Filippo CARACI

Education and Academic Career

1.   Graduation from High School (60/60)

2000  Research internship in October-November 2000 at the  “Stroke and Neurovascular Regulation Laboratory, Massachussets General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston”  under the supervision of Prof. MA Moskowitz

2001  Graduation from School of medicine, (110/110 cum laude).

2005  Residency in Psychiatry (70/70 cum laude)

2009 International PhD Program in Neuropharmacology,

2009-2011: Postdoctoral research fellow in Pharmacology, University of Catania

 

Research and Professional Experience

2009-present: Author of the National Project Interdrugs aimed to study clinically meaningful  psychotropic drug- drug interactions in Neuropsychopharmacology;

2011-2018: Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, Italy (art.1 comma 14 L. 230/05 and art. 24 c.3-a L. 240/10 )(BIO/14);

2012-2019: Scientific Consultant in Neuropsychopharmacology Research Programs at IRCCS Associazione Oasi Maria SS., Troina, Italy;

2013-present  Scientific Coordinator of the Training Program Course in Psychopharmacology at University of Catania;

2013 and 2019-Visiting Professor at the Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada (Prof. A. Claudio Cuello, Professor and former Chair);

2015- Visiting Researcher and Visiting Professor at Neurocentre Magendie, INSERM U862, Pathophysiology of Neural plasticity, Université Bordeaux, France.

2016-2017: Visiting Professor at Neurocentre Magendie, INSERM U1215,  Université Bordeaux  as Winner of the Visiting Scholar Grant  2016 and 2017 at the University of Bordeaux.

2018: Scientific National Qualification for Full Professorship (Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale I Fascia- Settore concorsuale 05/G1 “Farmacologia, farmacologia clinica e farmacognosia”); expiring date: November 6^th 2027.

2018-2021: Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, Department of Drug Sciences, UniCT, Italy(art. 24 c.3-b L. 240/10) (BIO/14);

2019- Deputy Rector for Technology Transfer and Relations with Enterprises-Biomedical Area_UniCT

2021-present: Chief of the Unit of Neuropharmacology and Translational Neurosciences at IRCCS Oasi Research Institute Troina, Italy;

2021-present: Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, Italy (BIO/14).

2022-June: Visiting Professor at University of Kansas, KU Course: Neurodegenerative Disorders: An Introduction to Neurobiology and Pharmacological Strategies, NIH COBRE Center for Molecular Analysis of Disease Pathways (Lawrence, Kansas, USA).

 

 

Scientific Responsibility of Research grants and projects:

Principal investigator of the Neuropsychopharmacology Research Programs (2012-2021) at IRCCS Oasi :  1) (2012-2015) Role of TGF-ß1 in the pathogenesis and treatment of depression in AD) and TGF-ß1 as a biological marker for disease-modifying strategies in AD; 2) (2016-2021) Identification of novel pharmacological targets for the treatment of AD in DS patients: focus on TGF-ß1 and NGF pathways 3) (2018-2021): New strategies for drug discovery processes and for the pharmacological treatment of cognitive disorders associated with neurodegenerative diseases. From January 16 2018 designed at IRCCS Oasi Troina as the Coordinator of all research programs included in Research Line 4 (2018-2020)  “Cognitive disorders and neurodegenerative disorders: identification of novel  biomarkers and novel pharmacological targets” (for a total amount awarded of €212000).

-Principal Investigator of the international IIT research project (2015-2016) co-founded by Lundbeck entitled: “Evaluation of antidepressant efficacy of vortioxetine in an animal model of cognitive dysfunction: focus on memory deficits” (Amount awarded for year € 8000).

-Responsible of the Research Unit of University of Catania in the project PRIN 2016-2019 (Program of Relevant National interest-2015SKN9YT) entitled “Stress in adolescence: from cognitive alterations to vulnerability for psychiatric disorders” granted by Ministry of Education, Universities and Research, Italy; Scientific National Coordinator:  Prof. Marco Riva, University of Milan (Amount awarded for year €11000).

-Principal Investigator of the Visiting Scholar Grant 2016-2017 within the frame of the “Initiative of Excellence” Program of the University of Bordeaux entitled: “The cannabis pathway to schizophrenia: searching for new pharmacological strategies”. 

-Responsible of the Research Unit of University of Catania in the project PRIN 2019-2022 (Program of Relevant National interest- 2017AY8BP4_004) entitled “Early-life Stress and psychopathology: unraveling the mechanism of vulnerability and resilience ” granted by Ministry of Education, Universities and Research, Italy; Scientific National Coordinator:  Prof. Marco Riva, University of Milan (Amount awarded for year €126000).

-Principal Investigator such as Spin-Off Mimesis (Member)  - ISW: - In Silico World: Lowering barriers to ubiquitous adoption of In Silico Trials: Topic SC1-DTH-06-2020 Type of Action RIA, Call Identifier H2020-SC1-DTH-2018-2020 Deadline Id H2020-SC1-DTH-2020- Coordinator Prof. Marco Viceconti, University of Bologna (Amount awarded to Mimesis: €379.750);

-Responsible of the Research Unit of IRCCS Oasi Troina and Coordinator of the Communication Board in the European Project ICOD “Improving cognitive performance in Down syndrome patients”, della call “European  Commission New interventions for Non-Communicable Diseases call of the H2020 Programme” First Stage application to SC1-BHC-08-2020, Coordinator Prof. Rafael de La Torre, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain (Amount awarded to IRCCS Oasi: €387.500).

Responsible of the Research Unit of IRCCS Oasi Research Institute in the project “Tau oligomers toxicity and prion protein, downstream investigations in vitro and in vivo models: new therapeutic perspectives in Alzheimer's disease” RF-2021-12372337, Bando Ricerca Finalizzata 2021, Ministero della Salute (Amount awarded to IRCCS Oasi: €150.000).

Responsible of the Research Unit of IRCCS Oasi Research Institute in the project “Nutraceutics, nutrigenomics and functional foods” Functional Foods Italy Network POS-Traiettoria 5, Ministero della Salute (Amount awarded to IRCCS Oasi: €60.000).

 

 

 

Synopsis of Research Activity

Dr. Caraci has worked in the field of Neuropsychopharmacology focusing his attention on the neurobiology of stress-related disorders with the aim to identify new pharmacological targets. Dr. Caraci has been studying the physiology and pharmacology of TGF-ß1 and its role in the pathophysiology of cognitive dysfunction both in Depression and Alzheimer’s disease. He recently identified a a key role for TGF-ß1 in synaptic plasticity and recognition memory formation. He has also coordinated different genetic and observational  studies in cognitive disorders with the aim to validate in vivo the same pharmacological targets identified in preclinical studies. He has published more than 180 papers in peer reviewed journals (5883 citations; H Index = 41 www.scopus.com, Selected in September 2017 for the list of Top Italian Scientist). He is also founder of the Spin-Off Mimesis (Member) –In Silico medicine-.

 

Collaborations with other universities

-Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, (Prof. A. Claudio Cuello, Professor and former Chair) on the Down-Dementia Project designed to identify new biological markers linked to NGF metabolism and able to predict cognitive decline in Down’s syndrome patients.

-Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (Prof. Nabil Alhakamy) on the project “Developing new drugs rescuing TGF-ß1 pathway”.

 

MemberShip to Scientific Societes

IUPHAR Section of Neuropsychopharmacology, American Society for Neuroscience, European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, Italian Society of Pharmacology; Italian Society of Psychiatry and Italian Society of Neuropsychopharmacology

 

Organization of International Meetings

2015-“Scientific Program Committee Coordinator” of the International Summer School of Neuroscience (EPHAR), “Cognition”,  July 11-17, 2015, Catania, Italy;

2022-“Scientific Program Committee Coordinator” of the First ICOD symposium funded by European Union, World Down syndrome Day (March 21^st), Troina, Italy.

 

Editorial Board Member

He is Co-Editor of Current Neuropharmacology; Associate Faculty Member of F1000 and Associate Editor of Frontiers in Experimental Pharmacology and Drug Discovery and Current Research in Pharmacology and Drug Discovery. Dr. Caraci is actually Member of the Editorial Board  of CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets.  

 

Referee Activity

He also serves as referee for the following international journals in the fields of pharmacology and neuroscience: Pharmacological Research, Alzheimer’s disease & Dementia; Biological Psychiatry, Neurobiology of Aging, European Journal of Pharmacology, Neuropharmacology, Expert Opinion on investigational drugs.

 

Awards

2007- Italian Interdisciplinary Network on Alzheimer Disease Award-Poster-XI ITINAD Annual Meeting, Olbia, Italy, October 4-6, 2007

 

Invited Lectures

- "TGF-ß1 signaling as a new pharmacological target against Aß induced neurodegeneration" selected for the "Hot topics" Session of the 21st ECNP Congress, Barcelona 30 August-3 September 2008;

-“Second-generation antidepressant drugs exert neuroprotective effects against Ab toxicity via an increased secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine Transforming-Growth-Factor-b1”; 36° Meeting of the Italian Society of Pharmacology, Turin, October 23-26 2013;

- “Rescue of TGF-ß1 signaling as a new strategy for neuroprotection in AD: role of antidepressant drugs”, 2° International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia, Valencia, Spain September 23-25, 2014.

-“Multimodal antidepressants in the treatment of depressive disorders”, 10^th European Congress of Mental Health in Intellectual disability, Florence, Italy, September 9-11, 2015.

-“Impairment of neurotrophin signaling in Alzheimer’s disease: searching for new pharmacological targets”, 37° Meeting of the Italian Society of Pharmacology, Naples October 27-31 2015.

-“Neurobiological links between depression and Alzheimer’s disease: the role of TGF-β1 signaling pathway” National Meeting MORE THAN NEURONS:  toward a less neurononcentric view for brain disorders; Turin, Italy, December 1-3, 2016;

-“Deficit of neurotrophin signaling in Alzheimer’s disease: searching for new pharmacological targets”, 6^th Mediterranean Neuroscience Society, June 12-15 2017, Malta.

- “Fluoxetine and Vortioxetine reverse depressive-like phenotype and memory deficits induced by Ab_1-42 oligomers in mice: a key role of Transforming Growth Factor-b1” 50 ° meeting of the American  Society for Neuroscience, Chicago, USA, October 21 2019.

-“Translational pharmacology in affective disorders: focus on treatment-resistant depression” XIX Congress Italian Society of Neuroscience, Italy, 9-11 September 2021

 

 

List of Publications

1) Caricasole A, Copani A, Caruso A, Caraci F, Iacovelli L, Sortino MA, Terstappen GC, Nicoletti F. The Wnt pathway, cell-cycle activation and beta-amyloid: novel therapeutic strategies in Alzheimer's disease? Trends Pharmacol Sci. 24(5): 233-8, 2003, Elsevier, Oxford, UK;

2) Bosco P, Gueant-Rodriguez RM, Anello G, Barone C, Namour F, Caraci F, Romano A, Romano C, Gueant JL. Methionine synthase (MTR) 2756 (A --> G) polymorphism, double heterozygositymethionine synthase 2756 AG/methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) 66 AG, andelevated homocysteinemia are three risk factors for having a child with Down syndrome. Am J Med Genet Part A, 121A(3): 219-24, 2003, Wiley, Salt Lake City, USA.;

3) 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.; 74(5): 643-50, 2003 Elsevier, Oxford, UK.;

4) Bianchi A, Salomone S, Caraci F, Pizza V, Bernardini R, Colucci D'Amato C. Role of magnesium, coenzyme Q10, riboflavin and vitamin B12  in migraine prophylaxis. Vitamins and Hormones; 69:297-312, 2004, Elsevier, Oxford, UK.;

5) Anello G, Gueant-Rodriguez R-M, Bosco P, Gueant J-L, Romano A, Namour B, Spada RS,  Caraci F, Pouriè G, Daval J-L, Ferri R. Homocysteine and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism in Alzheimer’s disease, Neuroreport, 15(5): 859-61, 2004, Lippincott Wiiliams & Walkins, London, UK.;

6) Bosco P, Gueant-Rodriguez R-M, Anello G, Romano A, Namour B, Spada RS, Caraci F,  Trincali G, Ferri R, and Gueant J-L. Association of IL-1 RN 2* allele and methionine synthase 2756 AA genotype with dementia severity of sporadic Alzheimer’s disease, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psichiatry; 75(7):1036-8, 2004, BMJ Journals, London, UK.;

7) Caricasole A, Copani A, Caraci F, Aronica E,  Rozemuller A.J., Caruso A, Storto M,  Gaviraghi G, Terstappen GC,  Nicoletti F. Induction of  Dickkopf-1, a negative modulator of  the Wnt pathway, is associated with  neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer’s brain. Journal of Neuroscience, 24 (26):6021-7, 2004, American Society of Neuroscience, Washington, USA.;

8) Marrazzo A, Caraci F, Salinaro ET, Su TP, Copani A, Ronsisvalle G. Neuroprotective effects of sigma-1 receptor agonists against beta-amyloid-induced toxicity. Neuroreport.; 16(11):1223-6, 2005,  Lippincott Williams & Walkins, London, UK.

