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Professor VIRGIL PĂUNESCU, MD, PhD

Professor VIRGIL PĂUNESCU, MD, PhD

Senior researcher

Research interests

  • Tumor cell biology and innovative cancer therapies

Research in this field were first targeted on tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAFs) which we consider to be a subpopulation of mesenchymal stem cells originating in the bone marrow that appears to play an important role in tumor progression and metastasis. Isolation and complex characterization of tumor stem cells was also a topic of interest. We intend to expand the study of tumor microenvironment by using tissue constructs generated by 3D bioprinting techniques. Drawing on the results so far, we have started the study of chimeric antigen receptors of NK cells, in collaboration with the Technical University of Dresden, within the project “Chimeric antigen receptor targeted oncoimmunotherapy with natural killer cells”-CAR-NK (POC, P-37-786). The project aims to design a personalised anti-tumor therapy by developing new generation CAR-NKs able to recognize specific tumor antigens and to initiate tumor destruction.

  • Stem cell research for the development of regenerative therapies

Our stem cells research first targeted the hematopoietic stem cells, being the coordinator of the Immunology team involved in the first autologous (2000) and allogeneic (2002) bone marrow transplant in Romania; we also performed the first Romanian pilot study regarding AC133 stem cell therapy in myocardial infarction. Research then extended on mesenchymal stem cells then and their therapeutic potential in regenerative medicine, our team being among the first to address this theme at national level. Internationally, I have led the Romanian research team participating in the “Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Tissue Engineering Connective Disorders”-GENOSTEM project (FP6 integrated project). The project started with in vitro and animal studies that underpinned the use of stem cells in tissue regeneration, and was followed by two FP7 projects which designed and implemented clinical trials dedicated to mesenchymal stem cells advanced therapies: „Cultivated adult stem cells as alternative for damaged tissue” (CASCADE, FP7-223236) and „Regenerating bone defects using new biomedical engineering approaches” (REBORNE, FP7-241879). Several national projects have investigated the differentiation potential of these cells in various lineages applicable in the cardiovascular, and bone and joint reconstruction, as well as in the validation of molecular factors involved in these processes. We also conducted experiments on myocardial reconstruction based on repopulation of the fibrous matrix resulted from the heart decellularization with other various cell types. In 2016, we have obtained for the first time in our laboratory the human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) from reprogrammed T lymphocytes, which opens wide perspectives for the development of other cell types used in regenerative medicine.

