bioprinting in oncology and regenerative medicine
• Pharmacogenetics and personalized molecular medicine

The multidisciplinary and international team is composed of distinguished researchers with high scientific achievements and managerial capacity, as well as of young scientists with proven research potential.

Published science materials 2021-2022

1. De Robertis M., M. Greco, R. Cardone, T. Mazza, F. Marzano, N. Mehterov, M. Kazakova, N. Belev, A. Tullo, G. Pesole, V. Sarafian, E. Signori. Upregulation of YKL-40 promotes metastatic phenotype and correlates with poor prognosis and therapy response in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Cells, 2022 in press, (IF=6.70) Q1


2. Sbirkov Y., V. Dzharov, K. Todorova, S. Hayrabedyan, V. Sarafian. Endothelial inflammation and dysfunction in COVID-19. VASA - European Journal of Vascular Medicine, 2022, 51, 62-70, DOI: 10.1024/0301-1526/a000991 (IF=1.961) Q3

3.Dichev V., N. Mehterov, M. Kazakova, R. Karalilova, A. Batalov, V. Sarafian. The lncRNAs/miR-30e/CHI3L1 axis is dysregulated in systemic sclerosis. Biomedicines, 2022, 10, 496, DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10020496 (IF=4.757) Q2

4.Mehterov N., Minchev D., M. Gevezova, V. Sarafian, M. Maes. Interactions among brain-derived neurotrophic factor and immune pathways are key components in major psychiatric disorders. Molecular Neurobiology, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-022-02889-1 (IF = 5.590) Q1

5.Sbirkov Y., B. Vergov, N. Mehterov, V. Sarafian. miRNAs in lymphocytic leukaemias – the miRror of drug resistance. Int J Molec Sci, 2022, 23, 4657, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23094657 (IF=5.923) Q1

6.Gevezova M., D. Minchev, I. Pacheva, T. Todorova, R. Yordanova, E. Timova, I. Ivanov, V. Sarafian. Association of NGF and Mitochondrial Dysfunction with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Int J Molec Sci, 2022, in press (IF=5.923), Q1

7. Dikov D., M. Koleva, K. Simitchiev, M. Baltov, V. Sarafian. PD-L1 positive Lympho-Epithelial Lesions in Inflammatory Prostate. Histology & Histopathology, 2022, DOI: 10.14670/HH-18-479 (IF=2. 303) Q2

8.Morris G., M. Gevezova, V. Sarafian, M. Maes. Redox regulation of the immune response. Cellular & Molecular Immunology, 2022, doi 10.1038/s41423-022-00902-0, (IF=11.53) Q1

9.Agiorghiesei O., A. I.Irimie, C. Braicu, L. Raduly, N. Andreea, E. Balint, N. Mehterov, B. Vladimirov, V. Sarafian, O. Lucaciu, R. Campian, I.Berindan-Neagoe. Epigenetic methylation changes in oral cancer. Medicine and Pharmacy Reports, 2022, in press (IF=1. 860) Q3

10.Molander D., Y. Sbirkov, V. Sarafian. 3D bioprinting as an emerging standard for cancer modelling and drug testing. Folia Medica, 2022, DOI: 10.3897/folmed.64.e73419, Q4

11.Kokova V.Y., Draganova-Filipova M., Zagorchev P.I. Peychev. L, Apostolova E.G. Denatonium benzoate attenuates inflammation and pain and decreases PGE 2 levels in rats. Farmacia, 2022, 70, DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31925/farmacia.2022.2.6, (IF=1.433) Q2

12. Zagorchev P., Xenodochidis Ch., Georgieva M., Miloshev G., Andonov B., Dimitrova S., Draganova M. Led system optimization for photobiomodulation of biological tissues, Journal of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 2021, 56, 6, 1156-1161, (IF= 0.806) Q3

13. Xenodochidis С., M. Draganova-Filipova, G. Miloshev, M. Georgieva, P. Zagorchev. The Effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine on Smooth Muscles is Impacted by Broadband UV and LED UV and Blue Light, Int J Bioautomation, 2021, 25 (4), 331-342, DOI: 10.7546/ijba.2021.25.4.000819, doi: 10.7546/ijba.2021.25.4.000819, (IF= 0.352) Q4

14.Karalilova R., M. Kazakova, L. Mekenyan, Z. Batalov, V. Sarafian, A. Batalov. The significance of IL-6 and YKL-40 as biomarkers of joint and lung involvement in systemic sclerosis. Bulg J Clin Immunol, 2022, in press.

15.Stengel S, Petrie KR, Sbirkov Y, Stanko C, Ghazvini Zadegan F, Gil V, Skopek R, Kamiński P, Szymański Ł, Brioli A, Zelent A, Schenk T. Suppression of MYC by PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibition in combination with all-trans retinoic acid treatment for therapeutic gain in acute myeloid leukaemia. Br J Haematol. 2022, 198(2):338-348. doi: 10.1111/bjh.18187. Epub 2022 Apr 25. PMID: 35468223., (IF= 8.615) Q1

16.Urban-Wójciuk Z, Graham A, Barker K, Kwok C, Sbirkov Y, Howell L, Campbell J, Woster PM, Poon E, Petrie K, Chesler L. The biguanide polyamine analog verlindamycin promotes differentiation in neuroblastoma via induction of antizyme. Cancer Gene Ther. 2022, 29(7):940-950. doi: 10.1038/s41417-021-00386-6. Epub 2021, PMID: 34522028; PMCID: PMC9293756., (IF= 5.854) Q2

17.Ilieva N, Tashkova D, Staykov D, Serteva D, Feodorova Y, Mehterov N, Mollova A, Bachurska S. Immunohistochemical expression of CK20, CK7, and CDX2 in colorectal carcinoma in correlation with pathomorphological characteristics., Folia Medica, 2022, 30;64(2):214-220. doi: 10.3897/folmed.64.e60950. PMID: 35851772, Q4

18.Leidescher S, Ribisel J, Ullrich S, Feodorova Y, Hildebrand E, Galitsyna A, Bultmann S, Link S, Thanisch K, Mulholland C, Dekker J, Leonhardt H, Mirny L, Solovei I. Spatial organization of transcribed eukaryotic genes. Nat Cell Biol, 2022 24(3):327-339. doi: 10.1038/s41556-022-00847-6. PMID: 35177821, (IF= 28.824) Q1