Dimitrios-Miltiadis Vrachnos

Mr. Dimitrios-Miltiadis Vrachnos

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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14 May 2025 in Genes
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AKAngeliki Kapellou
Angeliki Kapellou
ESEffie Salata
Effie Salata
DVDimitrios-Miltiadis Vrachnos
Dimitrios-Miltiadis Vrachnos
Sevastiani PapailiaSevastiani Papailia
Sevastiani Papailia
Spiros VittasSpiros Vittas
Spiros Vittas
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remaina significant global health challenge, with its increasing prevalence and associated complications contributing to high morbidity and economic burden. Genetic factors play a crucial role in T2DM susceptibility, yet individual responses to dietary interventions vary widely, emphasizing the importance of gene–diet (G × D) interactions. This review synthesizes the current literature on the genetic basis of T2DM and the role of G × D interactions in shaping individual responses to diet. We examine the genetics implication in T2DM risk and modulation by dietary factors, with a focus on the potential of Nutrigenetics in guiding personalized nutrition (PN) strategies. Moreover, the clinical implications of these interactions for the personalized prevention and management of T2DM are explored, highlighting the promise of tailoring dietary recommendations based on genetic profiles. Critical research gaps, including the need for diverse and longitudinal studies, the integration of multi-omic data, and the inclusion of digital health technologies in PN are discussed. Finally, future directions for the field are outlined, advocating for more inclusive, large-scale studies to optimize PN approaches for diverse populations and improve the efficacy of T2DM prevention and management. This review underscores the potential of an individualized, genetically informed dietary approach in modulating the global burden of T2DM.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MMMaria Manou
Maria Manou
Dimitrios S. KanakoglouDimitrios S. Kanakoglou
Dimitrios S. Kanakoglou
TLThodoris Nikolaos Loupis
Thodoris Nikolaos Loupis
DVDimitrios-Miltiadis Vrachnos
Dimitrios-Miltiadis Vrachnos
Stamatios TheocharisStamatios Theocharis
Stamatios Theocharis
Christina PiperiChristina Piperi
Christina Piperi
Salivary gland tumors (SGTs) comprise a rare and heterogenous category of benign/malignant neoplasms with progressively increasing knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underpinning their pathogenesis, poor prognosis, and therapeutic treatment efficacy. Emerging data are pointing toward an interplay of genetic and epigenetic factors contributing to their heterogeneity and diverse clinical phenotypes. Post-translational histone modifications such as histone acetylation/deacetylation have been shown to actively participate in the pathobiology of SGTs, further suggesting that histone deacetylating factors (HDACs), selective or pan-HDAC inhibitors (HDACis), might present effective treatment options for these neoplasms. Herein, we describe the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms underlying the pathology of the different types of SGTs, focusing on histone acetylation/deacetylation effects on gene expression as well as the progress of HDACis in SGT therapy and the current status of relevant clinical trials.

11 October 2023 in Cells
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MMMaria Manou
Maria Manou
TLThodoris Nikolaos Loupis
Thodoris Nikolaos Loupis
DVDimitrios-Miltiadis Vrachnos
Dimitrios-Miltiadis Vrachnos
NKNikolaos Katsoulas
Nikolaos Katsoulas
Stamatios TheocharisStamatios Theocharis
Stamatios Theocharis
Athanasios G. PapavassiliouAthanasios G. Papavassiliou
Athanasios G. Papavassiliou
Salivary gland tumors (SGTs) are rare and complex neoplasms characterized by heterogenous histology and clinical behavior as well as resistance to systemic therapy. Tumor etiology is currently under elucidation and an interplay of genetic and epigenetic changes has been proposed to contribute to tumor development. In this work, we investigated epigenetic regulators and histone-modifying factors that may alter gene expression and participate in the pathogenesis of SGT neoplasms. We performed a detailed bioinformatic analysis on a publicly available RNA-seq dataset of 94 ACC tissues supplemented with clinical data and respective controls and generated a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network of chromatin and histone modification factors. A significant upregulation of TP53 and histone-modifying enzymes SUV39H1, EZH2, PRMT1, HDAC8, and KDM5B, along with the upregulation of DNA methyltransferase DNMT3A and ubiquitin ligase UHRF1 mRNA levels, as well as a downregulation of lysine acetyltransferase KAT2B levels, were detected in ACC tissues. The protein expression of p53, SUV39H1, EZH2, and HDAC8 was further validated in SGT tissues along with their functional deposition of the repressive histone marks H3K9me3 and H3K27me3, respectively. Overall, this study is the first to detect a network of interacting proteins affecting chromatin structure and histone modifications in salivary gland tumor cells, further providing mechanistic insights in the molecular profile of SGTs that confer to altered gene expression programs.

