Dr. Graziano Pinna
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Dr. Graziano Pinna

Associate Professor
University of Illinois at Chicago, USA

Highest Degree
Ph.D. in Neurosciences from Free University Berlin, Germany

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Biography

Dr. Graziano Pinna is currently working as Associate/External Partner of the Consortium Europeen NeuroRhine, Research Associate Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Visiting Professor at the Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Section of Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Pharmacology - Escola Paulista de Medicina (UNIFESP-EPM), Sao Paulo, Brazil. He has completed his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany. Previously he was appointed as Research Scientist and Scientist at Free University of Berlin, Visiting Scholar supported by the Human Frontiers Science Program Organization working with E. Costa, MD, at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Psychiatric Institute, Research Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is professional member of Society for Neuroscience, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Society for Women’s Health Research and Neuroscience Society. He is member of editorial board in number of journals. He is supervising 4 PhD thesis. Dr. Pinna has extensive expertise in establishing rodent models of Psychiatric Disorders, including PTSD, Depression, and Schizophrenia and investigating the Neurobiology of these Neuropathology at the Molecular, Cellular, and circuit level. Dr. Pinna’s expertise includes Molecular Pharmacology, Electrophysiology, Biochemistry Assays and Histological Analysis, in situ Hybridization, Immunohistochemistry, Fluorescence Applications, Laser Capture Microdissection Associated with mRNA And Protein Determination, Molecular/Cellular Biology, Genetics, and Behavioral Pharmacology. Dr. Pinna’s laboratory has established the state-of-the-art technology to determine Neurosteroids by Gas-Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). His lab is currently one of two sites in the USA to use this technology to determine Neurosteroids in Human Clinical Studies and Rodent Models. He has published 62 research articles in journals as well as 3 book chapters, 2 books contributed as author/co-author. He also completed 4 research projects.

Area of Interest:

Pharmacology and Toxicology
100%
Neuroendocrinology
62%
Cannabinoids
90%
Neuropharmacology
75%
Drug Discovery
55%