Relevant publications

  1. Rusu D, Calenic B, Greabu M, Kralev A, Boariu M, Bojin F, Anghel S, Paunescu V, Vela O, Calniceanu H, Stratul SI. Evaluation of oral keratinocyte progenitor and T-lymphocite cells response during early healing after augmentation of keratinized gingiva with a 3D collagen matrix – a pilot study BMC Oral Health 2016, 17, 9 DOI: 10.1186/s12903-016-0240-x
  2. Unlusayin M, Hadaruga NG, Rusu G, Gruia AT, Paunescu V, Hadaruga DI. Nano-encapsulation competitiveness of omega-3 fatty acids and correlations of thermal analysis and Karl Fischer water titration for European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus L.) oil/beta-cyclodextrin complexes LWT-Food science and technology, 2016, 68: 135-144 DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2015.12.017
  3. Pahontu E, Paraschivescu C, Ilies DC, Poirier D, Oprean C, Paunescu V, Gulea A, Rosu T, Bratu O. Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Cu(II), Pd(II) and Pt(II) Complexes with 8-Ethyl-2-hydroxytricyclo(7.3.1.0(2,7))tridecan-13-one-thiosemicarbazone: Antimicrobial and in Vitro Antiproliferative Activity. Molecules, 2016, 21, 5:674 DOI: 10.3390/molecules21050674
  4. Oprean C, Mioc M, Csanyi E, Ambrus R, Bojin F, Tatu C, Cristea M, Ivan A, Danciu C, Dehelean C, Paunescu V, Soica C. Improvement of ursolic and oleanolic acids’ antitumor activity by complexation with hydrophilic cyclodextrins, Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 2016, 83: 1095-1104
  5. Anastasiu DM, Cean A, Bojin MF, Gluhovschi A, Panaitescu C, Paunescu V, Tanasie G, Explants-isolated human placenta and umbilical cord cells share characteristics of both epithelial and mesenchymal stem cells, Rom J Morphol Embriol, 2016, 57(2): 383-390
  6. Oprean C, Zambori C, Borcan F, Soica C, Zupko I, Minorics R, Bojin F, Ambrus R, Muntean D, Danciu C, Pinzaru IA, Dehelean C, Paunescu V, Tanasie G, Anti-proliferative and antibacterial in vitro evaluation of the polyurethane nanostructures incorporating pentacyclic triterpenes, Pharmmaceutical Biology, 2016, 54(11): 2714-27
  7. Tatu CS, Groza SS, Tatu FR, Bojin MF, Marusciac L, Gavriliuc OI, Hurmuz M, Cean A, Paunescu V, Tanasie G In vivo functional studies of human adult mesenchymal stem cells migration towards inflammatory lesions after transfection with CD29 specific siRNA in mouse models Romanian Biotechnological Letters, 2015; 20(6): 11057-66.
  8. Citu IM, Toma C, Trandafirescu C, Antal D, Zambori C, Oprean C, Bojin F, Borcan F, Paunescu V, Lazureanu V Preparation and Characterization of a Polyurethane Nanocarrier Used for Mixtures of Betulin and Fatty Acids Chim. (Bucharest), 2015; 66(3): 431-437
  9. Ioana Mihaela Citu, Florin Borcan, Csilla Zambori, Bogdan Tita, Virgil Paunescu, Simona Ardelean Influence of Crosslinking Agent – Chain Extender Ratio on the Properties of Hyperbranched Polyurethane Structures used as Dendritic Drug Carrier R Chim., 2015, 66, 1: 119 -123
  10. Pavel IZ, Duicu OM, Danciu C, Dehelean C, Bojin FM, Paunescu V, Muntean DM, Sturza A, Noveanu L Immune and Bioenergetic Profiling of a Human Dermal Fibroblast Cell Line R Chim., 2015, 66, 11: 1755-1758
  11. Paunescu V,Bojin FM, Gavriliuc OI, Taculescu EA, Ianos R, Ordodi VL, Iman VF, Tatu CA  Enucleation: a possible mechanism of cancer cell death J Cell Mol Med. 2014; 18(6): 962-5
  1. Tatu CS, Bojin FM, Gruia AT, Ordodi VI, Mic FA, Iman V, Cean A, Gavriliuc OI, Paunescu V Features of Lipid Metabolism along Differentiation Pathway of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells towards Mature Adipocytes Romanian Biotechnological Letters, 2014; 19(2): 9257-71