9) Caraci F, Chisari M, Frasca G, Canonico PL, Battaglia A, Calafiore M, Battaglia G, Bosco P,  Nicoletti F, Copani A, Sortino MA.  Nicergoline, a drug used for age-dependent cognitive impairment, protects cultured neurons against beta-amyloid toxicity. Brain Res.; 1047(1):30-7, 2005, Elsevier, Oxford, UK;

10) Bosco P, Gueant-Rodriguez RM, Anello G, Spada RS, Romano A, Caraci F, Ferri R, Gueant JL.  Allele epsilon 4 of APOE is a stronger predictor of Alzheimer risk in Sicily than in continental South Italy. Neurosci Lett; 388(3):168-72, 2005, Elsevier, Oxford, UK.;

11) Calafiore M, Battaglia G, Zappala A, Trovato-Salinaro E, Caraci F, Caruso M, Vancheri C, Sortino MA, Nicoletti F, Copani A.  Progenitor cells from the adult mouse brain acquire a neuronal phenotype in response to beta-amyloid. Neurobiol Aging;  27 (4): 606-13, 2006, Elsevier, Oxford, UK.;

12) Caruso A, Motulese M, Iacovelli L, Caraci F, Copani A, Nicoletti F, Terstappen GC, Gaviraghi G and Caricasole A. Inhibition of tha canonical Wnt signalling pathway by apolipoprotein E4 in PC12 cells. Journal of Neurochemistry, 98 (2): 364-371, 2006, Blackwell Publishing Oxford, UK.;

13) Bosco P, Gueant-Rodriguez RM, Anello G, Spada RS, Romano A, Fajardo A, Caraci F,  Ferri R, Gueant JL. "Association of homocysteine (but not  of MTHFR 677 C>T,  MTR 2756 A>G, MTRR 66 A>G and TCN2 776 C>G) with ischemic cerebrovascular disease in Sicily" Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 96 (2) 54-9,  2006, Blackwell Publishing Oxford, UK;

14) Scali C, Caraci F *, Gianfriddo M, Diodato E, Roncarati R, Pollio G, Gaviraghi G, Copani A, Nicoletti F, Terstappen GC, Caricasole A.  Inhibition of Wnt signaling, modulation of Tau phosphorylation and induction of neuronal cell death by DKK1 Neurobiology of disease 24 (2) 254-265, 2006 Elsevier, Oxford, UK. (* equal contribution);

15) Copani A, Hoozemans JJ, Caraci F, Calafiore M, Van Haaster ES, VeerhiusR, Rozemuller AJM, Aronica E, Sortino MA, Nicoletti F. DNA polymerase-ß is early expressed in neurons of Alzheimer’s Disease brain and  is loaded into DNA replication forks ni neurons challenged with ß-amyloid, Journal of Neuroscience, 26 10949-57, 2006 American Society of Neuroscience, Washington, USA;

16) Copani A, Caraci F, Hoozemans JJ, Calafiore M, Angela Sortino M, Nicoletti F. The nature of the cell cycle in neurons: Focus on a "non-canonical" pathway of DNA replication causally related to death. Biochim Biophys Acta.; 1772(4):409-12, 2007 Elsevier, Oxford, UK.;

17) Bosco P, Caraci F*, Copani A, Spada RS, Sortino MA, Salluzzo R, Salemi M, Nicoletti F, Ferri R. The CDC2 I-G-T haplotype associated with the APOE varepsilon4 allele increases the risk of sporadic Alzheimer's disease in Sicily. Neurosci Lett. 419 (3):195-8. 2007 , Elsevier, Oxford, UK (* equal contribution);

18) Salemi M, Romano C, Ragusa L, Di Vita G, Salluzzo R, Oteri I, Trovato ML, Romano C, Caraci F, Nicoletti F, Bosco P. A new 6-bp SOX-3 polyalanine tract deletion does not segregate with mental retardation. Genet Test.;11(2):124-7, 2007; Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers, New York, USA;

19) Cosentino FI, Bosco P, Drago V, Prestianni G, Lanuzza B, Iero I, Tripodi M, Spada RS, Toscano G, Caraci F, Ferri R. The APOE epsilon4 allele increases the risk of impaired spatial working memory in obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep Med. ; 9(8):831-9, 2008 Elsevier, Oxford, UK;

20) Caraci F.,  Battaglia G., C. Busceti, F. Biagioni, F. Mastroiacovo, P. Bosco, GM Leggio, F. Drago, F. Nicoletti, MA Sortino and A. Copani. TGF-β1 protects against Aβ-neurotoxicity  via the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase pathway. Neurobiology of disease. 30(2):234-42, 2008, Elsevier, Oxford, UK;

21) Caraci F., Gili E., Calafiore M., Failla , La Rosa C., Crimi N., Sortino M.A., Nicoletti F., Copani A., Vancheri C. TGF-b1 targets the GSK-3b/b-catenin pathway via ERK activation in the transition of human lung fibroblasts into myofibroblasts. Pharmacological Research. 57 (4):274-82, 2008,  Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;

22) Caraci F, Busceti C, Biagioni F, Aronica E, Mastroiacovo F, Cappuccio I, Battaglia G, Bruno V, Caricasole A, A, Nicoletti F. The Wnt Antagonist, Dickkopf-1, as a Target for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders. Neurochemical Research. 33(12):2401-6, 2008, Springer, Chennai, India;

23) Copani A, Guccione S, Giurato L, Caraci F, Calafiore M, Sortino MA, Nicoletti F. The cell cycle molecules behind neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease: perspectives for drug development. Current  Medicinal Chemistry ; 15(24):2420-32, 2008, Bentham Science Publishers, Bussum, The Netherlands;

24) De Bona P., Giuffrida M. L., Caraci F., Copani A., Pignataro B., Attanasio F., Cataldo S., Pappalardo G. and Rizzarelli E. Design and synthesis of new trehalose-conjugated pentapeptides as inhibitors of Aβ(1–42) fibrillogenesis and toxicity. Journal of Peptide Science, 15(3):220-8, 2009; Wiley Publishers,  Chichester, UK;

25) Carbonaro V., Caraci F., Giuffrida L., Merlo S., Canonico PL, Drago F., Copani A., Sortino M.A. Enhanced expression of ERa in astrocytes modifies the response  of cortical neurons to β-amyloid toxicity. Neurobiology of disease;  33(3):415-21, 2009.  Elsevier, Oxford, UK;

26) Chiechio S., Zammataro M., Caraci F., Rampello L., Copani A., Sabato a., and Nicoletti F.  Pregabalin in the treatment of chronic pain: an overview. Clinical drug Investigation, 29 (3) 203-213, 2009; doi: 10.2165/00044011-200929030-00006; Adis a Wolters Kluwer Business; UK;

27) Salemi M, Romano C, Barone C, Calí F, Caraci F, Romano C, Scavuzzo C, Scillato F, Salluzzo MG, Piccione M, Martines M, Corsello G, Nicoletti F, Bosco P. SPANX-B and SPANX-C (Xq27 region) gene dosage analysis in Down's syndrome subjects with undescended testes. J Genet. 2009; 88(1):93-7. Springer, Sadashivanagar, India;

28) Giuffrida ML, Caraci F, Pignataro B, Cataldo S, De Bona P, Bruno V, Molinaro G, Pappalardo G, Messina A, Palmigiano A, Garozzo D, Nicoletti F, Rizzarelli E, Copani A. Beta-amyloid monomers are neuroprotective. J Neurosci. 2009; 29:10582-7. American Society of Neuroscience, Washington, USA;

29) Salomone S, Caraci F, Capasso A. Migraine: an overview. Open Neurol J. 2009; 3:64-71. Bentham Science Publishers, Bussum, The Netherlands;

30) Caraci F, Copani A, Nicoletti F, Drago F. Depression and Alzheimer's disease:  neurobiological links and common pharmacological targets. Eur J Pharmacol. 2010; 626(1):64-71. Elsevier, Oxford, UK;