Research Publications in Numbers

Books
0
Chapters
0
Articles
0
Abstracts
0

Selected Publications

  1. Pinna, G., 2015. The Neurosteroidogenic Action of Fluoxetine Unveils the Mechanism for the Anxiolytic Property of SSRIs. In: Fluoxetine: Pharmacology, Mechanisms of Action and Potential Side Effects. Pinna, G. (Ed.). Nova Science Publishers, Inc. US, ISBN: 978-1-63482-076-9, pp 25-42.
  2. Pinna, G., 2014. Therapeutic strategies to increase neurosteroidogenesis and improve PTSD by enhancing GABAergic neurotransmission. Innovations Pharm. Pharmacother., 1: 285-296.
  3. Pinna, G. and A.M. Rasmusson, 2014. Ganaxolone improves behavioral deficits in a mouse model of post-traumatic stress disorder. Front. Cell. Neurosci. Vol. 8 10.3389/fncel.2014.00256.
    CrossRef  |  
  4. Agis-Balboa, R.C., A. Guidotti and G. Pinna, 2014. 5α-reductase type I expression is downregulated in the prefrontal cortex/Brodmann's area 9 (BA9) of depressed patients. Psychopharmacol., 231: 3569-3580.
    CrossRef  |  
  5. Pinna, G., 2013. Targeting neurosteroidogenesis as therapy for PTSD. Front. Pharmacol. Vol1 4 10.3389/fphar.2013.00166.
    CrossRef  |  
  6. Pinna, G. and A.M. Rasmusson, 2012. Up-Regulation of Neurosteroid Biosynthesis as a Pharmacological Strategy to Improve Behavioural Deficits in a Putative Mouse Model of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. J. Neuroendocrinol., 24: 102-116.
    CrossRef  |  
  7. Pinna, G., 2011. SSRIs act as selective brain steroidogenic stimulants (SBSSs): Insight into a non-serotonergic mechanism of action of SSRIs in mood and anxiety disorders. Trabajos Inst. Cajal, 83: 46-47.
  8. Pinna, G., 2011. Neurosteroid Biosynthesis Upregulation: A Novel Promising Therapy for Anxiety Disorders and PTSD. In: Anxiety Disorders Kalinin, V. (Ed.). InTech, US, ISBN: 978-953-307-592-1, pp 307-324.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  9. Nin, S.M., L.A. Martinez, R. Thomas, M. Nelson and G. Pinna, 2011. Allopregnanolone and S-norfluoxetine decrease anxiety-like behavior in a mouse model of anxiety/depression. Trabajos del Instituto Cajal, 83: 215-216.
  10. Nin, M.S., L.A. Martinez, F. Pibiri, M. Nelson and G. Pinna, 2011. Neurosteroids reduce social isolation-induced behavioral deficits: a proposed link with neurosteroid-mediated upregulation of BDNF expression. Front. Endocrinol., 10.3389/fendo.2011.00073.
    CrossRef  |  
  11. Nelson, M. and G. Pinna, 2011. S-norfluoxetine microinfused into the basolateral amygdala increases allopregnanolone levels and reduces aggression in socially isolated mice. Neuropharmacol., 60: 1154-1159.
    CrossRef  |  
  12. Hunter, M.P., M. Nelson, M. Kurzer, X. Wang and R.J. Kryscio et al., 2011. Intersectin 1 contributes to phenotypes in vivo: implications for Down’s syndrome. Neuroreport, 22: 767-772.
    CrossRef  |  
  13. Guidotti, A., J. Auta, Y. Chen, J.M. Davis and E. Dong et al., 2011. Epigenetic GABAergic targets in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Neuropharmacol., 60: 1007-1016.
    CrossRef  |  
  14. Pinna, G., 2010. In a mouse model relevant for post-traumatic stress disorder, selective brain steroidogenic stimulants (SBSS) improve behavioral deficits by normalizing allopregnanolone biosynthesis. Behav. Pharmacol., 21: 438-450.
    CrossRef  |  
  15. Matrisciano, F., A.M.E. Modafferi, G.I. Togna, Y. Barone, G. Pinna, F. Nicoletti and S. Scaccianoce, 2010. Repeated anabolic androgenic steroid treatment causes antidepressant-reversible alterations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, BDNF levels and behavior. Neuropharmacology, 58: 1078-1084.
    CrossRef  |  
  16. Lyons, T., D. Berger, B. Masini and G. Pinna, 2010. Self-reported psychological distress associated with steroid therapy for HIV. Int. J. STD AIDS, 21: 832-834.
    CrossRef  |  
  17. Pinna, G., E. Costa and A. Guidotti, 2009. SSRIs act as selective brain steroidogenic stimulants (SBSSs) at low doses that are inactive on 5-HT reuptake. Curr. Opin. Pharmacol., 9: 24-30.
