Charalabos (Harry) Pothoulakis, MD

Dr. Harry Pothoulakis' research program is primarily focused on the role of neuropeptides and hormones in several disease states, including inflammatory bowel disease, Clostridium difficile infection and colitis-associated colon cancer. His recent projects also involve the neuropeptide-dependent mechanisms by which communication between the intestinal mucosa and the fat depots affect the pathogenesis of intestinal inflammation, colitis-associated colon cancer and stress-related motility responses, as well as diet-induced obesity with particular focus on mesenteric fat. Another line of investigation involves the role of bacteria-host interactions in the pathogenesis of colon cancer.

Ma EL, Choi YJ, Choi J, Pothoulakis C, Rhee SH, Im E. The anticancer effect of probiotic Bacillus polyfermenticus on human colon cancer cells is mediated through ErbB2 and ErbB3 inhibition. Int J Cancer. 2010 Aug 15;127(4):780-90.

Chen X, Fruehauf J, Goldsmith JD, Xu H, Katchar KK, Koon HW, Zhao D, Kokkotou EG, Pothoulakis C, Kelly CP. Saccharomyces boulardii inhibits EGF receptor signaling and intestinal tumor growth in Apc(min) mice. Gastroenterology. 2009 Sep;137(3):914-23. Epub 2009 May 29.

Rhee SH, Im E, Pothoulakis C. Toll-like receptor 5 engagement modulates tumor development and growth in a mouse xenograft model of human colon cancer. Gastroenterology. 2008 Aug;135(2):518-28. Epub 2008 Apr 23.

Zhao D, Zhan Y, Zeng H, Koon HW, Moyer MP, Pothoulakis C. Neurotensin stimulates expression of early growth response gene-1 and EGF receptor through MAP kinase activation in human colonic epithelial cells. Int J Cancer. 2007 Apr 15;120(8):1652-6.

Castagliuolo I, Valenick L, Liu J, Pothoulakis C. Epidermal growth factor receptor transactivation mediates substance P-induced mitogenic responses in U-373 MG cells. J Biol Chem. 2000 Aug 25;275(34):26545-50.