Ramasamy Thangavel, PhD

Thangavel

Neurology

Research Scientist

Academic Information

Research Scientist

Research Interests

  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Parkinson’s dementia
  • Neuroanatomy and neuropathology
  • Microscopy-charting of amyloid plaques (APs) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs),
  • Neuroinflammatory markers
  • Mouse models of alzheimer’s and parkinson’s diseases

Areas of Expertise

  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Parkinson’s dementia
  • Neuroanatomy and neuropathology
  • Microscopy-charting of amyloid plaques (APs) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs),
  • Neuroinflammatory markers
  • Mouse models of alzheimer’s and parkinson’s diseases

Education & Training

Medical School

University of Madras, India; Bharathiar University, India

Awards & Honors

  • 2003: Art in Science Contest sponsored by the University of Iowa Central Microscopy Research Facility – First Place Winner Award
  • 3/1996-12/1998: Visiting Scientist fellowship, National institution of Neuroscience, NCNP, Tokyo, Japan
  • 4/1996-12/1998: Science and Technology Agency (STA) Fellowship, Ministry of Health and welfare of Japan
  • July 9-14, 1995: Asian Travel Fellowship, Japanese Neuroscience Society for attending the “Fourth IBRO World Congress of Neuroscience” Meeting in Kyoto, Japan
  • 1989-1992: University Research fellowship, University of Madras
  • 1992-1993: Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Scholarship, Government of India, India

Professional Societies

  • 2014-Present: Society for Neuroscience (SFN)
  • 2000-2004: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
  • 1999-2004: Society for Neuroscience (SFN)
  • 1995-2004: International Brain Research Organization (IBRO)
  • 1999-Present: International Behavioral Neuroscience Society (IBNS)
  • 1989-1995: Indian Association of Biomedical Scientists (IABMS)
  • 1989-1995: Anatomical Society of India (ASI)
  • 1989-1995: Association of Anatomists in Tamil Nadu, India