    CrossRef  |  
  18. Agis-Balboa, R.C., F. Pibiri, M. Nelson and G. Pinna, 2009. Enhanced fear responses in mice treated with anabolic androgenic steroids. Neuroreport, 22: 617-621.
    CrossRef  |  
  19. Tueting, P., G. Pinna and E. Costa, 2008. Homozygous and Heterozygous Reeler Mouse Mutants. In: Reelin Glycoprotein: Structure, Biology and Roles in Health Disease. Fatemi, S.H. (Ed.). Springer New York, USA, ISBN: 978-0-387-76760-4, pp 291-309.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  20. Pinna, G., R.C. Agis-Balboa, F. Pibiri, M. Nelson, A. Guidotti and E. Costa, 2008. Neurosteroid Biosynthesis Regulates Sexually Dimorphic Fear and Aggressive Behavior in Mice. Neurochem. Res., 33: 1990-2007.
    CrossRef  |  
  21. Pibiri, F., M. Nelson, A. Guidotti, E. Costa and G. Pinna, 2008. Decreased corticolimbic allopregnanolone expression during social isolation enhances contextual fear: A model relevant for posttraumatic stress disorder. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., 105: 5567-5572.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  22. Pibiri, F., A.P. Kozikowski, G. Pinna, J. Auta, B. Kadriu, E. Costa and A. Guidotti, 2008. The combination of huperzine A and imidazenil is an effective strategy to prevent diisopropyl fluorophosphate toxicity in mice. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., 105: 14169-14174.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  23. Matsumoto, K., G. Puia, E. Dong and G. Pinna, 2007. GABAA receptor neurotransmission dysfunction in a mouse model of social isolation-induced stress: Possible insights into a non-serotonergic mechanism of action of SSRIs in mood and anxiety disorders. Stress, 10: 3-12.
    CrossRef  |  
  24. Chen, Y., M. Kundakovic, R.C. Agis-Balboa, G. Pinna and D.R. Grayson, 2007. Induction of the reelin promoter by retinoic acid is mediated by Sp1. J. Neurochem., 103: 650-665.
    CrossRef  |  PubMed  |  Direct Link  |  
  25. Agis-Balboa, R.C., G. Pinna, B. Kadriu, E. Costa and A. Guidotti, 2007. Downregulation of 5α-reductase type I mRNA expression in cortico-limbic glutamatergic circuits of mice socially isolated for four weeks. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., 104: 18736-18741.
  26. Pinna, G., R.C. Agis-Balboa, A. Zhubi, K. Matsumoto, D.R. Grayson, E. Costa and A. Guidotti, 2006. Imidazenil and diazepam increase locomotor activity in mice exposed to protracted social isolation. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., 103: 4275-4280.
    CrossRef  |  PubMed  |  Direct Link  |  
  27. Pinna, G., E. Costa and A. Guidotti, 2006. Fluoxetine and norfluoxetine stereospecifically and selectively increase brain neurosteroid content at doses that are inactive on 5-HT reuptake. Psychopharmacol., 186: 362-372.
    CrossRef  |  
  28. Pibiri, F., M. Nelson, G. Carboni and G. Pinna, 2006. Neurosteroids regulate mouse aggression induced by anabolic androgenic steroids. Neuroreport, 17: 1537-1541.
    CrossRef  |  
  29. Guidotti, A., W. Ruzicka, D.R. Grayson, M. Veldic, G. Pinna, J.M. Davis and E. Costa, 2006. S-adenosyl methionine and DNA methyltransferase-1 mRNA overexpression in psychosis. Neuroreport, 18: 57-60.
    CrossRef  |  PubMed  |  Direct Link  |  
  30. Agis-Balboa, R.C., G. Pinna, A. Zhubi, E. Maloku, M. Veldic, E. Costa and A. Guidotti, 2006. Characterization of brain neurons that express enzymes mediating neurosteroid biosynthesis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., 103: 14602-14607.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  31. Tremolizzo, L., M.S. Doueiri, E. Dong, D.R. Grayson and G. Pinna et al., 2005. Valproate corrects the schizophrenia-like epigenetic behavioral modifications induced by methionine in mice. Biol Psychiatry, 57: 500-509.
    CrossRef  |  PubMed  |  Direct Link  |  
