Dr Elina Akalestou

Elina Akalestou is a molecular endocrinologist, specialising in bariatric surgery and inter-organ communication.  Her research focuses on the effects of bariatric surgery on hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes remission. To do so, she utilizes in vivo models of bariatric surgery, as well as transgenic and in vitro systems to explore the relationship between the gastrointestinal tract and key metabolic organs, including adrenal glands and kidneys. 

Elina completed an MSc in Clinical Nutrition in University College London, followed by a PhD in Obesity Drug Development in Imperial College London. She has completed postdoctoral training in Johns Hopkins University, King's College London and Imperial College London. She is currently a Lecturer in the Department of  Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester and an Honorary Lecturer in the Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Imperial College London.

Overview:

- Sodium Glucose Transporter 2 and immune response 

- Adrenal-gut axis: the role of glucocorticoids in Type 2 Diabetes and its remission

- Pancreatic β-cell function following bariatric surgery

- Pancreas-kidney-gut axis: glucose absorption and insulin sensitivity 

• Slieker RC*, Donnelly LA*, Akalestou E* (co-first), Lopez-Noriega L, Melhem R, Güneş A, Abou Azar F, Efanov A, Georgiadou E, Muniangi-Muhitu H, Sheikh M, Giordano GN, Åkerlund M, Ahlqvist E, Ali A, Banasik K, Brunak S, Barovic M, Bouland GA, Burdet F, Canouil M, Dragan I, Elders PJM, Fernandez C, Festa A, Fitipaldi H, Froguel P, Gudmundsdottir V, Gudnason V, Gerl MJ, van der Heijden AA, Jennings LL, Hansen MK, Kim M, Leclerc I, Klose C, Kuznetsov D, Mansour Aly D, Mehl F, Marek D, Melander O, Niknejad A, Ottosson F, Pavo I, Duffin K, Syed SK, Shaw JL, Cabrera O, Pullen TJ, Simons K, Solimena M, Suvitaival T, Wretlind A, Rossing P, Lyssenko V, Legido Quigley C, Groop L, Thorens B, Franks PW, Lim GE, Estall J, Ibberson M, Beulens JWJ, 't Hart LM, Pearson ER, Rutter GA. Identification of biomarkers for glycaemic deterioration in type 2 diabetes. Nature Communications 2023 May 3;14(1):2533. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-38148-7. PMID: 37137910; PMCID: PMC10156700.

• Akalestou E* (corresponding), Lopez-Noriega L, Christakis I, Hu M, Miras A, Leclerc I, Rutter G et al., 2022, Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy normalizes circulating glucocorticoid levels and lowers glucocorticoid action tissue-selectively in mice, Frontiers in Endocrinology, Vol: 13, Pages: 1-16, ISSN: 1664-2392

• Jones B, Burade V, Akalestou E, Manchanda Y, Ramchunder Z, Carrat G, Nguyen-Tu M-S, Marchetti P, Piemonti L, Leclerc I, Thennati R, Vilsboll T, Thorens B, Tomas A, Rutter GAet al., 2022, In vivo and in vitro characterization of GL0034, a novel long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism: a journal of pharmacology and therapeutics, Vol: 24, Pages: 2090-2101, ISSN: 1462-8902

• Akalestou E* (corresponding), Lopez-Noriega L, Tough IR, Hu M, Leclerc I, Cox HM, Rutter GAet al., 2022, Vertical sleeve gastrectomy lowers SGLT2/Slc5a2 expression in the mouse kidney, Diabetes, Vol: 71, ISSN: 0012-1797

• Georgiadou E, Muralidharan C, Martinez M, Chabosseau P, Akalestou E, Tomas A, Yong Su Wern F, Stylianides T, Wretlind A, Legido-Quigley C, Jones B, Lopez Noriega L, Xu Y, Gu G, Alsabeeh N, Cruciani-Guglielmacci C, Magnan C, Ibberson M, Leclerc I, Ali Y, Soleimanpour SA, Linnemann AK, Rodriguez TA, Rutter GAet al., 2022, Mitofusins Mfn1 and Mfn2 are required to preserve glucose- but not incretin-stimulated beta cell connectivity and insulin secretion, Diabetes, Vol: 71, Pages: 1472-1489, ISSN: 0012-1797

• Akalestou E, Miras A, Rutter G, Le Roux Cet al., 2022, Mechanisms of weight loss after obesity surgery, Endrocrine Reviews, Vol: 43, Pages: 19-34, ISSN: 0163-769X

• Akalestou E, Suba K, Lopez-Noriega L, Georgiadou E, Chabosseau P, Gallie A, Wretlind A, Legido-Quigley C, Leclerc I, Salem V, Rutter GA et al., 2021, Intravital imaging of islet Ca2+ dynamics reveals enhanced beta cell connectivity after bariatric surgery in mice (vol 12, 5165, 2021), Nature Communications, Vol: 12, Pages: 1-1, ISSN: 2041-1723

• Muniangi-Muhitu H, Akalestou E, Salem V, Misra S, Oliver NS, Rutter GAet al., 2020, Covid-19 and diabetes: a complex bidirectional relationship, Frontiers in Endocrinology, Vol: 11, ISSN: 1664-2392

• Akalestou E, Genser L, Rutter GA, 2020, Glucocorticoid metabolism in obesity and following weight loss, Frontiers in Endocrinology, Vol: 11, ISSN: 1664-2392

• Akalestou E, Genser L, Villa F, Christakis I, Chokshi S, Williams R, Rubino F. Establishing a successful rat model of duodenal- jejunal bypass: A detailed guide. Lab Anim. 2019 Aug;53(4):362-371. doi: 10.1177/0023677218797370. Epub 2018 Sep 18. PMID: 30227760.

• McGrath T, Spreckley E, Rodriguez A, Viscomi C, Alamshah A, Akalestou E, Murphy K, Jones Net al., 2019, The homeostatic dynamics of feeding behaviour identify novel mechanisms of anorectic agents, PLoS Biology, Vol: 17, Pages: 1-30, ISSN: 1544-9173

• Murphy KG, Spreckley E, Norton M, Alamshah, Kinsey-Jones J, Amin A, Ramgulam A, Cao Y, Johnson R, Saleh K, Jomard A, Amarsi R, Moolla A, Akalestou E, Malik Z, Gonzalez Abuin, Sargent P, Gray G, Bloom Set al., 2017, L-phenylalanine modulates gut hormone release and glucose tolerance, and suppresses food intake through the calcium sensing receptor in rodents, International Journal of Obesity, Vol: 41, Pages: 1693-1701, ISSN: 1476-5497

• Hussain MA, Akalestou E, Song W-J, 2016, Inter-organ communication and regulation of beta cell function, Diabetologia, Vol: 59, Pages: 659-667, ISSN: 0012-186X

• Akalestou E, Christakis I, Solomou A, Minnion J, Rutter G, Bloom Set al., 2016, Proglucagon-derived peptides do not significantly affect acute exocrine pancreas in rat, Pancreas, Vol: 45, Pages: 967-973, ISSN: 1536-4828

Current lab members: 

Brett Johnson (PhD student)

Amira Abdelgawwad (MSc student)

Wenya Wang (MSc student)

Former lab members: 

Izzy Franco (BSc student)

Shiyi Lian (BSc student)

Niki Brisnovali (MSc student)

Isabella Doria Durazzo (MSc student)