  2. RF Tatu, DN Anuşca, S Groza, L Marusciac, FM Bojin, C Tatu, M Hurmuz, V Păunescu Morphological and functional characterization of femoral head drilling-derived mesenchymal stem cells Romanian Journal of Morphology and Embryology 2014, 55(4):1415–1422
  3. Pavlović NM, Maksimović V, Maksimović JD, Orem WH, Tatu CA, Lerch HE, Bunnell JE, Kostić EN, Szilagyi DN, Paunescu V. Possible health impacts of naturally occurring uptake of aristolochic acids by maize and cucumber roots: links to the etiology of endemic (Balkan) nephropathy. Environ Geochem Health. 2013, 35(2):215-26.
  1. Bojin FM, Gruita AT, Cristea MI, Ordodi VL, Paunescu V, Mic FA. Adipocytes differentiated in vitro from rat mesenchymal stem cells lack essential free fatty acids compared to adult adipocytes. Stem Cells and Development. 2012; 21(4): 507-12
  2. Sarandan H, Decun M, Paunescu V, Ordodi V, Bojin F, Hutu C, Zarcula S, Burian C, Tanasie G, Sarandan M Deoxynivalenol and Ochratoxin A inactivation in broiler chickens’ feed. Romanian Biotechnological Letters, 2012; 17(6): 7825-7834
  1. Ivan Boleman A, Tanasie G, Galuscan A, Cristea MI, Bojin FM, Panaitescu C, Paunescu V Studies regarding the in vitro wound healing potential of mouse dental pulp stem-like progenitor cells Biotechnol. & Biotec. Eq., 2012; 26(1): 2781-5
  2. Tanasie G, Bojin F, Ordodi V,  Gruia A, Gavriliuc O, Cristea M, Dehelean C, Vintila R, Tatu C, Bunu C, Paunescu V Epithelization of skin lesions in animal model treated with mesenchymal stem cells and derivatives, Romanian Biotechnological Letters, 2011; 16(2): 6072-6080
  3. Bojin F, Ordodi V, Anghel S, Gruia A, Gavriliuc O, Georgescu R, Vintila R, Tatu C, Bunu C, Tatu CA, Tanasie G, Paunescu V Mesenchymal stem cells admix with biological scaffold heal bone defects in rat model Romanian Biotechnological Letters, 2011; 16(3): 6218-6225
  4. Bojin FM, Gavriliuc OI, Cristea MI, Tanasie G, Tatu CS, Panaitescu C, Paunescu V Telocytes within human skeletal muscle stem cell niche J Cell Mol Med. 2011; 15(10):2269-2272
  1. Paunescu V, Bojin FM, Tatu CA, Gavriliuc OI, Rosca A, Gruia AT, Tanasie G, Bunu C, Crisnic D, Gherghiceanu M, Tatu FR, Tatu CS, Vermesan S.Tumour-associated fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells: more similarities than differences J Cell Mol Med. Mar 2011;15(3):635-46.
  2. Gruia AT, Barbu-Tudoran L, Mic AA, Ordodi VL, Paunescu, V, Mic FA Arachidonic acid accumulates in the stromal macrophages during thymus involution in diabetes, HISTOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY, 2011, 136 (1): 79-92
  3. ErikaDeak , StephanGöttig, BrigitteRüster, Virgil Paunescu, Erhard Seifried, Jens Gille, Reinhard Henschler Bone marrow–derived cells in the tumor microenvironment contain cells with primitive hematopoietic phenotype Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine , 2010, 14 (7), 1946-1952
  4. Ordodi VL, Paunescu V, Mic FA, Optimal Access to the Rat Heart by Transverse Bilateral Thoracotomy with Double Ligature of the Internal Thoracic Arteries, Journal Of The American Association For Laboratory Animal Science, 2008; 47 (5): 44-46
  5. Ordodi VL, Paunescu V, Ionac M, Sandesc D, Mic AA, Tatu CA, Mic FA. Artificial Device for Extracorporeal Blood Oxygenation in Rats Artif Organs, 2008; 32(1):66-70 (5)
  6. Paunescu V,Deak E, Herman D, Siska IR, Tanasie G, Bunu C, Anghel S, Tatu CA, Oprea TI, Henschler , Rüster B, Bistrian R, Seifried E In vitro differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells to epithelial lineage J Cell Mol Med. 2007; 11(3):502-508