Publications

  • Kempuraj D, Thangavel R, Yang E, Pattani S, Zaheer S, Santillan DA, Santillan MK, and Zaheer A. Dopaminergic Toxin 1-Methyl-4-Phenylpyridinium, Proteins α-Synuclein and Glia Maturation Factor Activate Mast Cells and Release Inflammatory Mediators. Neurochem Res. 41(5):1042-9, 2016
  • Kempuraj D, Thangavel R, Yang E, Pattani S, Zaheer S, Santillan DA, Santillan MK, Zaheer A Dopaminergic Toxin 1-Methyl-4-Phenylpyridinium, Proteins α-Synuclein and Glia Maturation Factor Activate Mast Cells and Release Inflammatory Mediators. PLoS One. 14; 10(8):e0135776, 2015
  • Khan MM, Zaheer S, Thangavel R, Patel M, Kempuraj D, Zaheer A. Absence of glia maturation factor protects dopaminergic neurons and improves motor behavior in mouse model of parkinsonism. Neurochem Res. 40(5):980-90, 2015
  • Xiong Z, Thangavel R, Kempuraj D, Yang E, Zaheer S, Zaheer A. Alzheimer's disease: Evidence for the Expression of Interleukin-33 and Its Receptor ST2 in the Brain. J Alzheimer’s Dis. 40(2):297-308, 2014
  • Thangavel R, Kempuraj D, Stolmeier D, Anantharam P, Khan M, Zaheer A. Glia maturation factor expression in entorhinal cortex of Alzheimer's disease brain. Neurochem Res. 38(9):1777-84, 2013
  • Stolmeier D, Thangavel R, Anantharam P, Khan MM, Kempuraj D, Zaheer A. Glia maturation factor expression in hippocampus of human Alzheimer's disease. Neurochem Res. 38(8):1580-9, 2013
  • Kempuraj D, Khan MM, Thangavel R, Xiong Z, Yang E, Zaheer A. Glia maturation factor induces interleukin-33 release from astrocytes: implications for neurodegenerative diseases. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 8(3):643-50, 2013
  • Khan MM, Kempuraj D, Thangavel R, Zaheer A. Protection of MPTP-induced neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration by Pycnogenol. Neurochem Int. 62(4):379-88, 2013
  • Zaheer S, Thangavel R, Wu Y, Khan MM, Kempuraj D, Zaheer A. Enhanced expression of glia maturation factor correlates with glial activation in the brain of triple transgenic Alzheimer's disease mice. Neurochem Res. 38(1):218-25, 2013
  • Thangavel R, Stolmeier D, Yang X, Anantharam P, Zaheer A. Expression of glia maturation factor in neuropathological lesions of Alzheimer's disease. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol. 38(6):572-81, 2012
  • Zaheer S, Wu Y, Yang X, Thangavel R, Sahu SK, Zaheer A. Efficient down-regulation of glia maturation factor expression in mouse brain and spinal cord. Neurochem Res. 37(7):1578-83, 2012
  • Zaheer S, Thangavel R, Sahu SK, Zaheer A, Augmented expression of glia maturation factor in Alzheimer's disease. Neuroscience. 27; 194:227-33, 2011
  • Thangavel R, Van Hoesen GW, Zaheer A. The abnormally phosphorylated tau lesion of early Alzheimer’s disease. Neurochem Res. 34: 118-123, 2009
  • Thangavel R, Sahu SK, Van Hoesen GW, Zaheer A. Loss of non-phosphorylated neurofilament immunoreactivity in temporal cortical areas in Alzheimer’s disease. Neuroscience.160: 427-433, 2009
  • Thangavel R, Van Hoesen GW, Zaheer A. Posterior parahippocampal pathology in Alzheimer’s disease. Neuroscience. 154 (2): 667-676, 2008
  • Thangavel R, Sahu SK, Van Hoesen GW, Zaheer A. Modular and laminar pathology of Brodmann’s area 37 in Alzheimer’s disease. Neuroscience. 152: 50-55, 2008
  • Zaheer A, Zaheer S, Thangavel R, Wu Y, Sahu SK, Yang B. Glia maturation factor modulates β-amyloid-induced glial activation, inflammatory cytokine/chemokine production and neuronal damage. Brain Res. 1208: 192-203, 2008
  • Marrs GS, Honda T, Fuller L, Thangavel R, Balsamo J, Lilien J, Dailey ME, Arregui C. Dendritic Arbors of Developing Retinal Ganglion Cells are Stabilized by β1-integrins. Mol Cell Neurosci. 32(3):230-41, 2006 [with journal cover].
  • Lee G, Thangavel R, Sharma VM, Litersky JM, Bhaskar K, Fang SM, Do LH, Andreadis A, Van Hoesen GW, Ksiezak-Reding H. Phosphorylation of tau by Fyn: implications for Alzheimer’s disease. J Neurosci. 24(9):2304-12, 2004 [with journal cover].
  • Van Hoesen GW, Augustinack JC, Dierking JM, Redman SJ, Thangavel R. The Parahippocampal Gyrus in Alzheimer’s disease: Clinical and Preclinical Anatomical Correlates. In: The Parahippocampal Region: Basic Science and Clinical Implications. H. Scharfman, M. Witter, and R. Schwarcz (Eds.), Ann NY Acad Sci. 911: 254-74, 2000
  • Sakuragawa N, Enosawa S, Ishii T, Thangavel R, Tashiro T, Okuyama T, Suzuki S. Human amniotic epithelial cells are promising transgene carriers for allogeneic cell transplantation into liver. J Hum Genet. 45(3): 171-176, 2000
  • Elwan MA, Thangavel R, Ono F, Sakuragawa N. Synthesis and release of catecholamine by cultured monkey amniotic epithelial cells. J Neurosci. Res. 53: 107-113, 1998
  • Sakuragawa N, Misawa H, Ohsugi K, Kakishita K, Ishii T, Thangavel R, Tohyama J, Elwan MA, Yokoyama Y, Okuda O, Arai H, Ogino I, Kiyoshi S. Evidence of active acetylcholine metabolism in human amniotic epithelial cells: applicable to intracerebral all grafting for neurologic disease. Neurosci Lett. 232: 53-56, 1997
  • Sakuragawa N, Thangavel R, Ohsugi K, Ishii T, Kakishita K, Misawa H, Okuda O, Ogino I, Arai H, Sato K. Human amniotic epithelia cells with acetylcholine metabolism are applicable for intracerebral allografting to treat neurological diseases. Ann Neurol. 42 (3): 12-12, 1997
  • Sakuragawa N, Thangavel R, Mizuguchi M, Hirasawa M, Kamo I. Expression of markers for the both neuronal and glial cells in human amniotic epithelial cells. Neurosci Lett. 209: 9-12, 1996
  • Sakuragawa N, Thangavel R, Mizuguchi M, Hirozawa M, Kamo I. Expression of markers for both neuronal and glial cells in human amniotic epithelial cells: Possible multipotential neural stem cells for transplantation in human brain. Ann Neurol. 40 (2): 43-43, 1996