Dr Gabor Varbiro

Title: Lecturer in Biochemistry
Phone: +44 (0)1782 733877
Email:
Location: Institute for Science & Technology in Medicine, Keele University,
Huxley Building, Keele, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, United Kingdom
Role: ISTM Research theme: 1. Clinical & Diagnostic Science - Apoptosis Research Group
2. Bioengineering & Therapeutics
Contacting me: By phone or email please

Dr Varbiro moved to Keele as Lecturer in Biochemistry in October 2006, from a post at the  Centre for Spinal Studies, Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry.

His previous positions had been as Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry at the University of Pecs, Hungary, where he had worked as a postdoctoral researcher and completed his PhD and a Postgaduate MBA in the Business School. 

Dr Varbiro's clinical medical training was in the Faculty of Medicine Clinics of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Pecs, from 1987-96.

ISTM Research theme: 1. Clinical & Diagnostic Science - Apoptosis Research Group
2. Bioengineering & Therapeutics

Research interests:

Dr Gabor Varbiro's research is on the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, particularly the mechanisms of mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT), and its potential pharmacologic intervention.

His research developments and future plans include:
• Developing a high throughput screening method for the testing the effect of pharmacological agents on the mPT
• Identifying novel mPT inhibitors, and demonstrating structure-activity relationship
• Further investigation of the mechanism of mitochondrial pore formation and of the regulation of mitochondrial pro-apoptotic protein release
• Analysing the effect of the activation of mitochondrial apoptotic process on the energy metabolism within the mitochondria.

In addition to these, Dr Varbiro is working in collaborative projects with other ISTM members:
• Involvement of the nuclear enzyme PARP in apoptosis of intervertebral disc cells (with Prof Sally Roberts, RJ&AH Orthopaedic Hospital Spinal Studies Centre, Oswestry).
• A pilot study of  the effect of metal ions , particularly Co2+ and Cr3+ released from the metal-on-metal implants, on the apoptotic process, part of a PhD programme under the supervision of Prof James Richardson at RJ&AH Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry. For this Dr Varbiro will provide training in basic cell biological methods and supervise the basic science area of the proposed research.

For details of other apoptosis research at Keele see pages for the Apoptosis Research Group.

Selected Publications

  • Hellebrand EE and Varbiro G. 2010. Development of mitochondrial permeability transition inhibitory agents: a novel drug target. Drug Discov Ther, vol. 4(2), 54-61. link>
  • Varbiro G and Hellebrand EE. 2010. Development of mitchondrial permeability transition inhibitory agents: a novel drug target. Drug discovery and therapeutics, vol. 2(4), 54-61.
  • Varbiro G, Frischer M, White S, Voisey C, Perumal D, Crome I, Khideja N, Bashford J. 2010. The effect of cannabis on the course of diabetes. British Journal of Diabetes and Vascular Disease, vol. 6(10), 267-273.
  • Szanto A, Hellebrand EE, Bognar Z, Tucsek Z, Szabo A, Gallyas F, Sumegi B, Varbiro G. 2009. PARP-1 inhibition-induced activation of PI-3-kinase-Akt pathway promotes resistance to taxol. Biochem Pharmacol, vol. 77(8), 1348-1357. link> doi>
  • Szigeti A, Bellyei S, Gasz B, Boronkai A, Hocsak E, Minik O, Bognar Z, Varbiro G, Sumegi B, Gallyas F. 2006. Induction of necrotic cell death and mitochondrial permeabilization by heme binding protein 2/SOUL. FEBS Lett, vol. 580(27), 6447-6454. link> doi>

