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Samikkannu Thangavel

Samikkannu Thangavel
Samikkannu Thangavel, PhD

Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Contact

Texas A&M Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy
159 Reynolds Medical Building, Room 164E
College Station , TX 77845
thangavel@tamu.edu
Phone: 979.436.9916
Fax: 979.436.0087

Education and Training

  • Institute of NeuroImmune Pharmacology Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey, Associate Director, 2017-2018
  • Dept. of Immunology, College of Medicine Florida International University, Miami, Florida, Assistant Professor, 2009-2017
  • Dept. of Immunology, College of Medicine Florida International University, Miami, Florida, Post-Doctoral Research Associate, 2007-2009
  • School of Pharmacy Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, Texas , Postdoctoral Training, 2003- 2007
  • Dept. of Zoology Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C., Postdoctoral Training, 2000-2003
  • University of Madras, India, PhD in Biochemistry
  • Bharathidasan University, India, Master of Science in Zoology

Research Interests

  • Neuro AIDS: Interactions of Drugs of Abuse and HIV Infection
  • Our lab is predominantly interested in the neuropathogenesis of HIV and drug abuse. We are elucidating the role of HIV and drugs of abuse in energy dysregulation, which ultimately may lead the neurodegeneration. We examine the metabolic signatures through inflammasome profiles, mitochondrial biogenesis, and epigenetics. We use in vitro, ex vivo and a transgenic rat model system in our experiments. Our goal is to develop novel diagnostics tests and treatments for neuroAIDs and neurologic damage related to drugs of abuse.

Teaching Interests

  • Neuroscience
  • Infectious disease
  • Drug Abuse and Addiction

Representative Publications

Doke M, McLaughlin JP, Cai JJ, Pendyala G, Kashanchi F, Khan MA, Samikkannu T. HIV-1 Tat and cocaine impact astrocytic energy reservoirs and epigenetic regulation by influencing the LINC01133-hsa-miR-4726-5p-NDUFA9 axis. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids. 2022 Jul 6; 29:243-258.

Sundar, V., McLaughlin, J.P. & Samikkannu, T. Epigenetic signature of N-terminal acetyltransferases: a probable mediator of immune and neuropathogenesis in HIV infection. Mol Brain 15, 69 (2022).

Sundar V, Ramasamy T, Doke M, Samikkannu T. Psychostimulants influence oxidative stress and redox signatures: the role of DNA methylation. Redox Rep. 2022 Dec; 27(1):53-59.

Doke M, Kashanchi F, Khan MA, Samikkannu T. HIV-1 Tat and cocaine coexposure impacts piRNAs to affect astrocyte energy metabolism. Epigenomics. 2021, 113, 3461-3475.

Sivalingam K, Doke M, Khan M, Samikkannu T. Psychostimulants Influence on Epigenetic Modification of Class III Histone Deacetylase (HDAC)-Sirtuins in glial cells: Scientific Report. 2021 11(1):21335.

Doke M, Kashanchi F, Khan, M.A, Samikkannu T. HIV-1 Tat and Cocaine Impact Astrocytic Energy Reservoir Influence on miRNA Epigenetic Regulation. Genomics, 2021, 113 (6): 3461-3475. 

Doke M, Pendyala G, Samikkannu T.  Psychostimulants and Opioids Differentially Influence the Epigenetic Modification of Histone Acetyltransferase and Histone Deacetylase in Astrocytes.  PLoS One 2021, 16(6): e0252895.

Sivalingam K, Cirino TJ, McLaughlin JP, Samikkannu T. HIV-Tat and Cocaine Impact Brain Energy Metabolism: Redox Modification and Mitochondrial Biogenesis Influence NRF Transcription-Mediated Neurodegeneration. Mol Neurobiol. 2021.

Mayur Doke, Venkatesh Jeganathan, Jay P. McLaughlin, and Thangavel Samikkannu.  HIV-1 Tat and cocaine impact mitochondrial epigenetics: effects on DNA methylation. Epigenetics.2020. June: 02; 980-999.

