Publications

PubMed-indexed papers (selected)

  1. Hypertriglyceridemia impairs HDL functionality, promotes macrophage metabolic activation and exacerbates antigen-induced rheumatoid arthritis in mice which can be reversed by fenofibrate treatment. Axiotis I, Kakale A, Lazaridou D, Dedemadi AG, Chroni A, Multescu M, Gafencu AV, Tzardi M, Kardassis D. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids. 2025 Sep 8;1870(8):159686
  2. Unravelling molecular mechanisms in atherosclerosis using cellular models and omics technologies. Kardassis D, Vindis C, Stancu CS, Toma L, Gafencu AV, Georgescu A, Alexandru-Moise N, Molica F, Kwak BR, Burlacu A, Hall IF, Butoi E, Magni P, Wu J, Novella S, Gamon LF, Davies MJ, Caporali A, de la Cuesta F, Mitić T. Vascul Pharmacol. 2025 Mar;158:107452. doi: 10.1016/j.vph.2024.107452. Epub 2024 Dec 10. PMID: 39667548
  3. Proteometabolomics of initial and recurrent glioblastoma highlights an increased immune cell signature with altered lipid metabolism. Cosenza-Contreras M, Schäfer A, Sing J, Cook L, Stillger MN, Chen CY, Hidalgo JV, Pinter N, Meyer L, Werner T, Bug D, Haberl Z, Kübeck O, Zhao K, Stei S, Gafencu AV, Ionita R, Brehar FM, Ferrer-Lozano J, Ribas G, Cerdá-Alberich L, Martí-Bonmatí L, Nimsky C, Van Straaten A, Biniossek ML, Föll M, Cabezas-Wallscheid N, Büscher J, Röst H, Arnoux A, Bartsch JW, Schilling O. Neuro Oncol. 2023 Oct 26:noad208. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noad208. PMID: 37882631
  4. Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor α in Lipoprotein Metabolism and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, Fuior EV, Zvintzou E, Filippatos T, Giannatou K, Mparnia V, Simionescu M, Gafencu AV., Kypreos KE, Biomedicines 2023, 11(10), 2696; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11102696 - 03 Oct 2023
  5. Synthetic lipoproteins based on apolipoprotein E coupled to fullerenol have anti-atherosclerotic properties. Tudorache IF, Bivol VG, Dumitrescu M, Fenyo IM, Simionescu M, Gafencu AV. Pharmacol Rep. 2022 Aug;74(4):684-695. doi: 10.1007/s43440-022-00379-8. Epub 2022 Jul 5. PMID: 35790693
  6. Apolipoprotein A-II, a Player in Multiple Processes and Diseases. Florea G, Tudorache IF, Fuior EV, Ionita R, Dumitrescu M, Fenyo IM, Bivol VG, Gafencu AV. Biomedicines. 2022 Jul 2;10(7):1578. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10071578. PMID: 35884883
  7. Treatment with Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Overexpressing Fas-Ligand Ameliorates Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease in Mice. Vacaru AM, Mazilu AM, Dumitrescu M, Fenyo IM, Gafencu AV, Vacaru AM. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Jan 4;23(1):534. doi: 10.3390/ijms23010534. PMID: 35008964
  8. An Efficient Method for Adenovirus Production. Dumitrescu M, Trusca VG, Fenyo IM, Gafencu AV. J Vis Exp. 2021 Jun 10;(172). doi: 10.3791/61691. PMID: 34180881
  9. K2 Transfection System Boosts the Adenoviral Transduction of Murine Mesenchymal Stromal Cells. Dumitrescu M, Vacaru AM, Trusca VG, Fenyo IM, Ionita R, Gafencu AV. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jan 9;22(2):598. doi: 10.3390/ijms22020598. PMID: 33435318
  10. Enhanced Suppression of Immune Cells In Vitro by MSC Overexpressing FasL. Vacaru AM, Dumitrescu M, Vacaru AM, Fenyo IM, Ionita R, Gafencu AV, Simionescu M. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Dec 31;22(1):348. doi: 10.3390/ijms22010348. PMID: 33396269
  11. Adenovirus-Mediated FasL Minigene Transfer Endows Transduced Cells with Killer Potential. Dumitrescu M, Trusca VG, Savu L, Stancu IG, Ratiu AC, Simionescu M, Gafencu AV. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Aug 20;21(17):6011. doi: 10.3390/ijms21176011. PMID: 32825521