31) Giuffrida ML, Caraci F, De Bona P, Pappalardo G, Nicoletti F, Rizzarelli E, Copani A. The monomer state of beta-amyloid: where the Alzheimer's disease protein meets physiology. Rev Neurosci. 2010;21(2):83-93. Freund Publishing House, Tel Aviv, Israel;

32) Kasper S, Caraci F, Forti B, Drago F, Aguglia E. Efficacy and tolerability of  Hypericum extract for the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2010 20(11):747-65. Elsevier, Oxford, UK;

33) Carta MG, Aguglia E, Bocchetta A, Balestrieri M, Caraci F, Casacchia M, Dell'osso L, Sciascio GD, Drago F, Faravelli C, Lecca ME, Moro MF, Morosini PL, Nardini M, Palumbo G, Hardoy MC. The use of antidepressant drugs and the lifetime prevalence of major depressive disorders in Italy. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. 2010; 6:94-100. Bentham Science Publishers, Bussum, The Netherlands;

34) Caraci F.,  Battaglia G., Bruno V., Bosco, Carbonaro V, Giuffrida ML, Drago F. Sortino M.A. Nicoletti F., Copani A. TGF-β1 pathway as a new target for neuroprotection in Alzheimer’s disease.

CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics; 17 (4): 237-249, 2011 ; Blackwell Publishing Oxford, UK pubblicato online nel 2009 (doi: doi: 10.1111/j.1755-5949.2009.00115.x. Epub 2009 Nov 19);

35)  Matrisciano F, Busceti CL , Bucci D,  Orlando RM, Caruso A, Molinaro G, Cappuccio I, Riozzi B, Gradini R, Motolese M, Caraci F, Copani A, Scaccianoce S, Melchiorri D, Bruno V, Battaglia G, Nicoletti F. Induction of the Wnt antagonist, Dickkopf-1, is involved in stress-induced hippocampal damage. PLOS ONE;2011 http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0016447. Publications Manager, ONE; Public Library of Science, San Francisco, USA;

36) Caraci F, Molinaro G, Battaglia G, Giuffrida ML, Riozzi B,Traficante A, Bruno V, Cannella M, Merlo S, Wang X, Heinz BA, Nisenbaum ES, Britton TC, Drago F, Sortino MA, Copani A, Nicoletti F. Targeting group-II metabotropic glutamate receptors for the treatment of psychosis associated with Alzheimer’s disease: selective activation of mGlu2 receptors amplifies b-amyloid toxicity in cultured neurons whereas dual activation of mGlu2 and mGlu3 receptors is neuroprotective. Molecular Pharmacology 2011 79:618-626. American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Bethesda, USA;

37) Caraci F, Pistarà V, Corsaro A, Tomasello ., Giuffrida ML, Sortino MA, Nicoletti F & Copani A. Neurotoxic properties of the anabolic androgenic steroids, nandrolone and methandrostenolone, in primary neuronal cultures. Journal of Neuroscience Research  2011 Wiley Publishers,  Chichester, UK doi: 10.1002/jnr.22578.

38) Caraci F, Crupi R, Drago F, Spina E. Metabolic Drug Interactions between Antidepressants and Anticancer Drugs: Focus on Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Hypericum Extract. Curr Drug Metab. 2011; 12:570-77.

39) Caraci F, Spampinato S, Sortino MA, Bosco P, Battaglia G, Bruno V, Drago F, Nicoletti F & Copani A. Dysfunction of TGF-β1 signaling in Alzheimer’s disease: perspectives for neuroprotection. Cell and Tissue Research 2011 Springer, Bagacay, Dumaguete City, Philippines, DOI 10.1007/s00441-011-1230-6.

40) Spampinato SF, Molinaro G, Merlo S, Iacovelli L, Caraci F, Battaglia G, Nicoletti F, Bruno V, Sortino MA. Estrogen Receptors and Type-1 Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors are Interdependent in Protecting Cortical Neurons against {beta}-amyloid Toxicity. Molecular Pharmacology 2011 doi:10.1124/mol.111.074021 American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Bethesda, USA

41) Conte E, Fruciano M, Fagone E, Gili E, Caraci F, Iemmolo M, Crimi N, Vancheri  C. Inhibition of PI3K Prevents the Proliferation and Differentiation of Human Lung Fibroblasts into Myofibroblasts: The Role of Class I P110 Isoforms. PLoS One. 2011;6(10):e24663; doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0024663, Publications Manager, ONE; Public Library of Science, San Francisco, USA;

42) Carta MG, Tondo L, Balestrieri M, Caraci F, Dell'osso L, Di Sciascio G, Faravelli C, Hardoy MC, Lecca ME, Moro MF, Bhat KM, Casacchia M, Drago F. Sub-threshold depression and antidepressants use in a community sample: searching anxiety and finding bipolar disorder. BMC Psychiatry. 2011 Oct 10;11(1):164. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-11-164.

43) Carta MG, Aguglia E, Balestrieri M, Calabrese JR, Caraci F, Dell'osso L, Di Sciascio G, Drago F, Faravelli C, Lecca ME, Moro MF, Nardini M, Palumbo G, Hardoy MC. The lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorders and the use of antidepressant drugs in bipolar depression in Italy. J Affect Disord. 2011 Oct 24. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2011.09.041.

44) Salomone S, Caraci F*, Leggio GM, Fedotova J, Drago F. New pharmacological strategies for treatment of Alzheimer's disease: focus on disease-modifying drugs. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2011 Oct 28. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2011.04134.x; (* equal contribution).

45) Salemi M, Barone C, Romano C, Ridolfo F, Gulotta E, Scavuzzo C, Salluzzo MG, Giambirtone M, Caraci F, Romano C, Bosco P. Differential expression of PARP1 mRNA in leucocytes of patients with Down's syndrome. J Genet. 2011; 90(3):469-72.

46) Caraci F., Bosco P, Signorelli M, Spada RS, Cosentino FI, Toscano G, Bonforte C, Muratore S, Prestianni G, Panerai S, Giambirtone MC, Gulotta E, Romano C, Salluzzo MG, Nicoletti F,  Copani A, Drago F, Aguglia E and Ferri R. The CC genotype of transforming growth factor-β1 increases the risk of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease and is associated with AD-related depression. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2012, 22(4):281-9, Elsevier, Oxford, UK;

47) Spina E, Trifirò G, Caraci F. Clinically significant drug interactions with newer antidepressants. CNS Drugs. 2012 Jan 1;26(1):39-67. doi: 10.2165/11594710-000000000-00000.

48) Caraci F, Battaglia G, Sortino MA, Spampinato S, Molinaro G, Copani A, Nicoletti F, Bruno V. Metabotropic glutamate receptors in neurodegeneration/neuroprotection: Still a hot topic? Neurochem Int. 2012 Jan 25. doi: 10.1016/j.neuint.2012.01.017

49) Salemi M, Barone C, Romano C, Ridolfo F, Salluzzo R, Scillato F, Scavuzzo C, Caraci F, Calogero AE, Romano C, Bosco P. Expression of LDOC1 mRNA in leucocytes  of patients with Down's syndrome. J Genet. 2012 Apr;91(1):95-8.

