Ivana Kawikova
Visiting Research ScientistCards
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Visiting Research Scientist
Biography
Dr. Kawikova is an experimental pharmacologist and immunologist with extensive experience in translational research in areas of neuropsychiatric disorders, including Tourette syndrome, autism and Parkinson's disease. She is currently focusing on the role of exosomes and microbiota in first episode psychosis.
Last Updated on October 04, 2023.
Appointments
Endocrinology
Visiting Research ScientistPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Research
Publications
2025
Extracellular vesicles as precision therapeutics for psychiatric conditions: targeting interactions among neuronal, glial, and immune networks
Kawiková I, Špička V, Lai J, Askenase P, Wen L, Kejík Z, Jakubek M, Valeš K, Španiel F. Extracellular vesicles as precision therapeutics for psychiatric conditions: targeting interactions among neuronal, glial, and immune networks. Frontiers In Immunology 2025, 16: 1454306. PMID: 40264776, PMCID: PMC12011847, DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1454306.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDevelopment of immune therapiesEVs-based therapyIatrogenic immune deficienciesRobust preclinical dataExploitation of extracellular vesiclesPsychiatric diseasesDiagnostic biomarker panelExtracellular vesiclesRecipient cell functionsImmune therapyImmune deficiencyPatient subsetsPreclinical dataFluid abnormalitiesBiomarker panelEV administrationImmune systemIntercellular communicationPrecision therapeuticsTherapyTherapeutic toolCell functionRegulatory approvalPsychiatric conditionsBrain regions
2024
Perinatal Hypoxia and Immune System Activation in Schizophrenia Pathogenesis: Critical Considerations During COVID-19 Pandemic.
Kawikova I, Hakenova K, Lebedeva M, Kleteckova L, Jakob L, Spicka V, Wen L, Spaniel F, Vales K. Perinatal Hypoxia and Immune System Activation in Schizophrenia Pathogenesis: Critical Considerations During COVID-19 Pandemic. Physiological Research 2024, 73: s615-s639. PMID: 39589306, PMCID: PMC11627263, DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.935501.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPerinatal hypoxiaPerinatal factorsMaternal immune activationImmune system activationDevelopment of experimental modelsInteraction of genetic backgroundAssociated with hypoxiaNeurodevelopmental disordersMaternal infectionObstetric complicationsSchizophrenia pathogenesisImmune activationMetabolic disturbancesTherapeutic strategiesPerinatal periodSchizophrenia etiologyDisorganized thoughtsExperimental modelSchizophreniaSystem activityEmotional bluntingHypoxiaChronic stressGenetic backgroundCognitive impairment
2023
Legends of Allergy and Immunology: Philip W. Askenase
Kawikova I. Legends of Allergy and Immunology: Philip W. Askenase. Allergy 2023, 78: 2327-2328. PMID: 37310075, DOI: 10.1111/all.15786.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2020
Autoantibody Biomarkers for Basal Ganglia Encephalitis in Sydenham Chorea and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated With Streptococcal Infections
Chain JL, Alvarez K, Mascaro-Blanco A, Reim S, Bentley R, Hommer R, Grant P, Leckman JF, Kawikova I, Williams K, Stoner JA, Swedo SE, Cunningham MW. Autoantibody Biomarkers for Basal Ganglia Encephalitis in Sydenham Chorea and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated With Streptococcal Infections. Frontiers In Psychiatry 2020, 11: 564. PMID: 32670106, PMCID: PMC7328706, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00564.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disordersAnti-neuronal autoantibodiesSerum autoantibody titersAutoimmune neuropsychiatric disordersSydenham's choreaAutoantibody titersEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assayCerebrospinal fluidNeuronal autoantigensNeuropsychiatric disordersPANDAS patientsPANDAS subjectsStreptococcal infectionHealthy controlsAcute symptomatic phaseBasal ganglia encephalitisGroup of autoantibodiesHealthy control subjectsCaMKII activationAttention deficit hyperactivity disorderHuman neuronal cellsDeficit hyperactivity disorderGroup of childrenAutoantibody biomarkersObsessive-compulsive disorder
2019
Dopamine Deficiency Reduces Striatal Cholinergic Interneuron Function in Models of Parkinson’s Disease
McKinley JW, Shi Z, Kawikova I, Hur M, Bamford IJ, Sudarsana Devi SP, Vahedipour A, Darvas M, Bamford NS. Dopamine Deficiency Reduces Striatal Cholinergic Interneuron Function in Models of Parkinson’s Disease. Neuron 2019, 103: 1056-1072.e6. PMID: 31324539, PMCID: PMC7102938, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.06.013.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAcetylcholineAmphetamineAnimalsCholinergic NeuronsCyclic AMP-Dependent Protein KinasesDisease Models, AnimalDopamineDopamine AgentsDopamine Plasma Membrane Transport ProteinsHyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated ChannelsInterneuronsMiceNeostriatumParkinson DiseasePatch-Clamp TechniquesReceptors, Dopamine D1Receptors, Dopamine D2Transcription, GeneticConceptsParkinson's diseaseDA deficiencyACh availabilityD1-type DA receptorsHyperpolarization-activated cation channelsRelease of acetylcholineStriatal acetylcholineDA receptorsStriatal interneuronsMotor deficitsDopamine deficiencyDA releasePharmacological treatmentResidual axonsStriatal synapsesMotor functionInterneuron functionAcetylcholineCognitive functionHCN channelsDiseaseCation channelsDopamineSpike timingDeficiency
