Research Focus

* Adult Stem Cell Biology and Differentiation
* Liver Regeneration

Academic Degrees and Employment

Education:

* Ph.D. (1998) University of Cincinnati Dept. of Cellular and Molecular Biology Cincinnati Ohio USA
* M.D. (1987) Ankara University School of Medicine Ankara Turkey

Employment:

* 1998-present: Assistant Professor Dept. of Molecular Biology and Genetics Bilkent University
* April ‘98- Nov. ‘98: Post Doctoral Assistant Department of Dermatology University of Cincinnati
* 1992- April 1998: Graduate Research Assistant Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology
* 1989-1991: Physician Department of Pharmacology Gazi University, School of Medicine Ankara, Turkey
* 1987-1989: Physician Ministry of Health Kayseri, Turkey

Graduate & Fellowship Program Affiliations

Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics
Summary of Requirements for Admission to Graduate Programs

Research Interests

Adult Stem Cell Biology and Differentiation:

We aim to understand the molecular mechanisms that regulates the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) are group of adult stem cells which have the potential to differentiate into different cells. Under appropriate conditions they can differentiate into bone, muscle, fat, cartilage, nerve and liver cells. Although the research based on MSC and their usage in cell based treatment has gained speed, the mechanisms behind the self renewal and differentiation of MSC have not been understood exactly. By using rat MSC as an experimental model system, we investigate the candidate genes that may have an effect on the differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Liver Regeneration:

We work on the molecular mechanisms that control the liver regeneration . Loss of hepatocytes due to surgical removal of certain part of the liver or due to chemicals and viruses results in the regeneration of the liver and it is a very useful model to study the integration of signaling pathways during organogenesis. In addition, in liver malignancies, normal tissue undergoes regeneration to balance the loss of the functional tissue. We use an animal model in which 2/3 of the rat liver is resected to induce regeneration process in the remaining liver. By using this model, we examine the involvement of apoptosis and hepatic stem cells during this process.

Click for Akçalı Lab

* S. Senturk, M. Mumcuoglu, O. Gursoy-Yuzugullu, B. Cingoz, K.C. Akcali, M. Ozturk, “Transforming Growth Factor-Beta Induces Senescence in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells and Inhibits Tumor Growth,” Hepatology, 2010 Sep;52(3):966-74. PubMed

* Y. Erac, C. Selli, B. Kosova, K.C. Akcali, M. Tosun, “Expression levels of TRPC1 and TRPC6 ion channels are reciprocally altered in aging rat aorta: Implications for age-related vasospastic disorders,” Age, vol. 32, pp. 223-230 (2010) PubMed

* M. Mumcuoglu, S. Bagislar, H. Yuzugullu, H. Alotaibi, S. Senturk, P. Telkoparan, B. Gur-Dedeoglu, B. Cingoz, B. Bozkurt, U.H. Tazebay, I. Yulug, K.C. Akcali, M. Ozturk, “The ability to generate senescent progeny as a mechanism underlying breast cancer cell heterogeneity,” Plos One, vol. 5, pp. 11288–1-12 (2010) PubMed

* Z. Tokcaer-Keskin, Z.G. Dikmen, F. Ayaloglu-Butun, S. Gultekin, S.M. Gryaznov, K.C. Akcali, “The Effect of Telomerase Template Antagonist GRN163L on Bone-Marrow-Derived Rat Mesenchymal Stem Cells is Reversible and Associated with Altered Expression of Cyclin d1, cdk4 and cdk6,” Stem Cell Rev and Rep, vol. 6, pp. 224-233 (2010) PubMed

* F.C. Yagci, O. Aslan, M. Gursel, G. Tincer, Y. Ozdamar, K. Karatepe, K.C. Akcali, I. Gursel, “Mammalian Telomeric DNA Suppresses Endotoxin-induced Uveitis,” Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 285, pp. 28806-1–6 (2010) PubMed

* Z. Tokcaer-Keskin, A. R. Akar, F. Ayaloglu, E. Terzioglu-Kara, S. Durdu, U. Ozyurda, K.C. Akcali, “Timing of Induction of Cardiomyocyte Differentiation for in vitro Cultured Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Perspective for Emergencies,” Canadian J of Physiology and Pharmacology, vol. 87, pp. 143-150 (2009) PubMed