  7. Kemeny L, Koreck A, Kis K, Kenderessy-Szabo A, Bodai L, Cimpean A, Paunescu V, Raica M, Ghyczy M. Endogenous Phospholipid Metabolite Containing Topical Product Inhibits Ultraviolet Light-Induced Inflammation and DNA Damage in Human Skin Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2007 Jan 17, 20(3):155-161
  8. Orem W, Tatu C, Pavlovic N, Bunnell J, Lerch H, Paunescu V, Ordodi V, Flores D, Corum M, Bates A, Health effects of toxic organic substances from coal: Toward “panendemic” nephropathy, Ambio, 2007, 36(1):98-102
  9. Hadaruga NG, Hadaruga DI, Rivis A, Paunescu V, Costescu C, Lupea AX Bioactive nanoparticles – Essential oils from Lamiaceae family plants/beta-cyclodextrin – Supramolecular systems Revista de chimie, 2007, 58(10):909-914
  10. Ordodi VL, Paunescu V, Mic AA, Gabor L, Ionac M, Toma O, Sandesc D, Mic FA, A pressure-controlled rat ventilator with electronically preset respirations, Artif Organs. 2006 Dec; 30(12):965-8
  11. Ordodi VL, Paunescu V, Mic AA, Ionac M, Sandesc D, Mic FA. A small scale oxygenator for cardiopulmonary bypass in rats Int J Artif Organs. 2006 Aug, 29(8):750-5
  12. Ordodi VL, Paunescu V, Mischie S, Ignea A, Toma O, Ionac M, Mic AA, Sandesc D, Mic FA. Improved electrodes for electrical defibrillation of rats J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2006 Nov, 45(6):54-7
  13. Koreck A, Kis K, Szegedi K, Paunescu V, Cioaca R, Olariu R, Negru S, Bata-Csorgo Z, Kemeny L, Dobozy A, Szell M. TLR2 and TLR4 polymorphisms are not associated with acne vulgaris Dermatology. 2006, 213(3):267-9
  14. Hadaruga NG, Hadaruga DI, Paunescu V, Tatu CA, Ordodi VL, Bandur G and Lupea AX. Thermal stability of the linoleic acid/α- and β-cyclodextrin complexes.  Food Chemistry 2006, 99(3): 500-508
  1. Ordodi VL, Mic FA, Mic AA, Tanasie G, Ionac M, Sandesc D, Paunescu V. Bone marrow aspiration from rats: a minimally invasive procedure Lab Anim (NY). 2006 May, 35(5):41-4
  2. Cioca DP, Deak E, Cioca F, Paunescu V.  Monoclonal antibodies targeted against melanoma and ovarian tumors enhance dendritic cell-mediated cross-presentation of tumor-associated antigens and efficiently cross-prime CD8+ T cells J Immunother. 2006 Jan-Feb, 9(1):41-52
  3. Ordodi VL, Mic FA, Mic AA, Sandesc D, Paunescu V.  A simple device for intubation of rats Lab Anim (NY). 2005 Sep, 34(8):37-9
  4. Hadaruga NG, Hadaruga DI, Lupea AX, Paunescu V, Tatu C, Bioactive nanoparticles – 7. Essential oil from Apiaceae and Pinaceae family plants/beta-cyclodextrin supramolecular system Revista de Chimie, 2005, 56(8):876-882
  5. Orem WH, Tatu CA, Lerch III HE, Maharaj SVM, Pavlovic N, Paunescu V, Dumitrascu V. Identification and Environmental Significance of the Organic Compounds in Water Supplies associated with a Balkan Endemic Nephropathy Region in Romania. Environ. Health Res. 2004, 3(2): 53-61
  6. Paunescu V, Suciu E, Tatu C, Plesa A, Herman D, Siska IR, Suciu C, Crisnic D, Nistor D, Tanasie G, Bunu C, Raica M.Endothelial cells from hematopoietic stem cells are functionally different from those of human umbilical vein, J Cell Mol Med, 2003 7(4):455-60
  7. Tatu CA, Drugarin D, Paunescu V, Stanescu DI, Schneider F. Balkan endemic nephropathy, the hematopoietic system and the environmental connection Food Chem Toxicol. 1998 Mar, 36(3):245-7
  8. Tatu CA, Paunescu V, Stanescu DI, Schneider F. P-glycoprotein mediated multidrug resistance assessment by flow-cytometry in malignant hemopathies, Anticancer Res. 1997, 17(4A):2583-6

 

Affiliation

UMF Victor Babeș Timișoara, Department III – Functional Sciences, Immunology Unit

OncoGen Center – SCJUPB Timișoara

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