Full Publications List show

Journal Articles

  • Hellebrand EE and Varbiro G. 2010. Development of mitochondrial permeability transition inhibitory agents: a novel drug target. Drug Discov Ther, vol. 4(2), 54-61. link>
  • Varbiro G and Hellebrand EE. 2010. Development of mitchondrial permeability transition inhibitory agents: a novel drug target. Drug discovery and therapeutics, vol. 2(4), 54-61.
  • Varbiro G, Frischer M, White S, Voisey C, Perumal D, Crome I, Khideja N, Bashford J. 2010. The effect of cannabis on the course of diabetes. British Journal of Diabetes and Vascular Disease, vol. 6(10), 267-273.
  • Szanto A, Hellebrand EE, Bognar Z, Tucsek Z, Szabo A, Gallyas F, Sumegi B, Varbiro G. 2009. PARP-1 inhibition-induced activation of PI-3-kinase-Akt pathway promotes resistance to taxol. Biochem Pharmacol, vol. 77(8), 1348-1357. link> doi>
  • Szigeti A, Bellyei S, Gasz B, Boronkai A, Hocsak E, Minik O, Bognar Z, Varbiro G, Sumegi B, Gallyas F. 2006. Induction of necrotic cell death and mitochondrial permeabilization by heme binding protein 2/SOUL. FEBS Lett, vol. 580(27), 6447-6454. link> doi>
  • VARBIRO G, Bognar Z, Kalai T, Palfi A. 2006. A novel SOD-mimetic permeability transition inhibitor agent protects ischemic heart by inhibiting both apoptotic and necrotic cell death. Free Radical Biology and Medicine , vol. 41(5), 835-848. doi>
  • Tapodi A, Debreceni B, Hanto K, Bognar Z, Wittmann I, Gallyas F, Varbiro G, Sumegi B. 2005. Pivotal role of Akt activation in mitochondrial protection and cell survival by poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 inhibition in oxidative stress. J Biol Chem, vol. 280(42), 35767-35775. link> doi>
  • Kálai T, Várbiró G, Bognár Z, Pálfi A, Hantó K, Bognár B, Osz E, Sümegi B, Hideg K. 2005. Synthesis and evaluation of the permeability transition inhibitory characteristics of paramagnetic and diamagnetic amiodarone derivatives. Bioorg Med Chem, vol. 13(7), 2629-2636. link> doi>
  • Veres B, Radnai B, Gallyas F, Varbiro G, Berente Z, Osz E, Sumegi B. 2004. Regulation of kinase cascades and transcription factors by a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 inhibitor, 4-hydroxyquinazoline, in lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in mice. J Pharmacol Exp Ther, vol. 310(1), 247-255. link> doi>
  • VARBIRO G, Tapodi A, Toth A, Veres B. 2003. Protective Effect of Amiodarone but Not N- Desethylamiodarone on Postischemic Hearts through the Inhibition of Mitochondrial Permeability Transition. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, vol. 307(2), 615-625. doi>
  • Veres B, Gallyas F, Varbiro G, Berente Z, Osz E, Szekeres G, Szabo C, Sumegi B. 2003. Decrease of the inflammatory response and induction of the Akt/protein kinase B pathway by poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 inhibitor in endotoxin-induced septic shock. Biochem Pharmacol, vol. 65(8), 1373-1382. link> doi>
  • Varbiro G, Toth A, Tapodi A, Veres B, Sumegi B, Gallyas F. 2003. Concentration dependent mitochondrial effect of amiodarone. Biochem Pharmacol, vol. 65(7), 1115-1128. link> doi>
  • VARBIRO G, Gallyas F, Sumegi B, Veres B. 2001. Direct effect of Taxol on free radical formation and mitochondrial permeability transition. Free Radical Biology and Medicine , vol. 31(4), 548-558. doi>

Other

  • Hanto K, Radnai B, Bognar Z, Varbiro G, Tapodi A, Gallyas F, Sumegi B, Toth K. 2005. NFkB dependent induction of COX-2 expression by amiodarone in liver cells. EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL (vol. 26, pp. 197-198). link>
  • Hanto K, Tapodi A, Varbiro G, Gallyas F, Hideg K, Sumegi B, Toth K. 2005. The role of Akt activation in the PARP mediated cytoprotective effect in oxidative stress on H9c2 cells. EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL (vol. 26, p. 100). link>
  • Hanto K, Radnai B, Bognar Z, Nemeth V, Varbiro G, Tapodi A, Gallyas F, Sumegi B, Toth K. 2005. NF kappa beta dependent induction of COX-2 expression by amiodarone in liver cells. FEBS JOURNAL (vol. 272, p. 506). link>
  • Radnai B, Veres B, Hanto K, Jakus P, Varbiro G, Bognar Z, Tapodi A, Veto S, Sumegi B. 2005. The effect of a novel PARP inhibitor HO-3089 on the LPS stimulated RAW 264,7 murine macrophage cells. FEBS JOURNAL (vol. 272, p. 313). link>
  • Tapodi A, Hanto K, Solti I, Varbiro G, Gallyas F, Hideg K, Sumegi B. 2005. The effect of PARP inhibition on WRL-68 cells during activation of Akt pathway in H2O2-induced oxidative stress. FEBS JOURNAL (vol. 272, p. 317). link>
  • Bognar Z, Varbiro G, Radnai B, Tapodi A, Hanto K, Jakus P, Gallyas F, Sumegi B. 2005. The effect of Poly (ADP) Ribose Polymerase inhibitors on Taxol induced cell death in cultured cells. FEBS JOURNAL (vol. 272, pp. 505-506). link>
  • Sumegi B, Kovacs K, Veres B, Radnai B, Varbiro G, Bognar Z, Toth A, Gallyas F. 2005. Oxidative stress and the endoplasmic reticulum. Endoplasmic Reticulum: A Metabolic Compartment (vol. 363, pp. 121-130). link>
  • Varbiro G, Bognar Z, Veres B, Tapodi A, Radnai B, Sumegi B. 2004. The effect of phosphatidic acid on the permeability transition and membrane potential in isolated rat liver mitochondria. GENE THERAPY (vol. 11, p. S168). link>
  • Bognar Z, Varbiro G, Veress B, Kovacs K, Osz E, Sumegi B. 2003. The direct induction of mitochondrial free radical formation by taxol. FREE RADICAL RESEARCH (vol. 37, p. 110). link>
  • Csere P, Varbiro G, Sumegi B, Mozsik G. 1997. AIDS treatment and the heat shock protein level in the gastrointestinal tract. BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY AS AN APPROACH TO GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS (pp. 287-295). link>
  • Szabo J and Varbiro G. 1997. The response of odontoblasts to injury to epithelial integrity: Review. CELL INJURY AND PROTECTION IN THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT (pp. 71-81). link>

Teaching:

Lecturer in Biochemistry,  School of Pharmacy