Dr. Christofidou-Solomidou is an NIH-funded investigator and is actively involved in preclinical and clinical studies at UPenn. The research focus of Dr. Christofidou-Solomidou involves the a) investigation of novel antioxidant approaches to acute and chronic lung disease with a special interest in pulmonary inflammation and lung fibrosis; b) Chemoprevention of lung carcinogenesis and evaluation of anticarcinogenic effects of common botanicals.
Established Areas of Investigation
Investigation of targeted antioxidant approaches to acute lung disease.
Projects involve the use of well characterized, oxidant-induced acute and chronic lung injury animal models for the evaluation of targeted therapeutics such anti-oxidant enzymes such as Catalase and Superoxide Dismutase in the context of diseases such as ARDS, sepsis, radiation induced pneumonitis/fibrosis, and oxygen toxicity. Specific projects focus on the development of antioxidant methodologies such as immune conjugates for the targeting of protective enzymes to the pulmonary endothelium using antibodies to endothelial antigens.
Development of novel models of lung damage related to space exploration and extra vehicular activity (EVA)
Extra-vehicular activities (EVA) during spaceflight missions expose crew members to challenges, such as hyperoxia and low levels of cosmic/galactic radiation that may present a threat to their health. Our objectives were to develop and characterize in vivo/in vitro models of similar double-hit challenges. With NASA funding, we initiated a series of studies to investigate the damage that occurs during such repeated double-hit challenges and to develop countermeasures by evaluating nutritional antioxidant supplements.
Investigation of the usefulness of novel nutritional agents with antioxidant properties in acute and chronic lung disease. (Bench to bedside)
Recent work extends to the use of dietary alternative antioxidant agents such as curcumin, flaxseed or other phenolic compounds, such ancient Chinese herbs, in ameliorating acute and chronic oxidative lung disease. Projects involve the evaluation of dietary administration of useful botanicals in well established rodent models of lung disease. Investigative methodologies in the lab extend from physiological (pulse oximetry) to histopathological (BAL evaluation, cytokine ELISA etc), biochemical (antioxidant enzyme activities in tissues and cells) and molecular (qRT-PCR).
Dr. Christofidou-Solomidou is involved in clinical studies at UPenn, investigating the protective role of curcumin, flaxseed and olive oil. Specifically, with the collaboration of Drs. James Lee and Denis Hadjiliadis at the Pulmonary Division, 2 pilot clinical studies were initiated at Penn with lung transplant patients for the evaluation of flaxseed given in baked goods (muffins) or individual use packets in finely-ground form. Another clinical study evaluating flaxseed in lung cancer patients receiving radiotherapy was initiated with the collaboration of Dr. Ramesh Rengan, Radiation Oncology, UPenn.
Chemoprevention of lung carcinogenesis and evaluation of anticarcinogenic effects of common botanicals.
Lung cancer has become increasingly difficult to treat with conventional therapies and few patients are candidates for surgery so chemopreventive strategies are urgently needed. Dr. Christofidou’s lab is currently investigating the cancer chemopreventive potential of naturally occurring phytochemicals such as flaxseed and is evaluating its’ lignans as the potential active compound using murine models of chemical carcinogen-induced lung cancer such as Benzo[alpha]pyrene-induced of lung cancer to test them. Phytochemicals of these types have great potential in the fight against human cancer.
Dr. Christofidou is an investigator of the Abramson Cancer Center and of the CEET (Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology) at Penn and has access to Core facilities such as microarray and biomarker analysis for the investigation of the anticarcinogenic action of select botanicals in vitro and in vivo.
Melpo Christofidou-Solomidou, Sonia Tyagi, KS Tan, S. Hagan, R Pietrofesa, F. Dukes, E. Arguiri, D. F. Heitjan, C.C. Solomides, and K. A. Cengel: Dietary Flaxseed Administered Post-Thoracic Radiation Treatment Improves Survival And Mitigates Radiation-Induced Pneumonopathy In Mice. BMC Cancer. 11:269, 2011
M. Jawad Latif, Xiaogui Li, John N. Afthinos, Nikalesh Ippagunta, Agnes Colanta, Jasminka Balderacchi, George J. Todd, Scott J. Belsley, Cliff P. Connery, Melpo Christofidou-Solomidou, Faiz Y. Bhora: Dietary Flaxseed Protects Against Lung Ischemia Reperfusion Injury Via Inhibition of Apoptosis And Inflammation In A Murine Model. In Press, Journal of Surgical Research, 2011
Vladimir V. Shuvaev, Samira Tliba, Jeremy Pick, Evguenia Arguiri, Melpo Christofidou-Solomidou, Steven Albelda, and Vladimir R. Muzykantov: Modulation of endothelial targeting by size of antibody-antioxidant enzyme conjugates. Journal of Controlled Release, In Press 2011.