* H. Yazugullu, K. Benhaj, N. Ozturk, S. Senturk, E. Celik, A. Toylu, N. Tasdemir, M. Yilmaz, E. Erdal, K.C. Akcali, N. Atabey, M. Ozturk, “Canonical Wnt signaling is antagonized by noncanonical Wnt5a in hepatocellular carcinoma cells,” Molecular Cancer, vol. 8, pp. 1-20 (2009) PubMed

* Aydin TI, Tokcaer Z, Dalgic A, Konu O, Akcali KC (2007) Cloning and expression profile of FLT3 gene during rat progenitor cell dependent liver regeneration. Accepted J Gastroenterol Hepatol PubMed

* Dalkic E, Kuscu C, Sucularli C, Aydin TI., Akcali KC, Konu O. (2006) Alternatively Spliced Robo2 Isoforms in Zebrafish and Rat. Dev Genes Evol. May 1-9. PubMed

* Ben Hadj K, Akcali KC, Ozturk M. (2006) Redundant expression of canonicl Wnt ligands in human breast cancer cell lines. Oncology Reports 15(3): 701-708. PubMed

* Ozturk N, Erdal E, Mumcuoglu M , Akcali KC, Yalcin O, Senturk S, Arslan-Ergul A, Gur B, Yulug I, Cetin-Atalay R, Yakicier C, Yagci T, Tez M, Ozturk M (2006) Reprogramming of replicative senescence in hepatocellular carcinoma-derived cells. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 103(7): 2178-2183. PubMed

* Akcali KC , Sahiner MA, Sahiner T. (2005) The Role of Bcl-2 Family of Genes During Kindlig. Epilepsia 46(2) 217-223 PubMed

* Akcali KC, Dalgic A, Ucar A., Ben Hadj K, Guvenc D. (2004). Expression of bcl-2 Family of Genes During Resection Induced Liver Regeneration: Comparison of Hepatectomized and Sham Groups. World Journal of Gastroenterology 10(2): 279-283. PubMed

* Akcali KC , Gibori G., Khan SA. (2003) The Involvement of Apoptotic Regulators During in vitro Decidualization. European Journal of Endocrinology 149: 69-75. PubMed

* Suzuki I, Im S, Tada A, Scott C, Akcali KC, Davis MB, Barsh G, Hearing V, Abdel-Malek Z (1999) Participation of the melanocortin-1 receptor in the UV control of pigmentation. J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc. 1999 Sep;4(1):29-34. PubMed

* Abdel-Malek Z., Suzuki I, Tada A., Im S., Akcali KC. ( 1999) The Melanocortin-1 Receptor and Human Pigmentation Cutaneous Neuroimmunomodulation: The Proopiomelanocortin System. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Edits: Luger TA, Paus R, Lipton JM, Slominski AT. Vol: 885: 117-133. PubMed

* Moulton BC, Motz J, Serdoncillo C, Akcali KC, Khan SA. (1997) Progesterone withdrawal and RU-486 treatment stimulate apoptosis in specific uterine decidual cells. Cell Death & Differentiation 4: 76-81. PubMed

* Moulton BC, Akcali KC, Ogle TF, Brown TH, Motz J, Khan SA. (1997) Control of apoptosis in the uterus during decidualization. Cell Death in Reproductive Physiology. Edits: Tilly J, Strauss JF, Tenniswood M, Springer-Verlag New York Inc. 48-66.

* Akcali KC, Khan SA, Moulton BC. (1996) Effect of decidualization on the expression of regulators of apoptosis, Bax and Bcl-2, in the rat uterine endometrium. Endocrinology 137: (7) 3123-3130. PubMed

* Abdel-Malek Z, Swope S, Suzuki I, Akcali KC, Harriger DM, Boyce S, Urabe K, Hearing VJ. (1995) Mitogenic and melagenic stimulation of normal human melanocyte by melanotropic peptides. Proc. Natl, Acad. Sci. USA 92: 1789-1793. PubMed

* Nephew KP, Webb KD, Akcali KC, Moulton BC, Khan SA. (1993) Hormonal regulation and expression of the jun-D protooncogene in specific cell types of the rat uterus. J. Steroid Biochem. Molec. Biol. 46: (3) 281-287. PubMed

* Nephew KP, Akcali KC, Polek TC, Khan SA. (1993) The antiestrogen tamoxifen induces c-fos and jun-B but not c-jun or jun-D protooncogenes in the rat uterus. Endocrinology 133: (1) 419-422 PubMed