Thangavel Samikkannu, Carmen   Mullet,   Venkata S.R.   Atluri,   Marisela Agudelo, Madhavan, P.N. Nair. Oxidative stress in HIV Infection and Alcohol Use: Role of Redox Signals in Modulation of Lipid Rafts and ABC-Transporters. Antioxidant and Redox Signaling 2018; 28(4):324-337.

Thangavel Samikkannu, Venkata Atluri, Madhavan P.N. Nair.  HIV and Cocaine Impact Glial Metabolism: Energy Sensor AMP-activated protein kinase Role in Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Epigenetic Remodeling. Scientific Reports 2016; 18; 6:31784.

Venkata Atluri, Sudheesh Pilakka Kanthikeel, Gabriella Garcia, Rahul Jayant, Vidya Sagar, Thangavel  Samikkannu,  Adriana Yndart,  and  Madhavan  Nair.  Effect of Cocaine on HIV infection and Inflammasome Gene Expression Profile in HIV Infected Macrophages. Scientific Reports 2016; 6:27864.

Agudelo M, Figueroa G, Parira T, Yndart A, Muñoz K, Atluri VSR, Samikkannu T, Nair MP. Profile of Class I Histone Deacetylases (HDAC) by Human Dendritic Cells after Alcohol Consumption and in vitro Alcohol Treatment and their Implication in Oxidative Stress: Role of HDAC Inhibitors Trichostatin A and Mocetinostat. PloS One 2016; 11(6):e0156421.

Thangavel Samikkannu, Kurapati V.  K.  Rao,  Elena Kaftanovskaya, Suray Perez, Agudelo, M, and Madhavan P.N. Nair. HIV Subtypes and Dopaminergic Function: Interactive Role of Methamphetamine. Scientific Reports 2015; 5: 11130.

Agudelo M, Yndart A, Morrison M, Figueroa G, Muñoz K, Samikkannu T, Nair MP. Alcohol and cannabinoids differentially affect HIV infection and function of human monocyte- derived dendritic cells (MDDC). Front Microbiol 2015; 6:1452.

Venkata Subba Rao Atluri, Melissa Hidalgo, Thangavel Samikkannu, Kesava Rao Venkata Kurapati, Madhavan Nair. Synaptic Plasticity and Neurological Disorders in Neurotropic Viral Infections. Neural Plasticity 2015; 138979.

Thangavel Samikkannu, Deepa Ranjith, Kurapati V. K. Rao, Venkata S.R Atluri, Emely Pimentel, Nazira El-Hage  and Madhavan P.N. Nair. HIV and Morphine Induced Oxidative Stress: Role in Cell Cycle Regulation. Front Microbial 2015; 6:614.

Thangavel  Samikkannu, Venkata S.R. Atluri, Adriana Y. Arias, Kurapati V. K. Rao, Carmen  Mulet,  Madhavan  P.N.  Nair.  HIV-1  Subtypes  B  and  C  Tat  Differentially  Impact Synaptic  Plasticity  Expression   and   Implicates   HIV-Associated   Neurocognitive  Disorder. Current HIV Research. 2014; 12(6):397-405.

Thangavel Samikkannu, Kurapati V. K. Rao, Marisela Agudelo, Andrea Raymond, Hong Ding, Madhavan P.N. Nair. Immunopathogenesis of HIV Infection in Cocaine Users: Role of Arachidonic Acid.  PloS One 2014; 9(8):e106348.

Thangavel Samikkannu, Sudhessh Pilakka Kanthikeel, Venkata Atluri, Marisela Agudelo, Madhavan P.N. Nair.   Immuno-Neuropathogenesis of HIV-1 Clade B and C: Role of Redox Expression and Thiol Modification. Free Rad Med Biol 2014; 69: 136-144.

Thangavel Samikkannu, Kurapati V.K Rao, Adriana Arias, Aarthi Kalaichezian, Vidya Sagar, Changwon Yoo and Madhavan P.N Nair. HIV Infection and Drugs of Abuse: Role of Acute Phase Proteins. Journal of Neuroinflammation 2013; 10: 113.