Santina CHIECHIO

Grasso M, Fidilio A, Varrasi S, Chiechio S. GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Neuropathic Pain and Neurodegenerative Diseases: Mechanisms, Therapeutic Potentials, and Future Perspectives. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2026 May 20. doi: 10.2174/011570159X450007260305034049. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42227394.

Bocchieri E, Zimbone S, Giuffrida ML, Di Natale G, Sabatino G, Vecchio G, Pappalardo G, Chiechio S. Memantine and amantadine KLVFF peptide conjugates: Synthesis, structure determination, amyloid-β interaction and effects on recognition memory in mice. Eur J Pharmacol. 2025 Mar 5;990:177274. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2025.177274. Epub 2025 Jan 21. PMID: 39848528.

Merlo S, Costa L, Chiechio S, Busceti CL, Ciranna L, Santangelo R, Sortino MA, Fornai F, Nicoletti F, Copani A. Increased Heat Pain Tolerance but Hyperalgesia to Tonic Inflammatory Pain in the CRND8 Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis. 2023;96(1):77-91. doi: 10.3233/JAD-230148. PMID: 37742639; PMCID: PMC10657672.

Zimbone S, Di Rosa MC, Chiechio S, Giuffrida ML. Exploring the Role of Hsp60 in Alzheimer's Disease and Type 2 Diabetes: Suggestion for Common Drug Targeting. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Aug 5;24(15):12456. doi: 10.3390/ijms241512456. PMID: 37569831; PMCID: PMC10419248.

Mu and Delta Opioid Receptor Targeting Reduces Connexin 43-Based Heterocellular Coupling during Neuropathic Pain.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. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 May 24;23(11):5864. doi: 10.3390/ijms23115864. PMID: 35682543; PMCID: PMC9180638.

Novel N-normetazocine Derivatives with Opioid Agonist/Sigma-1 Receptor Antagonist Profile as Potential Analgesics in Inflammatory Pain.Turnaturi R, Chiechio S, Pasquinucci L, Spoto S, Costanzo G, Dichiara M, Piana S, Grasso M, Amata E, Marrazzo A, Parenti C. Molecules. 2022 Aug 12;27(16):5135. doi: 10.3390/molecules27165135. PMID: 36014375; PMCID: PMC9413390.

The Multimodal MOPr/DOPr Agonist LP2 Reduces Allodynia in Chronic Constriction Injured Rats by Rescue of TGF-β1 Signalling.

Fidilio A, Grasso M, Turnaturi R, Caruso G, Spitale FM, Vicario N, Parenti R, Spoto S, Musso N, Marrazzo A, Chiechio S, Caraci F, Pasquinucci L, Parenti C.

Front Pharmacol. 2021 Oct 6;12:749365. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.749365. eCollection 2021. PMID: 34690781 Free PMC article.

A Standardized Extract Prepared from Red Orange and Lemon Wastes Blocks High-Fat Diet-Induced Hyperglycemia and Hyperlipidemia in Mice.

Chiechio S, Zammataro M, Barresi M, Amenta M, Ballistreri G, Fabroni S, Rapisarda P.

Molecules. 2021 Jul 15;26(14):4291. doi: 10.3390/molecules26144291.

PMID: 34299566 Free PMC article.

Intercellular communication and ion channels in neuropathic pain chronicization.

Vicario N, Turnaturi R, Spitale FM, Torrisi F, Zappalà A, Gulino R, Pasquinucci L, Chiechio S, Parenti C, Parenti R.

Inflamm Res. 2020 Sep;69(9):841-850. doi: 10.1007/s00011-020-01363-9. Epub 2020 Jun 12. PMID: 32533221 Review.

Lipid Nanoparticle Inclusion Prevents Capsaicin-Induced TRPV1 Defunctionalization.

Puglia C, Santonocito D, Bonaccorso A, Musumeci T, Ruozi B, Pignatello R, Carbone C, Parenti C, Chiechio S.