50) 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 Aug 12.doi: 10.1007/s12035-012-8313-6.

51) Caraci F, Leggio GM, Drago F, Salomone S. Epigenetic drugs for Alzheimer's Disease: hopes and challenges. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2012 Aug 21. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04443.x.

52) Di Menna L, Molinaro G, Di Nuzzo L, Riozzi B, Zappulla C, Pozzilli C, Turrini  R, Caraci F, Copani A, Battaglia G, Nicoletti F, Bruno V. Fingolimod protects cultured cortical neurons against excitotoxic death. Pharmacol Res. 2012 Oct 13;67:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2012.10.004.

53) Carta MG, Aguglia E, Caraci F, Dell'osso L, Sciascio GD, Drago F, Giudice ED,  Faravelli C, Hardoy MC, Lecca ME, Moro MF, Calò S, Casacchia M, Angermeyer M, Balestrieri M. Quality of life and urban / rural living: preliminary results of a community survey in Italy. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. 2012;8:169-74. doi:  10.2174/1745017901208010169.

54) Caraci F, Drago F. New definition of addiction proposed by the American Society of Addiction Medicine: Which implications for the treatment of tobacco dependence? Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2013 Jun 15. doi:pii: S0924-977X(13)00147-8. 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2013.05.003.

55)  Malaguarnera M, Drago F, Malaguarnera G, Li Volti G, Salomone S, Caraci F, Galvano F, Vacante M, Bucolo C, Malaguarnera M. Metal fume fever. Lancet. 2013 Jun 29;381(9885):2298. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60689-3.

56) Leggio GM, Salomone S, Bucolo C, Platania C, Micale V, Caraci F*, Drago F*. Dopamine D(3) receptor as a new pharmacological target for the treatment of depression. Eur J Pharmacol. 2013 Jul 18. doi:pii: S0014-2999(13)00544-X. 10.1016/j.ejphar.2013.07.022.*Co-last authors.

57) Caraci F, Bosco P, Leggio GM, Malaguarnera M, Drago F, Bucolo C, Salomone S. Clinical pharmacology of novel anti-Alzheimer disease modifying medications. Curr Top Med Chem. 2013;13(15):1853-63.

58) Salemi M, Barone C, Romano C, Salluzzo R, Caraci F, Cantarella RA, Salluzzo MG, Drago F, Romano C, Bosco P. Pericentrin expression in Down's syndrome. Neurol Sci. 2013 Nov;34(11):2023-5. doi: 10.1007/s10072-013-1529-z.

59) Bosco P; Ferri R.; Salluzzo MG; Castellano S; Signorelli M; Nicoletti, F; Di Nuovo S; Drago F; Caraci F. Role of the Transforming-Growth-Factor-β1 Gene in Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease: Implications for the Treatment, 2013, Current Genomics, 14 (2): 147-156.

60) Caraci F, Castellano S, Salomone S, Drago F, Bosco P, Di Nuovo S. Searching for Disease-Modifying Drugs in AD: Can We Combine Neuropsychological Tools with Biological Markers? CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2014 Feb;13(1):173-86.

61) Carta MG, Massidda D, Moro MF, Aguglia E, Balestrieri M, Caraci F, Dell'Osso L, Di Sciascio G, Drago F, Faravelli C, Hardoy MC, Calò S, Pollice R, Fortezzo A, Akiskal H. Comparing factor structure of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ): In Italy sexual behavior is euphoric but in Asia mysterious and forbidden. J Affect Disord. 2014 Feb;155:96-103. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2013.10.030.

62) Grosso G, Galvano F, Marventano S, Malaguarnera M, Bucolo C, Drago F, Caraci F. Omega-3 fatty acids and depression: scientific evidence and biological mechanisms. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2014;2014:313570. doi: 10.1155/2014/313570.

63) Grosso G, Pajak A, Marventano S, Castellano S, Galvano F, Bucolo C, Drago F, Caraci F. Role of omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of depressive disorders: a comprehensive meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. PLoS One. 2014;9(5):e96905. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096905.

64) Orlando R, Borro M, Motolese M, Molinaro G, Scaccianoce S, Caruso A, di Nuzzo  L, Caraci F, Matrisciano F, Pittaluga A, Mairesse J, Simmaco M, Nisticò R, Monn JA, Nicoletti F. Levels of the Rab GDP dissociation inhibitor (GDI) are altered in the prenatal restrain stress mouse model of schizophrenia and are differentially regulated by the mGlu2/3 receptor agonists, LY379268 and LY354740. Neuropharmacology. 2014; 86:133-44. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.07.009.

65) Malaguarnera G, Pennisi M, Gagliano C, Vacante M, Malaguarnera M, Salomone S,  Drago F, Bertino G, Caraci F, Nunnari G, Malaguarnera M. Acetyl-L-Carnitine Supplementation During HCV Therapy With Pegylated Interferon-α 2b Plus Ribavirin: Effect on Work Performance; A Randomized Clinical Trial. Hepat Mon. 2014 May 5;14(5):e11608. doi: 10.5812/hepatmon.11608.

66) Malaguarnera G, Gagliano C, Giordano M, Salomone S, Vacante M, Bucolo C, Caraci F, Reibaldi M, Drago F, Avitabile T, Motta M. Homocysteine serum levels in diabetic patients with non proliferative, proliferative and without retinopathy.  Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:191497. doi: 10.1155/2014/191497.

67) Carta MG, Preti A, Moro MF, Aguglia E, Balestrieri M, Caraci F, Dell'Osso L, Di Sciascio G, Drago F, Faravelli C, Hardoy MC, D'Aloja E, Cossu G, Calò S, Palumbo G, Bhugra D. Eating disorders as a public health issue: prevalence and attributable impairment of quality of life in an Italian community sample. Int Rev Psychiatry. 2014; 26(4):486-92. doi: 10.3109/09540261.2014.927753

68) Leggio GM, Torrisi SA, Castorina A, Platania CB, Impellizzeri AA, Fidilio A, Caraci F, Bucolo C, Drago F, Salomone S. Dopamine D3 receptor-dependent changes in alpha6 GABAA subunit expression in striatum modulate anxiety-like behaviour: Responsiveness and tolerance to diazepam. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2014 doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2014.11.004.

69) Carta MG, Moro MF, Aguglia E, Balestrieri M, Caraci F, Dell'Osso L, Di Sciascio G, Drago F, Hardoy MC, D'Aloja E, Machado S, Roncone R, Faravelli C. The attributable burden of panic disorder in the impairment of quality of life in a national survey in Italy. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2015  pii:0020764015573848

70) Carta MG, Norcini-Pala A, Moro MF, Balestrieri M, Caraci F, Dell'Osso L, Sciascio GD, Faravelli C, Hardoy MC, Aguglia E, Roncone R, Nardi AE, Drago F. Does Mood Disorder Questionnaire identify sub-threshold bipolarity? Evidence studying worsening of quality of life. J Affect Disord. 2015; 183:173-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2015.04.058.

71) Caraci F, Gulisano W, Guida CA, Impellizzeri AA, Drago F, Puzzo D, Palmeri A.  A key role for TGF-β1 in hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory. Sci Rep. 2015; 5:11252. doi: 10.1038/srep11252.

