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Santina CHIECHIO

Associate Professor of Pharmacology [BIO/14]
Contacts

Office: Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco e della Salute -
Email: santina.chiechio@unict.it - chiechio@unict.it
Phone: 095 7384037

Office Hours
Tuesday and Thursday from 12:00 to 13:00
Location: Casetta rurale - Biometec, via Santa Sofia 97, Catania

 

 

  1. Vicario N, Denaro S, Turnaturi R, Longhitano L, Spitale FM, Spoto S, Marrazzo A, Zappalà A, Tibullo D, Li Volti G, Chiechio S, Pasquinucci L, Parenti R, Parenti C. Mu and Delta Opioid Receptor Targeting Reduces Connexin 43-Based Heterocellular Coupling during Neuropathic Pain. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 May 24;23(11):5864. doi: 10.3390/ijms23115864. PMID: 35682543; PMCID: PMC9180638.
  2. Turnaturi R, Chiechio S, Pasquinucci L, Spoto S, Costanzo G, Dichiara M, Piana S, Grasso M, Amata E, Marrazzo A, Parenti C. Novel N-normetazocine Derivatives with Opioid Agonist/Sigma-1 Receptor Antagonist Profile as Potential Analgesics in Inflammatory Pain. Molecules. 2022 Aug 12;27(16):5135. doi: 10.3390/molecules27165135. PMID: 36014375; PMCID: PMC9413390.
  3. Chiechio S, Zammataro M, Barresi M, Amenta M, Ballistreri G, Fabroni S, Rapisarda P. A Standardized Extract Prepared from Red Orange and Lemon Wastes Blocks High-Fat Diet-Induced Hyperglycemia and Hyperlipidemia in Mice. Molecules. 2021 Jul 15;26(14):4291. doi: 10.3390/molecules26144291. PMID:34299566; PMCID: PMC8304280.
  4. Vicario N, Turnaturi R, Spitale FM, Torrisi F, Zappalà A, Gulino R, Pasquinucci L, Chiechio S, Parenti C, Parenti R. Intercellular communication and ion channels in neuropathic pain chronicization. Inflamm Res. 2020 Sep;69(9):841-850. doi: 10.1007/s00011-020-01363-9. Epub 2020 Jun 12. PMID:32533221.
  5. Puglia C, Santonocito D, Bonaccorso A, Musumeci T, Ruozi B, Pignatello R, Carbone C, Parenti C, Chiechio S. Lipid Nanoparticle Inclusion Prevents Capsaicin-Induced TRPV1 Defunctionalization. Pharmaceutics. 2020 Apr 10;12(4):339. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12040339. PMID: 32290081; PMCID:PMC7238012.
  6. Turnaturi R, Pasquinucci L, Chiechio S, Grasso M, Marrazzo A, Amata E, Dichiara M, Prezzavento O, Parenti C. Exploiting the Power of Stereochemistry in Drug Action: 3-[(2S,6S,11S)-8-Hydroxy-6,11-dimethyl-1,4,5,6 -tetrahydro-2,6-methano-3-benzazocin-3(2H)-yl]-N-phenylpropanamide as Potent Sigma-1 Receptor Antagonist. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2020 Apr 1;11(7):999-1005. doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00688. Epub 2020 Mar 23. PMID:32186844. 
  7. Turnaturi R, Chiechio S, Salerno L, Rescifina A, Pittalà V, Cantarella G, Tomarchio E, Parenti C, Pasquinucci L. Progress in the development of more effective and safer analgesics for pain management. Eur J Med Chem. 2019 Dec 1;183:111701. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.111701. Epub 2019 Sep 16. PMID:31550662.
  8. Seggio M, Contino A, Maccarrone G, Parenti C, Merlo S, Pappalardo G, Giuffrida A, Chiechio S. Preclinical evidence of enhanced analgesic activity of duloxetine complexed with succinyl-β-cyclodextrin: A comparative study with cyclodextrin complexes. Int J Pharm. 2019 May 31;566:391-399. doi:10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.05.077. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31158453.
  9.  Romeo G, Prezzavento O, Intagliata S, Pittalà V, Modica MN, Marrazzo A, Turnaturi R, Parenti C, Chiechio S, Arena E, Campisi A, Sposito G, Salerno L. Synthesis, in vitro and in vivo characterization of new benzoxazole and benzothiazole-based sigma receptor ligands. Eur J Med Chem. 2019 Jul 15;174:226-235. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.04.056. Epub 2019 Apr 21. PubMed PMID: 31042618.