2015
Neuronal Antibody Biomarkers for Sydenham’s Chorea Identify a New Group of Children with Chronic Recurrent Episodic Acute Exacerbations of Tic and Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms Following a Streptococcal Infection
Singer H, Mascaro-Blanco A, Alvarez K, Morris-Berry C, Kawikova I, Ben-Pazi H, Thompson C, Ali S, Kaplan E, Cunningham M. Neuronal Antibody Biomarkers for Sydenham’s Chorea Identify a New Group of Children with Chronic Recurrent Episodic Acute Exacerbations of Tic and Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms Following a Streptococcal Infection. PLOS ONE 2015, 10: e0120499. PMID: 25793715, PMCID: PMC4368605, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120499.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAntibodiesAntistreptolysinAutoantibodiesBiomarkersCalcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2Case-Control StudiesChildChoreaChronic DiseaseDeoxyribonucleasesDisease ProgressionFemaleHumansImmunoglobulin GLongitudinal StudiesMaleNeuronsObsessive-Compulsive DisorderRecurrenceStreptococcal InfectionsTicsConceptsSydenham's choreaCaMKII activityChoreiform movementsActivation of calcium calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIAntibody titersInstitutional control groupCalcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIRespiratory tract infectionsLongitudinal serum samplesObsessive-compulsive disorderAntibody-mediated activationCalmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIMedian valueProtein kinase IIAntineuronal antibodiesElevated antibodiesTract infectionsClinical exacerbationAcute exacerbationStreptococcal infectionEpisodic acute exacerbationsIncreased antibodyAntibody biomarkersRecurrent ticsCaMKII
2014
Diagnostic and therapeutic potentials of exosomes in CNS diseases
Kawikova I, Askenase PW. Diagnostic and therapeutic potentials of exosomes in CNS diseases. Brain Research 2014, 1617: 63-71. PMID: 25304360, PMCID: PMC4862949, DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2014.09.070.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCell communication systemIntercellular communicationGenetic materialPhysiological functionsMicro RNAsExosomesNovel diagnostic biomarkersUnique siteIndividual exosomesTantalizing questionPathological processesGlial cellsRecognition of antigenCellsFundamental roleHippocampal neuronsCNS cellsTherapeutic potentialDiagnostic biomarkersDistant sitesPrecise targetingDiscoverySitesRNAExtracellular nanoparticles
2013
Neuroprotection against neuroblastoma cell death induced by depletion of mitochondrial glutathione
Dukhande VV, Kawikova I, Bothwell AL, Lai JC. Neuroprotection against neuroblastoma cell death induced by depletion of mitochondrial glutathione. Apoptosis 2013, 18: 702-712. PMID: 23494481, PMCID: PMC3645366, DOI: 10.1007/s10495-013-0836-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsApoptosisAzolesbcl-2-Associated X ProteinButhionine SulfoximineCell Line, TumorCell SurvivalCoculture TechniquesCytochromes cCytosolEthacrynic AcidGlioblastomaGlutathioneHumansIsoindolesMitochondriaNeuroblastomaNeuronsOrganoselenium CompoundsProto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2Reactive Oxygen SpeciesConceptsSK-N-SH cellsMitochondrial glutathioneCell deathNeuroblastoma cell deathMitochondrial dysfunctionCellular reactive oxygen speciesMitochondrial glutathione poolPrevention of apoptosisMitochondrial glutathione depletionNeurodegenerative disordersOxidative stressGlutathione depletionReactive oxygen speciesGlutathione poolDistinct inhibitorsApoptotic deathGlutathione metabolismEthacrynic acidROS productionOxygen speciesBCL2 overexpressionGSH depletionApoptosisL-buthionineCells
2012
Association of MIF with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Kawikova I, Leckman J, Morer A, Grigorenko E. Association of MIF with Autism Spectrum Disorders. 2012, 377-388. DOI: 10.1142/9789814335362_0020.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2011
Risperidone-Related Improvement of Irritability in Children with Autism Is not Associated with Changes in Serum of Epidermal Growth Factor and Interleukin-13
Tobiasova Z, van der Lingen KH, Scahill L, Leckman JF, Zhang Y, Chae W, McCracken JT, McDougle CJ, Vitiello B, Tierney E, Aman MG, Arnold LE, Katsovich L, Hoekstra PJ, Volkmar F, Bothwell AL, Kawikova I. Risperidone-Related Improvement of Irritability in Children with Autism Is not Associated with Changes in Serum of Epidermal Growth Factor and Interleukin-13. Journal Of Child And Adolescent Psychopharmacology 2011, 21: 555-564. PMID: 22070180, PMCID: PMC3279715, DOI: 10.1089/cap.2010.0134.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMedication-free subjectsEpidermal growth factorHealthy controlsInflammatory markersIL-13IL-1 receptor antagonistGrowth factorSerum inflammatory markersChemoattractant protein-1Placebo groupClinical improvementBaseline visitIL-17Serum levelsCytokine concentrationsInflammatory moleculesSerum concentrationsClinical trialsHealthy subjectsIL-1Interleukin-13RisperidoneAltered levelsProtein 1Diagnosis of autism
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Yale School of Medicine
c/o Professor Li Wen, 300 Cedar St.
New Haven, CT 06510
United States