  12. Simple and dual cross-linked chitosan millicapsules as a particulate support for cell culture. Fundueanu G, Constantin M, Bucatariu S, Nicolescu A, Ascenzi P, Moise LG, Tudor L, Trusca VG, Gafencu AV, Ficai D, Ficai A, Andronescu E. Int J Biol Macromol. 2020 Jan 15;143:200-212. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.12.045. Epub 2019 Dec 6. PMID: 31816371
  13. The Mechanism of Bisphenol A Atherogenicity Involves Apolipoprotein A-I Downregulation through NF-κB Activation. Trusca VG, Dumitrescu M, Fenyo IM, Tudorache IF, Simionescu M, Gafencu AV. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Dec 12;20(24):6281. doi: 10.3390/ijms20246281. PMID: 31842455 Free PMC article.
  14. Apolipoprotein C1: Its Pleiotropic Effects in Lipid Metabolism and Beyond. Fuior EV, Gafencu AV. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Nov 26;20(23):5939. doi: 10.3390/ijms20235939. PMID: 31779116 Free PMC article. Review.
  15. The Opposite Effect of c-Jun Transcription Factor on Apolipoprotein E Gene Regulation in Hepatocytes and Macrophages. Trusca VG, Fuior EV, Kardassis D, Simionescu M, Gafencu AV. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Mar 23;20(6):1471. doi: 10.3390/ijms20061471. PMID: 30909560
  16. Apolipoprotein E - A Multifunctional Protein with Implications in Various Pathologies as a Result of Its Structural Features. Tudorache IF, Trusca VG, Gafencu AV. Comput Struct Biotechnol J. 2017 Jun 6;15:359-365. doi: 10.1016/j.csbj.2017.05.003. eCollection 2017. PMID: 28660014
  17. Preferential Association of Lissencephaly-1 Gene Expression with CD133+ Glioblastoma Cells. Brehar FM, Gafencu AV, Trusca VG, Fuior EV, Arsene D, Amaireh M, Giovani A, Gorgan MR. J Cancer. 2017 May 11;8(7):1284-1291. doi: 10.7150/jca.17635. eCollection 2017. PMID: 28607604
  18. Differential action of glucocorticoids on apolipoprotein E gene expression in macrophages and hepatocytes. Trusca VG, Fuior EV, Fenyo IM, Kardassis D, Simionescu M, Gafencu AV. PLoS One. 2017 Mar 29;12(3):e0174078. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174078. eCollection 2017. PMID: 28355284
  19. High levels of homocysteine downregulate apolipoprotein E expression via nuclear factor kappa B. Trusca VG, Mihai AD, Fuior EV, Fenyo IM, Gafencu AV. World J Biol Chem. 2016 Feb 26;7(1):178-87. doi: 10.4331/wjbc.v7.i1.178. PMID: 26981206
  20. Krüppel-like factor 4 synergizes with CREB to increase the activity of apolipoprotein E gene promoter in macrophages. Stavri S, Simionescu M, Kardassis D, Gafencu AV. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2015 Dec 4-11;468(1-2):66-72. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.10.163. Epub 2015 Nov 4. PMID: 26546821
  21. Thyroid hormones upregulate apolipoprotein E gene expression in astrocytes. Roman C, Fuior EV, Trusca VG, Kardassis D, Simionescu M, Gafencu AV. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2015 Dec 4-11;468(1-2):190-5. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.10.132. Epub 2015 Oct 29. PMID: 26519880
  22. Metformin reduces the endotoxin-induced down-regulation of apolipoprotein E gene expression in macrophages. Stavri S, Trusca VG, Simionescu M, Gafencu AV. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2015 May 29;461(2):435-40. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.04.057. Epub 2015 Apr 18. PMID: 25899745
  23. Beyond Lipoprotein Receptors: Learning from Receptor Knockouts Mouse Models about New Targets for Reduction of the Atherosclerotic Plaque. Trusca VG, Fuior EV, Gafencu AV. Curr Mol Med. 2015;15(10):905-31. doi: 10.2174/1566524016666151123110310. PMID: 26592248
  24. Regulation of HDL genes: transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and posttranslational. Kardassis D, Gafencu A, Zannis VI, Davalos A. Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2015;224:113-79. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-09665-0_3. PMID: 25522987
  25. The involvement of the monocytes/macrophages in chronic inflammation associated with atherosclerosis. Fenyo IM, Gafencu AV. Immunobiology. 2013 Nov;218(11):1376-84. doi: 10.1016/j.imbio.2013.06.005. Epub 2013 Jun 19. PMID: 23886694