72) Devroye C, Cathala A, Di Marco B, Caraci F, Drago F, Piazza PV, Spampinato U.  Central serotonin(2B) receptor blockade inhibits cocaine-induced hyperlocomotion  independently of changes of subcortical dopamine outflow. Neuropharmacology. 2015;97:329-337.

73) 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; 9:297.

74) Malaguarnera G, Gagliano C, Salomone S, Giordano M, Bucolo C, Pappalardo A, Drago F, Caraci F, Avitabile T, Motta M. Folate status in type 2 diabetic patients with and without retinopathy. Clin Ophthalmol. 2015; 9:1437-42. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S77538.

75)  Caraci F, Pappalardo G, Basile L, Giuffrida A, Copani A, Tosto R, Sinopoli A,  Giuffrida ML, Pirrone E, Drago F, Pignatello R, Guccione S. Neuroprotective effects of the monoamine oxidase inhibitor tranylcypromine and its amide derivatives against Aβ(1-42)-induced toxicity. Eur J Pharmacol. 2015;764:256-63. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2015.07.015.

76) Albert U, Brugnoli R, Caraci F, Dell'Osso B, Di Sciascio G, Tortorella A, Vampini C, Cataldo N, Pegoraro V. Italian psychiatrists' perception on cognitive  symptoms in major depressive disorder. Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract. 2015 Nov 2:1-8.

77) Malaguarnera M, Motta M, Vacante M, Malaguarnera G, Caraci F, Nunnari G, Gagliano C, Greco C, Chisari G, Drago F, Bertino G. Silybin-vitamin E-phospholipids complex reduces liver fibrosis in patients with chronic epatiti C treated with pegylated interferon α and ribavirin. Am J Transl Res. 2015 Nov 15;7(11):2510-8.

78) Leggio GM, Catania MV, Puzzo D, Spatuzza M, Pellitteri R, Gulisano W, Torrisi  SA, Giurdanella G, Piazza C, Impellizzeri AR, Gozzo L, Navarria A, Bucolo C, Nicoletti F, Palmeri A, Salomone S, Copani A, Caraci F*, Drago F*. The antineoplastic drug flavopiridol reverses memory impairment induced by Amyloid-ß1-42 oligomers in mice. Pharmacol Res. 2016 Apr;106:10-20. * Co-last authors.

79) Fisichella V, Giurdanella G, Platania CB, Romano GL, Leggio GM, Salomone S, Drago F, Caraci F^*, Bucolo C^*. TGF-β1 prevents rat retinal insult induced by amyloid-β (1-42) oligomers. Eur J Pharmacol. 2016 Feb 2. pii: S0014-2999(16)30023-1. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2016.02.002. *Co-last authors.

80) Iulita MF, Caraci F, Cuello AC. A Link Between Nerve Growth Factor Metabolic Deregulation and Amyloid-β-Driven Inflammation in Down Syndrome. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2016;15(4):434-47.

81) Caraci F, Kamal MA. Editorial: Linkage of CNS and Immunology with Psychology:  Searching for New Pharmacological Targets. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2016;15(4):378-80.

82) Bruno V, Caraci F, Copani A, Matrisciano F, Nicoletti F, Battaglia G. The impact of metabotropic glutamate receptors into active neurodegenerative processes: A "dark side" in the development of new symptomatic treatments for neurologic and psychiatric disorders. Neuropharmacology. 2016 Apr 30. pii: S0028-3908(16)30184-8. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.04.044.

83) Sinopoli A, Giuffrida A, Tomasello MF, Giuffrida ML, Leone M, Attanasio F, Caraci F, De Bona P, Naletova I, Saviano M, Copani A, Pappalardo G, Rizzarelli E. The Peptidomimetic trehalose conjugated Ac-LPFFD-Th as a strong suppressor of amyloid-β oligomer formation and cytotoxicity. Chembiochem. 2016. doi: 10.1002/cbic.201600243.

84) Iulita MF, Ower A, Barone C, Pentz R, Gubert P, Romano C, Cantarella RA, Elia  F, Buono S, Recupero M, Romano C, Castellano S, Bosco P, Di Nuovo S, Drago F, Caraci F & Cuello AC. An inflammatory and trophic disconnect biomarker profile revealed in Down syndrome plasma: Relation to cognitive decline and longitudinal  evaluation. Alzheimers Dement. 2016;12(11):1132-1148. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2016.05.001.

85) Castellano S, Ventimiglia A, Salomone S, Ventimiglia A, De Vivo S, Signorelli  MS, Bellelli E, Santagati M, Cantarella RA, Fazio E, Aguglia E, Drago F, Di Nuovo S, Caraci F. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors Improve Cognitive Function in Partial Responders Depressed Patients: Results from a Prospective Observational CohortStudy. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2016;15(10):1290-1298.

86) Praticò AD, Caraci F, Pavone P, Falsaperla R, Drago F, Ruggieri M. Propranolol: Effectiveness and Failure in Infantile Cutaneous Hemangiomas. Drug Saf Case Rep. 2015; 2(1):6.

87) Malaguarnera G, Bertino G, Chisari G, Motta M, Vecchio M, Vacante M, Caraci F, Greco C, Drago F, Nunnari G, Malaguarnera M. Silybin supplementation during HCV therapy with pegylated interferon-α plus ribavirin reduces depression and anxiety and increases work ability. BMC Psychiatry. 2016; 16(1):398.

88) Sinopoli A, Giuffrida A, Tomasello MF, Giuffrida ML, Leone M, Attanasio F, Caraci F, De Bona P, Naletova I, Saviano M, Copani A, Pappalardo G, Rizzarelli E. Corrigendum: Ac-LPFFD-Th: A Trehalose-Conjugated Peptidomimetic as a Strong Suppressor of Amyloid-β Oligomer Formation and Cytotoxicity. Chembiochem. 2016; 17(20):1993. doi: 10.1002/cbic.201600502.

89) Caraci F, Tascedda F, Merlo S, Benatti C, Spampinato SF, Munafò A, Leggio GM,  Nicoletti F, Brunello N, Drago F, Sortino MA, Copani A. Fluoxetine Prevents Aβ(1-42)-Induced Toxicity via a Paracrine Signaling Mediated byTransforming-Growth-Factor-β1. Front Pharmacol. 2016 Oct  25;7:389.

90) Simoni E, Caporaso R, Bergamini C, Fiori J, Fato R, Miszta P, Filipek S, Caraci F, Giuffrida ML, Andrisano V, Minarini A, Bartolini M, Rosini M. Polyamine Conjugation as a Promising Strategy To Target Amyloid Aggregation in the Framework of Alzheimer's Disease. ACS Med Chem Lett. 2016; 7(12):1145-1150.

91) Caraci F, Sultana J, Drago F, Spina E. Clinically relevant drug interactions with anti-Alzheimer's drugs. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2017, doi: 10.2174/1871527316666170303144817.

92) Caraci F, Leggio GM, Salomone S, Drago F. New drugs in psychiatry: focus on new pharmacological targets. F1000Res. 2017; 6:397. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.10233.1.