22 July 2025 in Biomedicines
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AKAngeliki Kapellou
Angeliki Kapellou
TFThanos Fotis
Thanos Fotis
DVDimitrios-Miltiadis Vrachnos
Dimitrios-Miltiadis Vrachnos
ESEffie Salata
Effie Salata
ENEleni Ntoumou
Eleni Ntoumou
Spiros VittasSpiros Vittas
Spiros Vittas
Background/Objectives: Obesity, a major risk factor for cardiometabolic traits, is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Genetic studies have identified multiple single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with obesity and related traits. This study aimed to examine the association between genetic risk score (GRS) and obesity-associated traits, while incorporating SNPs with established gene–diet interactions to explore their potential role in precision nutrition (PN) strategies. Methods: A total of 4279 participants were stratified into low- and intermediate-/high-GRS groups based on 18 SNPs linked to obesity and cardiometabolic traits. This study followed a case–control design, where cases included individuals with overweight/obesity, T2DM-positive (+), or CVD-positive (+) individuals and controls, which comprised individuals free of these traits. Logistic regression area under the curve (AUC) models were used to assess the predictive power of the GRS and traditional risk factors on BMI, T2DM and CVD. Results: Individuals in the intermediate-/high-GRS group had higher odds of being overweight or obese (OR = 1.23, CI: 1.03–1.48, p = 0.02), presenting as T2DM+ (OR = 1.56, CI: 1.03–2.49, p = 0.03) and exhibiting CVD-related traits (OR = 1.56, CI: 1.25–1.95, p < 0.0001), compared to the low-GRS group. The GRS was the second most predictive factor after age for BMI (AUC = 0.515; 95% CI: 0.462–0.538). The GRS also demonstrated a predictive power of 0.528 (95% CI: 0.508–0.564) for CVD and 0.548 (95% CI: 0.440–0.605) for T2DM. Conclusions: This study supports the potential utility of the GRS in assessing obesity and cardiometabolic risk, while emphasizing the potential of PN approaches in modulating genetic susceptibility. Incorporating gene–diet interactions provides actionable insights for personalized dietary strategies. Future research should integrate multiple gene–diet and gene–gene interactions to enhance risk prediction and targeted interventions.

3 January 2022 in DNA
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Dimitrios S. KanakoglouDimitrios S. Kanakoglou
Dimitrios S. Kanakoglou
APAndromachi Pampalou
Andromachi Pampalou
LMLina Malakou
Lina Malakou
ELEleftheria Lakiotaki
Eleftheria Lakiotaki
TLThodoris Nikolaos Loupis
Thodoris Nikolaos Loupis
Christina PiperiChristina Piperi
Christina Piperi
Zinc fingers consist of one of the most abundant motifs in transcription factors and DNA-binding proteins. Recent studies provide evidence on the pathological implication of zinc finger proteins in various neurodevelopmental disorders and malignancies but their role in pediatric brain tumors is largely unexplored. To this end, we investigated the differential expression of zinc finger-containing genes along with relevant biological processes and pathways among four main brain tumor categories (pilocytic astrocytomas, ependymomas, medulloblastomas and glioblastomas). By employing an extended bioinformatic toolset, we performed a preliminary in silico study in order to identify the expression of zinc finger-containing genes and associated functions in pediatric brain tumors. Our data analysis reveals the prominent role of C2H2-type zinc finger-containing genes in the molecular mechanisms underlying pediatric brain tumors followed by the Ring and PHD finger types. Significant dysregulation of ABLIM2 and UHFR1 genes was detected in all tumor types drawing attention to the dysregulation of cell polarization process and Ubiquitin-Proteasome System (UPS) in the pathogenesis of pediatric brain tumors. Moreover, significant gene clustering was observed in multiple locations with two highly visible clusters revealing a contrast in gene regulation between medulloblastomas and the other three brain tumor types, indicating a promising area of future research.

26 July 2026 in Nutrients
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AKAngeliki Kapellou
Angeliki Kapellou
Sevastiani PapailiaSevastiani Papailia
Sevastiani Papailia
TFThanos Fotis
Thanos Fotis
DVDimitrios-Miltiadis Vrachnos
Dimitrios-Miltiadis Vrachnos
DPDimitrios Papageorgiou
Dimitrios Papageorgiou
Spiros VittasSpiros Vittas
Spiros Vittas
Background/Objectives: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a multifactorial disorder arising from complex interactions between genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures, including diet. This systematic review aimed to synthesize and critically evaluate evidence on gene–diet interactions in T2D-related phenotypes among adults without diagnosed T2D at baseline. Methods: The review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251175793). PubMed and Embase were systematically searched for eligible studies published up to November 2025. Observational studies and intervention trials examining interactions between dietary exposures and genetic variants, haplotypes, or genetic risk scores (GRSs) in relation to incident T2D, insulin resistance, glycemic traits, or β-cell function were included. Risk of bias was assessed using study design-specific tools. Results: A total of 61 reports representing 27 unique studies met the eligibility criteria, comprising 30 reports of randomized trials and 31 reports of non-randomized studies. Across studies, 55 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in 40 genes were examined, while 11 studies evaluated GRSs. The most frequently studied loci included TCF7L2, ADIPOQ, FTO, IRS1, GIPR and PPM1K. Reported interactions involved dietary patterns, macronutrient composition, dietary fat quality, fiber/whole-grain intake and specific foods, influencing incident T2D, insulin-related traits and glycemic outcomes. However, findings were heterogeneous, frequently inconsistent, and often lacked independent replication. Most randomized and non-randomized studies were judged at high or serious risk of bias. Conclusions: Genetic variation may contribute to interindividual differences in metabolic responses to diet, although robust and reproducible gene–diet interactions remain limited. Larger, well-powered, standardized studies across diverse populations are needed to establish clinically meaningful applications of Precision Nutrition (PN) in T2D prevention.