  26. STAT1 interacts with RXRα to upregulate ApoCII gene expression in macrophages. Trusca VG, Florea IC, Kardassis D, Gafencu AV. PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e40463. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040463. Epub 2012 Jul 12. PMID: 22808166
  27. Macrophage-specific up-regulation of apolipoprotein E gene expression by STAT1 is achieved via long range genomic interactions. Trusca VG, Fuior EV, Florea IC, Kardassis D, Simionescu M, Gafencu AV. J Biol Chem. 2011 Apr 22;286(16):13891-904. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.179572. Epub 2011 Mar 3. PMID: 21372127
  28. AP-1-dependent transcriptional regulation of NADPH oxidase in human aortic smooth muscle cells: role of p22phox subunit. Manea A, Manea SA, Gafencu AV, Raicu M, Simionescu M. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2008 May;28(5):878-85. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.108.163592. Epub 2008 Feb 28. PMID: 18309110
  29. Regulation of NADPH oxidase subunit p22(phox) by NF-kB in human aortic smooth muscle cells. Manea A, Manea SA, Gafencu AV, Raicu M. Arch Physiol Biochem. 2007 Oct-Dec;113(4-5):163-72. doi: 10.1080/13813450701531235. PMID: 18158642
  30. Inflammatory signaling pathways regulating ApoE gene expression in macrophages. Gafencu AV, Robciuc MR, Fuior E, Zannis VI, Kardassis D, Simionescu M. J Biol Chem. 2007 Jul 27;282(30):21776-85. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M611422200. Epub 2007 Jun 6. PMID: 17553793
  31. Proliferation, differentiation and characterization of osteoblasts from human BM mesenchymal cells. Titorencu I, Jinga V, Constantinescu E, Gafencu A, Ciohodaru C, Manolescu I, Zaharia C, Simionescu M. Cytotherapy. 2007;9(7):682-96. doi: 10.1080/14653240701561329. PMID: 17917883
  32. Relationship of eNOS gene variants to diseases that have in common an endothelial cell dysfunction. Heltianu C, Costache G, Gafencu A, Diaconu M, Bodeanu M, Cristea C, Azibi K, Poenaru L, Simionescu M. J Cell Mol Med. 2005 Jan-Mar;9(1):135-42. doi: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2005.tb00343.x. PMID: 15784171
  33. Investigation of IgG receptors expressed on the surface of human placental endothelial cells. Gafencu A, Heltianu C, Burlacu A, Hunziker W, Simionescu M. Placenta. 2003 Jul;24(6):664-76. doi: 10.1016/s0143-4004(03)00041-9. PMID: 12828925
  34. Transcytosis of plasma macromolecules in endothelial cells: a cell biological survey. Simionescu M, Gafencu A, Antohe F. Microsc Res Tech. 2002 Jun 1;57(5):269-88. doi: 10.1002/jemt.10086. PMID: 12112439
  35. Severity of oxidative stress generates different mechanisms of endothelial cell death. Burlacu A, Jinga V, Gafencu AV, Simionescu M. Cell Tissue Res. 2001 Dec;306(3):409-16. doi: 10.1007/s004410100424. Epub 2001 Oct 23. PMID: 11735041
  36. Expression of functionally active FcRn and the differentiated bidirectional transport of IgG in human placental endothelial cells. Antohe F, Rădulescu L, Gafencu A, Gheţie V, Simionescu M. Hum Immunol. 2001 Feb;62(2):93-105. doi: 10.1016/s0198-8859(00)00244-5. PMID: 11182218
  37. Establishment of a pure vascular endothelial cell line from human placenta. Jinga VV, Gafencu A, Antohe F, Constantinescu E, Heltianu C, Raicu M, Manolescu I, Hunziker W, Simionescu M. Placenta. 2000 May;21(4):325-36. doi: 10.1053/plac.1999.0492. PMID: 10833367
  38. Protein and fatty acid composition of caveolae from apical plasmalemma of aortic endothelial cells. Gafencu A, Stanescu M, Toderici AM, Heltianu C, Simionescu M. Cell Tissue Res. 1998 Jul;293(1):101-10. doi: 10.1007/s004410051102. PMID: 9634602
  39. Expression of transferrin receptors in endothelial cells transfected by electroporation. Heltianu C, Serban G, Alexandru V, Gafencu A, Simionescu N, Simionescu M. Eur J Cell Biol. 1997 Jan;72(1):79-89. PMID: 9013729