93) Caraci F, Enna SJ, Zohar J, Racagni G, Zalsman G, van den Brink W, Kasper S, Koob GF, Pariante CM, Piazza PV, Yamada K, Spedding M, Drago F. A new nomenclature for classifying psychotropic drugs. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2017, doi: 10.1111/bcp.13302.

94) Platania CBM, Fisichella V, Fidilio A, Geraci F, Lazzara F, Leggio GM, Salomone S, Drago F, Pignatello R, Caraci F^*, Bucolo C*. Topical Ocular Delivery of TGF-β1 to the Back of the Eye: Implications in Age-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(10). *Co-last authors.

95) Caraci F, Iulita MF, Pentz R, Flores Aguilar L, Orciani C, Barone C, Romano C,  Drago F, Cuello AC. Searching for new pharmacological targets for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in Down syndrome. Eur J Pharmacol. 2017 Dec 15;817:7-19.

96) Torrisi SA, Salomone S, Geraci F, Caraci F, Bucolo C, Drago F, Leggio GM. Buspirone Counteracts MK-801-Induced Schizophrenia-Like Phenotypes through Dopamine D(3) Receptor Blockade. Front Pharmacol. 2017 Oct 4;8:710. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00710.

97) Di Menna L, Joffe ME, Iacovelli L, Orlando R, Lindsley CW, Mairesse J, Gressèns P, Cannella M, Caraci F, Copani A, Bruno V, Battaglia G, Conn PJ, Nicoletti F. Functional partnership between mGlu3 and mGlu5 metabotropic glutamate receptors in the central nervous system. Neuropharmacology. 2018;128:301-313.

98) Caraci F, Kraneveld A, Krzan M, Luca MD. Preface Drug discovery in neurodegenerative disorders: a defeat for pharmacology? Eur J Pharmacol. 2017 Dec 15;817:1. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2017.11.014.

99) Caraci F, Nicoletti F, Copani A. Metabotropic glutamate receptors: the potential for therapeutic applications in Alzheimer's disease. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2017 Dec 23;38:1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.coph.2017.12.001.

100) Caraci F, Spampinato SF, Morgese MG, Tascedda F, Salluzzo MG, Giambirtone MC,  Caruso G, Munafò A, Torrisi SA, Leggio GM, Trabace L, Nicoletti F, Drago F, Sortino MA, Copani A. Neurobiological links between depression and AD: the role of TGF-β1 signaling as a new pharmacological target. Pharmacol Res. 2018 Feb 10.  pii: S1043-6618(17)31600-6. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2018.02.007.

101) Fresta CG, Chakraborty A, Wijesinghe MB, Amorini AM, Lazzarino G, Lazzarino G, Tavazzi B, Lunte SM, Caraci F, Dhar P, Caruso G. Non-toxic engineered carbon nanodiamond concentrations induce oxidative/nitrosative stress, imbalance of energy metabolism, and mitochondrial dysfunction in microglial and alveolar basal epithelial cells. Cell Death Dis. 2018 Feb 14;9(2):245. doi: 10.1038/s41419-018-0280-z.

102) Caraci F, Calabrese F, Molteni R, Bartova L, Dold M, Leggio GM, Fabbri C, Mendlewicz J, Racagni G, Kasper S, Riva MA, Drago F. International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology CIV: The Neurobiology of Treatment-resistant Depression: From Antidepressant Classifications to Novel Pharmacological Targets. Pharmacol Rev. 2018 Jul;70(3):475-504. doi: 10.1124/pr.117.014977.

103)  Spampinato SF, Copani A, Nicoletti F, Sortino MA, Caraci F. Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in Glial Cells: A New Potential Target for Neuroprotection? Front Mol Neurosci. 2018 Nov 13;11:414. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00414..

104) Caruso G, Fresta CG, Lazzarino G, Distefano DA, Parlascino P, Lunte SM, Lazzarino G, Caraci F. Sub-Toxic Human Amylin Fragment Concentrations Promote the Survival and Proliferation of SH-SY5Y Cells via the Release of VEGF and HspB5 from Endothelial RBE4 Cells. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Nov 20;19(11). pii: E3659. doi:  10.3390/ijms19113659.

105) Caruso G*, Caraci F*, Jolivet RB*. Pivotal role of carnosine in the modulation of brain cells activity: Multimodal mechanism of action and therapeutic potential in neurodegenerative disorders. Prog Neurobiol. 2019;175:35-53. doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2018.12.004

* equally contributing authors

106) Caruso G, Fresta CG, Musso N, Giambirtone M, Grasso M, Spampinato SF, Merlo S, Drago F, Lazzarino G, Sortino MA, Lunte SM, Caraci F. Carnosine Prevents Aβ-Induced Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Microglial Cells: A Key Role of TGF-β1. Cells. 2019 17;8(1). doi: 10.3390/cells8010064.

107) 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;847:97-102. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2019.01.031.

108) Nicoletti F, Orlando R, Di Menna L, Cannella M, Notartomaso S, Mascio G, Iacovelli L, Matrisciano F, Fazio F, Caraci F, Copani A, Battaglia G, Bruno V. Targeting mGlu Receptors for Optimization of Antipsychotic Activity and Disease-Modifying Effect in Schizophrenia. Front Psychiatry. 2019;10:49. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00049.

109) 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;56(11):7338-7354. doi:  10.1007/s12035-019-1607-1.

110) Torrisi SA, Geraci F, Tropea MR, Grasso M, Caruso G, Fidilio A, Musso N, Sanfilippo G, Tascedda F, Palmeri A, Salomone S, Drago F, Puzzo D, Leggio GM, Caraci F. Fluoxetine and Vortioxetine Reverse Depressive-Like Phenotype and Memory Deficits Induced by Aβ(1-42) Oligomers in Mice: A Key Role of Transforming Growth Factor-β1. Front Pharmacol. 2019 Jun 21;10:693. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00693.

111) Caruso G, Fresta CG, Grasso M, Santangelo R, Lazzarino G, Lunte SM, Caraci F.  Inflammation as the common biological link between depression and cardiovascular diseases: Can carnosine exert a protective role? Curr Med Chem. 2019 doi: 10.2174/0929867326666190712091515.

112) Caruso G, Fresta CG, Fidilio A, O'Donnell F, Musso N, Lazzarino G, Grasso M, Amorini AM, Tascedda F, Bucolo C, Drago F, Tavazzi B, Lazzarino G, Lunte SM, Caraci F. Carnosine Decreases PMA-Induced Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Murine Macrophages. Antioxidants (Basel). 2019; doi: 10.3390/antiox8080281.

113) Caruso G, Benatti C, Blom JMC, Caraci F^*, Tascedda F*. The Many Faces of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Depression: From Pathology to Treatment. Front Pharmacol. 2019 Sep 10;10:995. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00995. * Co-last authors

114) Caraci F, Merlo S, Drago F, Caruso G, Parenti C, Sortino MA. Rescue of Noradrenergic System as a Novel Pharmacological Strategy in the Treatment of Chronic Pain: Focus on Microglia Activation. Front Pharmacol. 2019;10:1024. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01024.