  10. Vicario N, Pasquinucci L, Spitale FM, Chiechio S, Turnaturi R, Caraci F, Tibullo D, Avola R, Gulino R, Parenti R, Parenti C. Simultaneous Activation of Mu and Delta Opioid Receptors Reduces Allodynia and Astrocytic Connexin 43 in an Animal Model of Neuropathic Pain. Mol Neurobiol. 2019 Apr 28. doi:10.1007/s12035-019-1607-1. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31030416.
  11. Pasquinucci L, Turnaturi R, Calò G, Pappalardo F, Ferrari F, Russo G, Arena E, Montenegro L, Chiechio S, Prezzavento O, Parenti C. (2S)-N-2-methoxy-2-phenylethyl-6,7-benzomorphan compound (2S-LP2): Discovery of a biased mu/delta opioid receptor agonist. Eur J Med Chem. 2019 Apr 15;168:189-198. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.02.043. Epub 2019 Feb 18. PubMed PMID: 30822708.
  12. Pasquinucci L, Turnaturi R, Montenegro L, Caraci F, Chiechio S, Parenti C. Simultaneous targeting of MOR/DOR: A useful strategy for inflammatory pain modulation. Eur J Pharmacol. 2019 Mar 15;847:97-102. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2019.01.031. Epub 2019 Jan 25. PubMed PMID: 30690004.
  13. Chiechio S, Canonico PL, Grilli M. l-Acetylcarnitine: A Mechanistically Distinctive and Potentially Rapid-Acting Antidepressant Drug. Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Dec 21;19(1). pii: E11. doi: 10.3390/ijms19010011. Review. PubMed PMID: 29267192; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5795963.
  14. Zammataro M, Merlo S, Barresi M, Parenti C, Hu H, Sortino MA, Chiechio S. Chronic Treatment with Fluoxetine Induces Sex-Dependent Analgesic Effects and Modulates HDAC2 and mGlu2 Expression in Female Mice. Front Pharmacol. 2017 Oct 20;8:743. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00743. eCollection 2017. PubMed PMID: 29104538; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5654865.
  15. Montenegro L, Pasquinucci L, Zappalà A, Chiechio S, Turnaturi R, Parenti C. Rosemary Essential Oil-Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles: In Vivo Topical Activity from Gel Vehicles. Pharmaceutics. 2017 Oct 21;9(4). pii: E48. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics9040048. PubMed PMID: 29065483.
  16. Vicario N, Parenti R, Arico' G, Turnaturi R, Scoto GM, Chiechio S, Parenti C. Repeated activation of delta opiod receptors counteracts nerve injury-induced TNF-α up-regulation in the sciatic nerve of rats with neuropathic pain: A possible correlation with delta opiod receptors-mediated antiallodinic effect. Mol Pain. 2016 Sep 2;12. pii: 1744806916667949. doi: 10.1177/1744806916667949.Print 2016. PubMed PMID: 27590071; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5024981.
  17. Chiechio S. Modulation of Chronic Pain by Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors. Adv Pharmacol. 2016;75:63-89. doi: 10.1016/bs.apha.2015.11.001. Epub 2016 Jan 6. Review. PubMed PMID: 26920009.
  18. Parenti C, Aricò G, Chiechio S, Di Benedetto G, Parenti R, Scoto GM. Involvement of the Heme-Oxygenase Pathway in the Antiallodynic and Antihyperalgesic Activity of Harpagophytum procumbens in Rats. Molecules. 2015 Sep 15;20(9):16758-69. doi: 10.3390/molecules200916758. PubMed PMID: 26389871.