Michelle M. Hickey, Tao Wang, Evguenia Arguiri, Matias Mosqueira, Hongwei Yu, Qian-Chun Yu, Edward E. Morissey, Tejvir S. Khurana, Melpo Christofidou Solomidou and M. Celeste Simon: von Hippel-Lindau mutation promotes pulmonary hypertension and fibrosis through hypoxia-inducible factor 2-a signaling. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 1;120(3):827-39 ,(2010).
James C. Lee, P Kinniry, E Arguiri, Stathis Kanterakis, Shampa Chatterjee, C.C. Solomides, Prashanthi Javvadi, Costas Koumenis, Keith Cengel and M Christofidou-Solomidou: Dietary Curcumin increases antioxidant defenses in lung, ameliorates radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis and improves survival in mice. Radiation Research; 173(5):590-601, 2010
McGovern PE, Melpo Christofidou-Solomidou, Wang W, Davidson T, ElDeiry WS:Anticancer Activity of botanical compounds in ancient fermented beverages (Review). International Journal of Oncology, 37 (1), pp5-14, 2010.
Vladimir V. Shuvaev, Melpo Christofidou-Solomidou, Faiz Bhora, Karine Laude, Hua Cai, Sergei Dikalov, Charalambos C. Solomides, Steven Albelda, David Harrison and Vladimir R. Muzykantov: Targeted detoxification of selected reactive oxygen species in the vascular endothelium. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (JPET), 331(2):404-11, 2009.
James C. Lee, Ryan Krochak, Aaron Blouin, Evguenia Arguiri, Stathis Kanterakis, Anil Vachani, Charalambos C. Solomides, Keith A. Cengel and M. Christofidou-Solomidou: Dietary Flaxseed Prevents Radiation-Induced Oxidative Lung Damage Inflammation and Fibrosis In A Mouse Model Of Thoracic Radiation Injury. Cancer Biology & Therapy, 8(1):47-53, 2009.
James C. Lee, F. Bhora, S. Chatterjee, C. Solomides, E. Arguiri, G. Cheng, and M. Christofidou-Solomidou: Dietary flaxseed enhances antioxidant defenses and is protective in a mouse model of lung ischemia-reperfusion injury. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 294(2):L255-65, 2008.
Bi-Sen Ding, Nankang Hong, Juan-Carlos Murciano, Kumkum Ganguly, Claudia Gottstein, Melpo Christofidou-Solomidou, Steven M. Albelda, Aron B. Fisher, Douglas B.Cines & Vladimir R. Muzykantov: Prophylactic thrombolysis by thrombin-activated latent pro-urokinase targeted to PECAM-1 in the pulmonary vasculature.. Blood, Feb 15;111(4):1999-2006, 2008.
Melpo Christofidou-Solomidou, V. Shuvaev, A. Scherpereel, E. Arguiri, S. Tliba, J. Pick, S. Kennel, S.M. Albelda and V. R.Muzykantov: Factors modulating the delivery and effect of enzymatic cargo conjugated with antibodies targeted to the pulmonary endothelium. Journal of Controlled Release, 118, p.235-244, 2007.
Machtay M, A. Scherpereel, J. Santiago, James Lee, J McDonough, P Kinniry, E Arguiri, J. Sun, K. Cengel, C.C. Solomides and M. Christofidou-Solomidou: Systemic Polyethylene Glycol-Modified (PEGylated) -Superoxide Dismutase and -Catalase Mixture Attenuates Radiation Pulmonary Fibrosis In The C57bl/6 Mouse. Radiotherapy & Oncology, 81, p: 196-205, 2006.
Paul Kinniry, Yassine Amrani, Anil Vachani, Charalambos C. Solomides, Evguenia Arguiri, Alexander Workman, Jack Carter and Christofidou-Solomidou M: Dietary Flaxseed Supplementation Ameliorates Inflammation And Oxidative Tissue Damage In Experimental Models of Acute Lung Injury In Mice. Journal of Nutrition, 136 (6), p.1545-51,2006.