115) Hampel H, Vergallo A, Afshar M, Akman-Anderson L, Arenas J, Benda N, Batrla R, Broich K, Caraci F, Cuello AC, Emanuele E, Haberkamp M, Kiddle SJ, Lucía A, Mapstone M, Verdooner SR, Woodcock J, Lista S. Blood-based systems biology biomarkers for next-generation clinical trials in Alzheimer's disease. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2019;21(2):177-191.

116) Godos J, Ferri R, Caraci F, Cosentino FII, Castellano S, Shivappa N, Hebert JR, Galvano F, Grosso G. Dietary Inflammatory Index and Sleep Quality in Southern Italian Adults. Nutrients. 2019 Jun 13;11(6). pii: E1324. doi: 10.3390/nu11061324.

117) Godos J, Ferri R, Caraci F, Cosentino FII, Castellano S, Galvano F, Grosso G.  Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet is Associated with Better Sleep Quality in Italian Adults. Nutrients. 2019 Apr 28;11(5). pii: E976. doi: 10.3390/nu11050976.

118) Caruso G, Spampinato SF, Cardaci V, Caraci F, Sortino MA, Merlo S. β-amyloid and Oxidative Stress: Perspectives in Drug Development. Curr Pharm Des. 2019;25(45):4771-4781. doi: 10.2174/1381612825666191209115431

119) Sancassiani F, Romano F, Balestrieri M, Caraci F, Di Sciascio G, Drago F, Hardoy MC, Moro MF, Roncone R, Piras M, Preti A, Dell'Osso L, Faravelli C, Carta MG. The Prevalence of Specific Phobia by Age in an Italian Nationwide Survey: How Much Does it Affect the Quality of Life?. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. 2019 Feb 20;15:30-37. doi: 10.2174/1745017901915010030.

120) Godos J, Currenti W, Angelino D, Mena P, Castellano S, Caraci F, Galvano F, Del Rio D, Ferri R, Grosso G. Diet and Mental Health: Review of the Recent Updates on Molecular Mechanisms. Antioxidants (Basel). 2020 Apr 23;9(4):346. doi: 10.3390/antiox9040346.

121) Hampel H, Caraci F, Cuello AC, Caruso G, Nisticò R, Corbo M, Baldacci F, Toschi N, Garaci F, Chiesa PA, Verdooner SR, Akman-Anderson L, Hernández F, Ávila J, Emanuele E, Valenzuela PL, Lucía A, Watling M, Imbimbo BP, Vergallo A, Lista S. A Path Toward Precision Medicine for Neuroinflammatory Mechanisms in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Immunol. 2020 Mar 31;11:456. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00456.

122) Hampel H, Vergallo A, Caraci F, Cuello AC, Lemercier P, Vellas B, Giudici KV, Baldacci F, Hänisch B, Haberkamp M, Broich K, Nisticò R, Emanuele E, Llavero F, Zugaza JL, Lucía A, Giacobini E, Lista S. Future avenues for Alzheimer's disease detection and therapy: Liquid biopsy, intracellular signaling modulation, systems pharmacology drug discovery. Alzheimer Precision Medicine Initiative (APMI). Neuropharmacology. 2020 May 11:108081. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108081.

123) Fresta CG, Fidilio A, Lazzarino G, Musso N, Grasso M, Merlo S, Amorini AM, Bucolo C, Tavazzi B, Lazzarino G, Lunte SM, Caraci F, Caruso G. Modulation of Pro-Oxidant and Pro-Inflammatory Activities of M1 Macrophages by the Natural Dipeptide Carnosine. Int J Mol Sci. 2020; 21(3). pii: E776. doi: 10.3390/ijms21030776.

124) Caruso G, Fresta CG, Grasso M, Santangelo R, Lazzarino G, Lunte SM, Caraci F. Inflammation as the Common Biological Link Between Depression and Cardiovascular Diseases: Can Carnosine Exert a Protective Role? Curr Med Chem. 2020;27(11):1782-1800. doi: 10.2174/0929867326666190712091515.

125) Fresta CG, Fidilio A, Caruso G, Caraci F, Giblin FJ, Leggio GM, Salomone S, Drago F, Bucolo C. A New Human Blood-Retinal Barrier Model Based on Endothelial Cells, Pericytes, and Astrocytes. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Feb 27;21(5):1636. doi: 10.3390/ijms21051636.

126) Caraci F, Coluzzi F, Marinangeli F, Mercadante S, Rinonapoli G, Romualdi P, Nicora M, Dickenson AH. Modulation of sensitization processes in the management of pain and the importance of descending pathways: a role for tapentadol? Curr Med Res Opin. 2020 Jun;36(6):1015-1024. doi: 10.1080/03007995.2020.1748876.

127) Castellano S, Torrent C, Petralia MC, Godos J, Cantarella RA, Ventimiglia A, De Vivo S, Platania S, Guarnera M, Pirrone C, Drago F, Vieta E, Di Nuovo S, Popovic D, Caraci F. Clinical and Neurocognitive Predictors of Functional Outcome in Depressed Patients with Partial Response to Treatment: One Year Follow-Up Study. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2020 Feb 28;16:589-595. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S224754.

128) Guerrera CS, Furneri G, Grasso M, Caruso G, Castellano S, Drago F, Di Nuovo S, Caraci F. Antidepressant Drugs and Physical Activity: A Possible Synergism in the Treatment of Major Depression? Front Psychol. 2020 May 6;11:857. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00857.

129) Alhakamy NA, Fahmy UA, Ahmed OAA, Caruso G, Caraci F, Asfour HZ, Bakhrebah MA, N Alomary M, Abdulaal WH, Okbazghi SZ, Abdel-Naim AB, Eid BG, Aldawsari HM, Kurakula M, Mohamed AI. Chitosan Coated Microparticles Enhance Simvastatin Colon Targeting and Pro-Apoptotic Activity. Mar Drugs. 2020 Apr 24;18(4):226. doi: 10.3390/md18040226.

130) Godos J, Ferri R, Castellano S, Angelino D, Mena P, Del Rio D, Caraci F, Galvano F, Grosso G. Specific Dietary (Poly)phenols Are Associated with Sleep Quality in a Cohort of Italian Adults.

Nutrients. 2020 Apr 26;12(5):1226. doi: 10.3390/nu12051226.

131) Carta MG, Fineberg N, Moro MF, Preti A, Romano F, Balestrieri M, Caraci F, Dell'Osso L, Disciascio G, Drago F, Hardoy MC, Roncone R, Minerba L, Faravelli C, Angst J. The Burden of Comorbidity Between Bipolar Spectrum and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in an Italian Community Survey. Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:188. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00188.

132) Caruso G, Musso N, Grasso M, Costantino A, Lazzarino G, Tascedda F, Gulisano M, Lunte SM, Caraci F. Microfluidics as a Novel Tool for Biological and Toxicological Assays in Drug Discovery Processes: Focus on Microchip Electrophoresis. Micromachines (Basel). 2020 Jun 15;11:E593. doi: 10.3390/mi11060593.

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