  19. Giuffrida ML, Tomasello MF, Pandini G, Caraci F, Battaglia G, Busceti C, Di Pietro P, Pappalardo G, Attanasio F, Chiechio S, Bagnoli S, Nacmias B, Sorbi S, Vigneri R, Rizzarelli E, Nicoletti F, Copani A. Monomeric ß-amyloid interacts with type-1 insulin-like growth factor receptors to provide energy supply to neurons. Front Cell Neurosci. 2015 Aug 7;9:297. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00297. eCollection 2015. PubMed PMID: 26300732; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4528168.
  20. Zammataro M, Sortino MA, Parenti C, Gereau RW 4th, Chiechio S. HDAC and HAT inhibitors differently affect analgesia mediated by group II metabotropic glutamate receptors. Mol Pain. 2014 Nov 18;10:68. doi: 10.1186/1744-8069-10-68. PubMed PMID: 25406541; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4247606.
  21. Onofrj M, Ciccocioppo F, Varanese S, di Muzio A, Calvani M, Chiechio S, Osio M, Thomas A. Acetyl-L-carnitine: from a biological curiosity to a drug for the peripheral nervous system and beyond. Expert Rev Neurother. 2013 Aug;13(8):925-36. doi: 10.1586/14737175.2013.814930. Review. PubMed PMID: 23965166.
  22. Giuffrida ML, Tomasello F, Caraci F, Chiechio S, Nicoletti F, Copani A. Beta-amyloid monomer and insulin/IGF-1 signaling in Alzheimer's disease. Mol Neurobiol. 2012 Dec;46(3):605-13. doi: 10.1007/s12035-012-8313-6. Epub 2012 Aug 12. Review. PubMed PMID: 22886436.
  23. Puglia C, Frasca G, Musumeci T, Rizza L, Puglisi G, Bonina F, Chiechio S. Curcumin loaded NLC induces histone hypoacetylation in the CNS after intraperitoneal administration in mice. Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2012 Jun;81(2):288-93. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2012.03.015. Epub 2012 Apr 3. PubMed PMID: 22504443.
  24. Chiechio S, Nicoletti F. Metabotropic glutamate receptors and the control of chronic pain. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2012 Feb;12(1):28-34. doi: 10.1016/j.coph.2011.10.010. Epub 2011 Oct 29. Review. PubMed PMID: 22040745. 
  25. Spampinato S, Trabucco A, Biasiotta A, Biagioni F, Cruccu G, Copani A, Colledge WH, Sortino MA, Nicoletti F, Chiechio S. Hyperalgesic activity of kisspeptin in mice. Mol Pain. 2011 Nov 23;7:90. doi: 10.1186/1744-8069-7-90. PubMed PMID: 22112588; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3284433.
  26. Puglia C, Sarpietro MG, Bonina F, Castelli F, Zammataro M, Chiechio S. Development, characterization, and in vitro and in vivo evaluation of benzocaine-and lidocaine-loaded nanostructrured lipid carriers. J Pharm Sci. 2011 May;100(5):1892-9. doi: 10.1002/jps.22416. Epub 2010 Dec 10. PubMed PMID: 21374621. 
  27. Zammataro M, Chiechio S, Montana MC, Traficante A, Copani A, Nicoletti F, Gereau RW 4th. mGlu2 metabotropic glutamate receptors restrain inflammatory pain and mediate the analgesic activity of dual mGlu2/mGlu3 receptor agonists. Mol Pain. 2011 Jan 14;7:6. doi: 10.1186/1744-8069-7-6. PubMed PMID: 21235748; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3030510.
  28. Chiechio S, Copani A, Zammataro M, Battaglia G, Gereau RW 4th, Nicoletti F. Transcriptional regulation of type-2 metabotropic glutamate receptors: an epigenetic path to novel treatments for chronic pain. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2010 Apr;31(4):153-60. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2009.12.003. Epub 2010 Jan 11. PubMed PMID:20064669. 
  29. Chiechio S, Zammataro M, Morales ME, Busceti CL, Drago F, Gereau RW 4th, Copani A, Nicoletti F. Epigenetic modulation of mGlu2 receptors by histone deacetylase inhibitors in the treatment of inflammatory pain. Mol Pharmacol. 2009 May;75(5):1014-20. doi: 10.1124/mol.108.054346. Epub 2009 Mar 2. PubMed PMID: 19255242.