Pharmaceutics. 2020 Apr 10;12(4):339. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12040339.

PMID: 32290081 Free PMC article.

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.

Turnaturi R, Pasquinucci L, Chiechio S, Grasso M, Marrazzo A, Amata E, Dichiara M, Prezzavento O, Parenti C.

ACS Chem Neurosci. 2020 Apr 1;11(7):999-1005. doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00688. Epub 2020 Mar 23. PMID: 32186844

Progress in the development of more effective and safer analgesics for pain management.

Turnaturi R, Chiechio S, Salerno L, Rescifina A, Pittalà V, Cantarella G, Tomarchio E, Parenti C, Pasquinucci L.

Eur J Med Chem. 2019 Dec 1;183:111701. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.111701. Epub 2019 Sep 16. PMID: 31550662 Review.

Preclinical evidence of enhanced analgesic activity of duloxetine complexed with succinyl-β-cyclodextrin: A comparative study with cyclodextrin complexes.

Seggio M, Contino A, Maccarrone G, Parenti C, Merlo S, Pappalardo G, Giuffrida A, Chiechio S.

Int J Pharm. 2019 Jul 20;566:391-399. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.05.077. Epub 2019 May 31. PMID: 31158453

Synthesis, in vitro and in vivo characterization of new benzoxazole and benzothiazole-based sigma receptor ligands.

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.

Eur J Med Chem. 2019 Jul 15;174:226-235. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.04.056. Epub 2019 Apr 21. PMID: 31042618

Simultaneous Activation of Mu and Delta Opioid Receptors Reduces Allodynia and Astrocytic Connexin 43 in an Animal Model of Neuropathic Pain.

Vicario N, Pasquinucci L, Spitale FM, Chiechio S, Turnaturi R, Caraci F, Tibullo D, Avola R, Gulino R, Parenti R, Parenti C.

Mol Neurobiol. 2019 Nov;56(11):7338-7354. doi: 10.1007/s12035-019-1607-1. Epub 2019 Apr 28. PMID: 31030416

(2S)-N-2-methoxy-2-phenylethyl-6,7-benzomorphan compound (2S-LP2): Discovery of a biased mu/delta opioid receptor agonist.

Pasquinucci L, Turnaturi R, Calò G, Pappalardo F, Ferrari F, Russo G, Arena E, Montenegro L, Chiechio S, Prezzavento O, Parenti C.

Eur J Med Chem. 2019 Apr 15;168:189-198. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.02.043. Epub 2019 Feb 18. PMID: 30822708

Simultaneous targeting of MOR/DOR: A useful strategy for inflammatory pain modulation.

Pasquinucci L, Turnaturi R, Montenegro L, Caraci F, Chiechio S, Parenti C.

Eur J Pharmacol. 2019 Mar 15;847:97-102. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2019.01.031. Epub 2019 Jan 25. PMID: 30690004

l-Acetylcarnitine: A Mechanistically Distinctive and Potentially Rapid-Acting Antidepressant Drug.

Chiechio S, Canonico PL, Grilli M.

Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Dec 21;19(1):11. doi: 10.3390/ijms19010011.

PMID: 29267192 Free PMC article. Review.

Chronic Treatment with Fluoxetine Induces Sex-Dependent Analgesic Effects and Modulates HDAC2 and mGlu2 Expression in Female Mice.

Zammataro M, Merlo S, Barresi M, Parenti C, Hu H, Sortino MA, Chiechio S.

Front Pharmacol. 2017 Oct 20;8:743. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00743. eCollection 2017. PMID: 29104538 Free PMC article.

Rosemary Essential Oil-Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles: In Vivo Topical Activity from Gel Vehicles.

Montenegro L, Pasquinucci L, Zappalà A, Chiechio S, Turnaturi R, Parenti C.

Pharmaceutics. 2017 Oct 21;9(4):48. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics9040048.