Other indexed publications (list)

1. Transfection of type I receptor for immunoglobulin G in bovine aortic endothelial cells C. Neagoe, A. Gafencu, C. Heltianu, Current Protocols in Cell Biology, 1998, 3: 378-383

2. Immortalization of endothelial cells A Gafencu, C. Heltianu, A. Burlacu, W. Hunziker, M. Simionescu, Proceedings of the Romanian Academy Series B, 2, p.117-121, 2001.

3. Hyperlipemic serum stimulates the binding and the endocytosis of IgG by the endothelial aortic cells A. Gafencu, O. Postea, C. Heltianu, M. Simionescu, Current Problems and Techniques in Cellular and Molecular Biology 2001 p79-83.

4. Albumin binding sites in human placental endothelial cells A. Gafencu, M Dutca, C. Heltianu, Analele SNBC p. 64-68, 2003.

5. Expression of apoE3-HRP chimeric molecule in HEK293 cells I.C. Florea, V. G. Trusca, I.M. Fenyo, A.V. Gafencu, vol. XIV nr. 2/2009, p21-27 Annals of the Romanian Society for Cell Biology.

6. The expression of translin is regulated by inflammatory stimuli in monocytes and macrophages E.V. Fuior, V.G. I.M. Fenyo, A.V Gafencu Annals of R.S.C.B., Vol. XIX, Issue 2, 2015, pp. 33 - 40

7. Enzymatic targets in atherosclerosis E.V. Fuior, V.G. Trusca, C.Roman, A.V Gafencu - J Mol Genet Med 9:176.

8. High levels of homocysteine downregulate apolipoprotein E expression via NF-kB V.G. Trusca, A. D. Mihai, E.V. Fuior, M.I. Fenyo, A.V. Gafencu World Journal of Biological Chemistry 2016;7(1):178-87. doi: 10.4331/wjbc.v7.i1.178.

Book chapters

1. Molecular targets for atherosclerosis treatment I.M. Fenyo and A.V. Gafencu. From Vascular Cell Biology to Cardiovascular Medicine, 2011: ISBN: 978-81-7895-503-2

2. Organotypic brain slice model in glioblastoma research F.M Brehar, A. Gafencu, MR Gorgan Book Chapter in Experimental Models in Glioblastoma Research January 01, 2015, Pages 73-83 ISBN: 978-163482535-1;978-163321924-3, Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

3. Signaling Pathways Regulating Gene Expression in Atherosclerosis Anca Violeta Gafencu, Ioana Madalina Fenyo, Elena Valeria Fuior, Madalina Dumitrescu, Oana Mirancea, Marius Multescu, Irina Florina Tudorache, José Basílio, Johannes A. Schmid and Dimitris Kardassis – in press 2025

Patent applications

1. Adenovirus containing murine FasL mini-gene for induction of the functional FasL expression in transduced cells – M.Dumitrescu, V.G.Truscă, A. Burlacu, M.Simionescu, N. Askenasy, A.V. Gafencu – OSIM A/00512/26.08.2019

2. The technologic process of polymeric vesicles and tubes formation, D.Ficai, A.Iliev, A.Ficai, V.G.Trusca, A. V.Gafencu, S-M.Bucatariu, C.G. Fundueanu, M. Simionescu, E. Andronescu – A 01054/5.12.2018

3. Intelligent nanoparticle systems for cell internalization- C. Movileanu, D. Ficai, A.Ficai, M.Calin, M.F. Anghelache, A.V.Gafencu, C.G. Fundueanu, M. Pinteala, M. Simionescu, E.Andronescu A00339/15.06.2021

4. An efficient method for purification of lentiviruses used as delivery vectors for genes or other nucleic acid fragments A.V. Gafencu M. Dumitrescu,I Tudorache A A00688/27.10.2022. 5. A chimeric protein targeted at activated cells for cholesterol binding and transport - A.V. Gafencu, Fuior Elena Valeria, Ghinea Madalin, Croitoru Ovidiu Valeriu - patent application A/00017 dated 17/02/2025

Gene regulation and molecular therapies

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