  30. Chiechio S, Zammataro M, Caraci F, Rampello L, Copani A, Sabato AF, Nicoletti F. Pregabalin in the treatment of chronic pain: an overview. Clin Drug Investig. 2009;29(3):203-13. doi: 10.2165/00044011-200929030-00006. Review. PubMed PMID: 19243212. 
  31. Zhao ZQ, Chiechio S, Sun YG, Zhang KH, Zhao CS, Scott M, Johnson RL, Deneris ES, Renner KJ, Gereau RW 4th, Chen ZF. Mice lacking central serotonergic neurons show enhanced inflammatory pain and an impaired analgesic response to antidepressant drugs. J Neurosci. 2007 May 30;27(22):6045-53. PubMed PMID: 17537976. 
  32. Chiechio S, Copani A, Gereau RW 4th, Nicoletti F. Acetyl-L-carnitine in neuropathic pain: experimental data. CNS Drugs. 2007;21 Suppl 1:31-8; discussion 45-6. Review. PubMed PMID: 17696591.
  33. De Petris L, Hruska KA, Chiechio S, Liapis H. Bone morphogenetic protein-7 delays podocyte injury due to high glucose. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2007 Dec;22(12):3442-50. Epub 2007 Aug 8. PubMed PMID: 17686813.
  34. Chiechio S, Copani A, De Petris L, Morales ME, Nicoletti F, Gereau RW 4th. Transcriptional regulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 2/3 expression by the NF-kappaB pathway in primary dorsal root ganglia neurons: a possible mechanism for the analgesic effect of L-acetylcarnitine. Mol Pain. 2006 Jun 9;2:20. PubMed PMID: 16764720; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC1550235.
  35. Zhao ZQ, Scott M, Chiechio S, Wang JS, Renner KJ, Gereau RW 4th, Johnson RL, Deneris ES, Chen ZF. Lmx1b is required for maintenance of central serotonergic neurons and mice lacking central serotonergic system exhibit normal locomotor activity. J Neurosci. 2006 Dec 6;26(49):12781-8. PubMed PMID: 17151281. 
  36. Chiechio S, Copani A, Nicoletti F, Gereau RW 4th. L-acetylcarnitine: a proposed therapeutic agent for painful peripheral neuropathies. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2006 Jul;4(3):233-7. PubMed PMID: 18615142; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2430690.
  37. Frasca G, Chiechio S, Vancheri C, Nicoletti F, Copani A, Angela Sortino M. Beta-amyloid-activated cell cycle in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells: correlation with the MAP kinase pathway. J Mol Neurosci. 2004;22(3):231-6. PubMed PMID:14997017. 
  38. Rampello L, Chiechio S, Nicoletti G, Alvano A, Vecchio I, Raffaele R, Malaguarnera M. Prediction of the response to citalopram and reboxetine in post-stroke depressed patients. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2004 Apr;173(1-2):73-8. Epub 2003 Dec 17. PubMed PMID: 14685645. 
  39. Rampello L, Alvano A, Chiechio S, Malaguarnera M, Raffaele R, Vecchio I, Nicoletti F. Evaluation of the prophylactic efficacy of amitriptyline and citalopram, alone or in combination, in patients with comorbidity of depression, migraine, and tension-type headache. Neuropsychobiology. 2004;50(4):322-8. PubMed PMID: 15539864.
  40. Chiechio S, Copani A, Melchiorri D, Canudas AM, Storto M, Calvani M, Nicolai R, Nicoletti F. Metabotropic receptors as targets for drugs of potential use in the treatment of neuropathic pain. J Endocrinol Invest. 2004;27(6 Suppl):171-6. Review. PubMed PMID: 15481819. 
  41. Sortino MA, Frasca G, Chisari M, Platania P, Chiechio S, Vancheri C, Copani A, Canonico PL. Novel neuronal targets for the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor donepezil. Neuropharmacology. 2004 Dec;47(8):1198-204. PubMed PMID: 15567429.
  42. Rampello L, Alvano A, Chiechio S, Raffaele R, Vecchio I, Malaguarnera M. An evaluation of efficacy and safety of reboxetine in elderly patients affected by "retarded" post-stroke depression. A random, placebo-controlled study. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2005 May-Jun;40(3):275-85. Epub 2004 Dec 7. PubMed PMID: 15814161.