PMID: 29065483 Free PMC article.

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.

Vicario N, Parenti R, Arico' G, Turnaturi R, Scoto GM, Chiechio S, Parenti C.

Mol Pain. 2016 Sep 2;12:1744806916667949. doi: 10.1177/1744806916667949. Print 2016. PMID: 27590071 Free PMC article.

Modulation of Chronic Pain by Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors.

Chiechio S.

Adv Pharmacol. 2016;75:63-89. doi: 10.1016/bs.apha.2015.11.001. Epub 2016 Jan 6. PMID: 26920009 Review.

Involvement of the Heme-Oxygenase Pathway in the Antiallodynic and Antihyperalgesic Activity of Harpagophytum procumbens in Rats.

Parenti C, Aricò G, Chiechio S, Di Benedetto G, Parenti R, Scoto GM.

Molecules. 2015 Sep 15;20(9):16758-69. doi: 10.3390/molecules200916758.

PMID: 26389871 Free PMC article.

Monomeric ß-amyloid interacts with type-1 insulin-like growth factor receptors to provide energy supply to neurons.

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.

Front Cell Neurosci. 2015 Aug 7;9:297. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00297. eCollection 2015. PMID: 26300732 Free PMC article.

HDAC and HAT inhibitors differently affect analgesia mediated by group II metabotropic glutamate receptors.

Zammataro M, Sortino MA, Parenti C, Gereau RW 4th, Chiechio S.

Mol Pain. 2014 Nov 18;10:68. doi: 10.1186/1744-8069-10-68.

PMID: 25406541 Free PMC article.

Acetyl-L-carnitine: from a biological curiosity to a drug for the peripheral nervous system and beyond.

Onofrj M, Ciccocioppo F, Varanese S, di Muzio A, Calvani M, Chiechio S, Osio M, Thomas A.

Expert Rev Neurother. 2013 Aug;13(8):925-36. doi: 10.1586/14737175.2013.814930.

PMID: 23965166 Review.

Beta-amyloid monomer and insulin/IGF-1 signaling in Alzheimer's disease.

Giuffrida ML, Tomasello F, Caraci F, Chiechio S, Nicoletti F, Copani A.

Mol Neurobiol. 2012 Dec;46(3):605-13. doi: 10.1007/s12035-012-8313-6. Epub 2012 Aug 12. PMID: 22886436 Review.

Curcumin loaded NLC induces histone hypoacetylation in the CNS after intraperitoneal administration in mice.

Puglia C, Frasca G, Musumeci T, Rizza L, Puglisi G, Bonina F, Chiechio S.

Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2012 Jun;81(2):288-93. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2012.03.015. Epub 2012 Apr 3. PMID: 22504443

Hyperalgesic activity of kisspeptin in mice.

Spampinato S, Trabucco A, Biasiotta A, Biagioni F, Cruccu G, Copani A, Colledge WH, Sortino MA, Nicoletti F, Chiechio S.

Mol Pain. 2011 Nov 23;7:90. doi: 10.1186/1744-8069-7-90.

PMID: 22112588 Free PMC article.

Metabotropic glutamate receptors and the control of chronic pain.

Chiechio S, Nicoletti F.

Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2012 Feb;12(1):28-34. doi: 10.1016/j.coph.2011.10.010. Epub 2011 Oct 29. PMID: 22040745 Review.

Development, characterization, and in vitro and in vivo evaluation of benzocaine- and lidocaine-loaded nanostructrured lipid carriers.

Puglia C, Sarpietro MG, Bonina F, Castelli F, Zammataro M, Chiechio S.

J Pharm Sci. 2011 May;100(5):1892-9. doi: 10.1002/jps.22416. Epub 2010 Dec 10.

PMID: 21374621

mGlu2 metabotropic glutamate receptors restrain inflammatory pain and mediate the analgesic activity of dual mGlu2/mGlu3 receptor agonists.