  32. Pinna, G., E. Costa and A. Guidotti, 2005. Changes in brain testosterone and allopregnanolone biosynthesis elicit aggressive behavior. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., 102: 2135-2140.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  33. Pinna, G., R.C. Agis-Balboa, M.S. Doueiri, A. Guidotti and E. Costa, 2004. Brain Neurosteroids in Gender-Related Aggression Induced by Social Isolation. Crit. Rev. Neurobiol., 16: 75-82.
    CrossRef  |  
  34. Pinna, G., E. Costa and A. Guidotti, 2004. Fluoxetine and norfluoxetine stereospecifically facilitate pentobarbital sedation by increasing neurosteroids. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., 101: 6222-6225.
    CrossRef  |  
  35. Cagetti, E., G. Pinna, A. Guidotti, K. Baicy and R.W. Olsen, 2004. Chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) administration in rats decreases levels of neurosteroids in hippocampus, accompanied by altered behavioral responses to neurosteroids and memory function. Neuropharmacol., 46: 570-579.
    CrossRef  |  
  36. Pinna, G., O. Broedel, M. Eravci, G. Stoltenburg-Didinger and H. Plueckhan et al., 2003. Thyroid hormones in the rat amygdala as common targets for antidepressant drugs, mood stabilizers, and sleep deprivation. Biol. Psychiatry, 54: 1049-1059.
    CrossRef  |  
  37. Pinna, G., E. Dong, K. Matsumoto, E. Costa and A. Guidotti, 2003. In socially isolated mice, the reversal of brain allopregnanolone down-regulation mediates the anti-aggressive action of fluoxetine. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., 100: 2035-2040.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  38. Wang, S., N. Shi, Z. Ji and G. Pinna, 2002. Effects of pyrethroids on the concentrations of thyroid hormones in the rat serum and brain. Chin. J. Ind. Hyg. Occup. Dis., 20: 173-176.
  39. Pinna, G., O. Brodel, T. Visser, A. Jeitner and H. Grau et al., 2002. Concentrations of Seven Iodothyronine Metabolites in Brain Regions and the Liver of the Adult Rat. Endocrinol., 143: 1789-1800.
    Direct Link  |  
  40. Moreno, M., A. Lombardi, L. Beneduce, E. Silvestri and G. Pinna et al., 2002. Are the Effects of T3 on Resting Metabolic Rate in Euthyroid Rats Entirely Caused by T3 Itself?. Endocrinol., 143: 504-510.
    Direct Link  |  
  41. Guidotti, A., E. Dong, K. Matsumoto, G. Pinna, A.M. Rasmusson and E. Costa, 2001. The socially-isolated mouse: a model to study the putative role of allopregnanolone and 5α-dihydroprogesterone in psychiatric disorders. Brain Res. Rev., 37: 110-115.
    CrossRef  |  
  42. Prengel, H., O. Brodel, L. Hiedra, G. Pinna, M. Eravci, H. Meinhold and A. Baumgartner, 2000. Effects of tranylcypromine on thyroid hormone metabolism and concentrations in rat brain. Neuropharmacol., 39: 99-109.
    CrossRef  |  
  43. Pinna, G., V. Uzunova, K. Matsumoto, G. Puia, J.M. Mienville, E. Costa and A. Guidotti, 2000. Brain allopregnanolone regulates the potency of the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol. Neuropharmacol., 39: 440-448.
    CrossRef  |  
  44. Eravci, M., O. Schulz, T. Grospietsch, G. Pinna and O. Brodel et al., 2000. Gene expression of receptors and enzymes involved in GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission in the CNS of rats behaviourally dependent on ethanol. Br. J. Pharmacol., 131: 423-432.
    CrossRef  |  
  45. Eravci, M., G. Pinna, H. Meinhold and A. Baumgartner, 2000. Effects of Pharmacological and Nonpharmacological Treatments on Thyroid Hormone Metabolism and Concentrations in Rat Brain. Endocrinol., 141: 1027-1040.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  46. Pinna, G., L. Hiedra, H. Prengel, O. Broedel and M. Eravci et al., 1999. Extraction and quantification of thyroid hormones in selected regions and subcellular fractions of the rat brain. Brain Res. Protoc., 4: 19-28.
    CrossRef  |  
  47. Matsumoto, K., V. Uzunova, G. Pinna, K. Taki and D.P. Uzunov et al., 1999. Permissive role of brain allopregnanolone content in the regulation of pentobarbital-induced righting reflex loss. Neuropharmacol., 38: 955-963.