  43. Manahan-Vaughan D, Ngomba RT, Storto M, Kulla A, Catania MV, Chiechio S, Rampello L, Passarelli F, Capece A, Reymann KG, Nicoletti F. An increased expression of the mGlu5 receptor protein following LTP induction at the performant path-dentate gyrus synapse in freely moving rats. Neuropharmacology. 2003 Jan;44(1):17-25. PubMed PMID: 12559118. 
  44. Caraci F, Chisari M, Frasca G, Chiechio S, Salomone S, Pinto A, Sortino MA, Bianchi A. Effects of phenformin on the proliferation of human tumor cell lines. Life Sci. 2003 Dec 19;74(5):643-50. PubMed PMID: 14623034.
  45. Rampello L, Chiechio S, Raffaele R, Vecchio I, Nicoletti F. The SSRI, citalopram, improves bradykinesia in patients with Parkinson's disease treated with L-dopa. Clin Neuropharmacol. 2002 Jan-Feb;25(1):21-4. PubMed PMID: 11852292.
  46. Chiechio S, Caricasole A, Barletta E, Storto M, Catania MV, Copani A, Vertechy M, Nicolai R, Calvani M, Melchiorri D, Nicoletti F. L-Acetylcarnitine induces analgesia by selectively up-regulating mGlu2 metabotropic glutamate receptors. Mol Pharmacol. 2002 May;61(5):989-96. PubMed PMID: 11961116.
  47. Copani A, Sortino MA, Caricasole A, Chiechio S, Chisari M, Battaglia G, Giuffrida-Stella AM, Vancheri C, Nicoletti F. Erratic expression of DNA polymerases by beta-amyloid causes neuronal death. FASEB J. 2002 Dec;16(14):2006-8. Epub 2002 Oct 18. PubMed PMID: 12397084.
  48. Pignatello R, Amico D, Chiechio S, Spadaro C, Puglisi G, Giunchedi P. Preparation and analgesic activity of Eudragit RS100 microparticles containing diflunisal. Drug Deliv. 2001 Jan-Mar;8(1):35-45. PubMed PMID: 11280442. 
  49. Arrigo-Reina R, Chiechio S. Evidence of a key-role for histamine from mast cells in the analgesic effect of clomipramine in rats. Inflamm Res. 1998 Feb;47(2):44-8. PubMed PMID: 9535540.
  50. Chiechio S, Spadaro C, Arrigo-Reina R. H3-histamine receptors and clonidine analgesia in rats. Inflamm Res. 1997 Mar;46 Suppl 1:S43-4. PubMed PMID: 9098757.
  51. Chiechio S, Spadaro C, Arrigo-Reina R. H3-histamine receptors and clonidine analgesia in rats. Inflamm Res. 1997 Mar;46(Suppl 1):43-4. doi: 10.1007/s000110050054. PubMed PMID: 27517995.
  52. Arrigo-Reina R, Chiechio S. Histaminergic mechanisms in clonidine induced analgesia in rat tail-flick test. Inflamm Res. 1995 Jan;44(1):21-3. PubMed PMID: 7664025.
  53. Mazzone G, Pignatello R, Mazzone S, Panico A, Barbera F, Catti T, Chiechio S, Arrigo-Reina R, Castorina C, Russo A. Synthesis of carboxyalkylthio-triazoles and bicyclic derivatives with antiinflammatory and analgesic activity. Farmaco. 1992 Feb;47(2):149-69. PubMed PMID: 1324687.
  54. A. Synthesis of carboxyalkylthio-triazoles and bicyclic derivatives with antiinflammatory and analgesic activity. Farmaco. 1992 Feb;47(2):149-69. PubMed PMID: 1324687. 
VIEW THE COURSES FROM THE A.Y. 2022/2023 TO THE PRESENT

Academic Year 2021/2022

Academic Year 2020/2021

Academic Year 2019/2020

Academic Year 2018/2019

Academic Year 2017/2018

Academic Year 2016/2017

Academic Year 2015/2016

Our gorup has a strong expertise and experience in molecular, cellular and behavioral pharmacology.

For years this group has been involved in the field of neuropharmacology of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) in chronic pain and depression. Particular interest has been devoted to the epigenetic modulation of mGlu2 receptor expression in brain region involved in pain and to the therapeutic potential of combining epigenetic treatment with classical orthosteric ligands.