Office: 210-567-8533
Email: giuffrida@uthscsa.edu
My laboratory is interested in the role played by the endogenous cannabinoid system in regulating psychomotor functions. The endocannabinoids are a family of naturally occurring lipids that mimic the effects of marijuana by stimulating specific receptors epressed in the brain (cannabinoid receptors). CB1 cannabinoid receptors are particularly abundant in areas of the central nervous system that are critical for the regulation of motor behaviors, such as the basal ganglia. In addition, the endocannabinoids may serve as an inhibitory feedback signal to counteract dopamine-induced motor activation. Our recent reports indicate that the endocannabinoid system represents a new pharmacological target for the treatment of diseases characterized by dysregulation of dopamine transmission, such as Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia.
We integrate neurochemistry and behavioral pharmacology to study endocannabinoid transmission and disturbances in animal models of neurological and psychiatric disorders including Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, schizophrenia and drug-induced dyskinesias. Our laboratory is also interested in the implantation of tissue-engineered constructs to repair the nigro-striatal pathway in Parkinson's disease.
Selected Recent Publications
Leweke F.M., Giuffrida A., Koethe D., Schreiber D., Nolden B.M., Neatby N.A., Schneider M., Gerth C., Klosterkoetter J., Piomelli D. Anandamide levels in CSF of patients with first-episode schizophrenia or schizophreniform psychosis: relation to cannabis use. Schizophrenia Res. (2007, in press).
Ferrer B., Bermudez-Silva F.J., Bilbao A., Alvarez-Jaimes L., Sanchez-Vera I., Giuffrida A., Serrano A., Baixeras E., Navarro M., Parsons L.H., Piomelli D., Rodriguez de Fonseca F. Regulation of brain anandamide by acute administration of ethanol. Biochem J. (2007, in press).
Price D.A., Owens W.A., Gould G.G., Frazer A., Roberts J.L., Daws L.C., Giuffrida A. Cannabinoids inhibit dopamine transporter activity in mouse dorsal striatum. J. Neurochem 101:389-396 (2007).
Schreiber D., Barlfinger S., Nolden B.M., Gerth C.W., Jaehde U., Schoemig E., Kosterkoetter J., Giuffrida A., Astarita G., Piomelli D., Leweke F.M. Determination of anandamide and other fatty acid ethanolamides in human serum by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Anal Biochem. 361:162-168 (2007).
Hardison S., Weintraub S., Giuffrida A. Quantification of endocannabinoids in rat biological samples by GC/MS: Technical and theoretical considerations. Prostagland. Lipid Mediators 81:106-112 (2006).
Giuffrida A., Price D.A., Daws L.C., Owens W.A., Gould G.G., Frazer A., Sellier A., Roberts J.L. Inhibition of dopamine transporter activity by cannabinoids. Neuropsychopharmacology, 30:S133 (2005).
Solbrig M.V., Adrian R., Baratta J., Piomelli D., Giuffrida A. A role for endocannabinoids in viral-induced dyskintic and convulsive phenomena. Exp. Neurol. 194:355-362 (2005).
Giuffrida A., Leweke F.M., Gerth C.W., Fegley, D., Faulhaber, J., Klosterkoetter J., Valino F., Piomelli D. Elevated anandamide levels negatively correlate with psychotic symptoms of acute schizophrenia. Neuropsycopharmacology 29:2108-2114 (2004).
Sparling, P.B., Giuffrida A., Piomelli D., Rosskopf L., Dietrich A. Exercise activates the endocannabinoid system. Neuroreport 14: 2209-2211 (2003).
Ferrer B., Asbrock N., Kathuria S., Piomelli D., Giuffrida A. Effects of levodopa on endocannabinoid signaling in the basal ganglia: implications for the treatment of levodopa-induced dyskinesias. European J. Neurosci. 18: 1607-1614 (2003).
Schaebitz W.R., Giuffrida A., Berger G., Aschoff A., Schwaninger M., Schwab S., Piomelli D. Release of fatty acid amides in a patient with hemispheric stroke. Stroke 33: 2112-2114 (2002).
Giuffrida A., Beltramo M., Piomelli D. Mechanisms of endocannabinoid inactivation: biochemistry and pharmacology. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 298: 7-14 (2001).
Giuffrida A., Rodriguez de Fonseca F., Nava F., Loubet-Lescoulie P., Piomelli D. Elevated circulating levels of anandamide after administration of the transport inhibitor, AM404. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 408: 161-168 (2000).
Calignano A., Katona I., Desarnaud F., Giuffrida A., La Rana G., Mackie K., Freund T.F., Piomelli D. Bidirectional control of airway responsiveness by endogenous cannabinoids. Nature, 408: 96-101 (2000).
Giuffrida A., Rodriguez de Fonseca F., Piomelli D. Quantification of bioactive acylethanolamides in rat plasma by electrospray mass spectrometry. Anal. Biochem. 280: 87-93 (2000).
Beltramo M., Rodriguez de Fonseca F., Navarro M., Calignano A., Gorriti M.A., Grammatikopoulos G., Sadile A.G., Giuffrida A., Piomelli D. reversal of dopamine D2-receptor responses by an anandamide transport inhibitor. J. Neurosci. 20: 3401-3407 (2000).
Giuffrida A., Parsons L.H., Kerr T.M., Rodriguéz de Fonseca F., Navarro M., Piomelli D. Dopamine activation of endogenous cannabinoid signaling in dorsal striatum. Nature Neuroscience 2: 358-363 (1999).
Calignano A., La Rana G., Giuffrida A., Piomelli D. - Control of pain initiation by endogenous cannabinoids. Nature, 394: 277-281 (1998).