    CrossRef  |  
  48. Eravci, M., S. Kley, G. Pinna, H. Prengel and O. Brodel et al., 1999. Gene expression of glucose transporters and glycolytic enzymes in the CNS of rats behaviorally dependent on ethanol. Mol. Brain. Res., 65: 103-111.
    CrossRef  |  
  49. Pinna, G., L. Hiedra, H. Meinhold, M. Eravci and H. Prengel et al., 1998. 3,3′-Diiodothyronine Concentrations in the Sera of Patients with Nonthyroidal Illnesses and Brain Tumors and of Healthy Subjects during Acute Stress. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 83: 3071-3077.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  50. Baumgartner, A., L. Hiedra, G. Pinna, M. Eravci, H. Prengel and H. Meinhold, 1998. Rat Brain Type II 5′-Iodothyronine Deiodinase Activity Is Extremely Sensitive to Stress. J. Neurochem., 71: 817-826.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  51. Baumgartner, A., G. Pinna, L. Hiedra, F. Bauer and J. Wolf et al., 1998. Effects of acute administration of ethanol and the μ-opiate agonist etonitazene on thyroid hormone metabolism in rat brain. Psychopharmacol., 135: 63-69.
    CrossRef  |  
  52. Pinna, G., R. Galici, H.H. Schneider, D.N. Stephens and L. Turski, 1997. Alprazolam dependence prevented by substituting with the β-carboline abecarnil. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., 94: 2719-2723.
    Direct Link  |  
  53. Pinna, G., H. Meinhold, L. Hiedra, R. Thoma and T. Hoell et al., 1997. Elevated 3,5-Diiodothyronine Concentrations in the Sera of Patients with Nonthyroidal Illnesses and Brain Tumors. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 82: 1535-1542.
    Direct Link  |  
  54. Galici, R., G. Pinna, D.N. Stephens, H.H. Schneider and L. Turski, 1997. Tolerance to and Dependence on Alprazolam are Due to Changes in GABAa Receptor Function and Are Independent of Exposure to Experimental Set-up. Restor. Neurol. Neurosci., 12: 233-237.
  55. Eravci, M., T. Grobpietsch, G. Pinna, O. Schulz and S. Kley et al., 1997. Dopamine receptor gene expression in an animal model of 'behavioral dependence' on ethanol. Mol. Brain. Res., 50: 221-229.
    CrossRef  |  
  56. Baumgartner, A., M. Eravci, G. Pinna, L. Hiedra and H. Prengel et al., 1997. Thyroid hormone metabolism in the rat brain in an animal model of ‘behavioral dependence’ on ethanol Neurosci. Lett., 227: 25-28.
    CrossRef  |  
  57. Baumgartner, A., G. Pinna, L. Hiedra, U. Gaio and C. Hessenius et al., 1997. Effects of lithium and carbamazepine on thyroid hormone metabolism in rat brain. Neuropsychopharmacol., 16: 25-41.
    CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  
  58. Campos-Barros, A., T. Hoell, A. Musa, S. Sampaolo and G. Stoltenburg et al., 1996. Phenolic and tyrosyl ring iodothyronine deiodination and thyroid hormone concentrations in the human central nervous system. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 81: 2179-2185.
    CrossRef  |  
  59. Pinna, G., U. Gaio, C. Hessenius, A. Campos-Barros, A. Musa and A. Baumgartner, 1995. Effects of lithium on thyroid hormone metabolism in rat brain. Behav. Pharmacol., 6: 25-26.
  60. Pinna, G., R. Galici, H. Schneider, D.N. Stephens and L. Turski, 1995. Electrophysiological and behavioural evidence that abecarnil suppresses dependence symptoms after alprazolam withdrawal in mice. Behav. Pharmacol., 6: 88-89.
  61. Pinna, G., R. Galici, H. Schneider, D.N. Stephens and L. Turski, 1995. Effects of ZK 93426 on withdrawal syndrome following chronic alprazolam in mice. Behav. Pharmacol., 6: 86-87.
  62. Musa, A., C. Hessenius, U.C. Gaio, A. Campos-Barros, G. Pinna and A. Baumgartner, 1995. Effects of carbamazepine on thyroid hormone metabolism in rat brain. Behav. Pharmacol., 6: 24-25.
  63. Concas, A., M.P. Mascia, G. Santoro, E. Maciocco, G. Pinna, E. Sanna and G. Biggio, 1994. Failure Of Gabaergic Drugs To Modulate [H-3] Propofol Binding In Rat-Brain. Neurosci. Res. Commun., 15: 21-29.

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