Zammataro M, Chiechio S, Montana MC, Traficante A, Copani A, Nicoletti F, Gereau RW 4th.

Mol Pain. 2011 Jan 14;7:6. doi: 10.1186/1744-8069-7-6.

PMID: 21235748 Free PMC article.

Transcriptional regulation of type-2 metabotropic glutamate receptors: an epigenetic path to novel treatments for chronic pain.

Chiechio S, Copani A, Zammataro M, Battaglia G, Gereau RW 4th, Nicoletti F.

Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2010 Apr;31(4):153-60. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2009.12.003. Epub 2010 Jan 11. PMID: 20064669

Epigenetic modulation of mGlu2 receptors by histone deacetylase inhibitors in the treatment of inflammatory pain.

Chiechio S, Zammataro M, Morales ME, Busceti CL, Drago F, Gereau RW 4th, Copani A, Nicoletti F.

Mol Pharmacol. 2009 May;75(5):1014-20. doi: 10.1124/mol.108.054346. Epub 2009 Mar 2. PMID: 19255242

Pregabalin in the treatment of chronic pain: an overview.

Chiechio S, Zammataro M, Caraci F, Rampello L, Copani A, Sabato AF, Nicoletti F.

Clin Drug Investig. 2009;29(3):203-13. doi: 10.2165/00044011-200929030-00006.

PMID: 19243212 Review.

L-acetylcarnitine: a proposed therapeutic agent for painful peripheral neuropathies.

Chiechio S, Copani A, Nicoletti F, Gereau RW 4th.

Curr Neuropharmacol. 2006 Jul;4(3):233-7. doi: 10.2174/157015906778019509.

PMID: 18615142 Free PMC article.

Acetyl-L-carnitine in neuropathic pain: experimental data.

Chiechio S, Copani A, Gereau RW 4th, Nicoletti F.

CNS Drugs. 2007;21 Suppl 1:31-8; discussion 45-6. doi: 10.2165/00023210-200721001-00005. PMID: 17696591 Review.

Bone morphogenetic protein-7 delays podocyte injury due to high glucose.

De Petris L, Hruska KA, Chiechio S, Liapis H.

Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2007 Dec;22(12):3442-50. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfm503. Epub 2007 Aug 8. PMID: 17686813

Mice lacking central serotonergic neurons show enhanced inflammatory pain and an impaired analgesic response to antidepressant drugs.

Zhao ZQ, Chiechio S, Sun YG, Zhang KH, Zhao CS, Scott M, Johnson RL, Deneris ES, Renner KJ, Gereau RW 4th, Chen ZF.

J Neurosci. 2007 May 30;27(22):6045-53. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1623-07.2007. PMID: 17537976

Lmx1b is required for maintenance of central serotonergic neurons and mice lacking central serotonergic system exhibit normal locomotor activity.

Zhao ZQ, Scott M, Chiechio S, Wang JS, Renner KJ, Gereau RW 4th, Johnson RL, Deneris ES, Chen ZF.

J Neurosci. 2006 Dec 6;26(49):12781-8. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4143-06.2006. PMID: 17151281 

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.

Chiechio S, Copani A, De Petris L, Morales ME, Nicoletti F, Gereau RW 4th.

Mol Pain. 2006 Jun 9;2:20. doi: 10.1186/1744-8069-2-20.

PMID: 16764720 

An evaluation of efficacy and safety of reboxetine in elderly patients affected by "retarded" post-stroke depression. A random, placebo-controlled study.

Rampello L, Alvano A, Chiechio S, Raffaele R, Vecchio I, Malaguarnera M.

Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2005 May-Jun;40(3):275-85.

doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2004.09.004. Epub 2004 Dec 7.

PMID: 15814161 Clinical Trial.

Novel neuronal targets for the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor donepezil.

Sortino MA, Frasca G, Chisari M, Platania P, Chiechio S, Vancheri C, Copani A, Canonico PL.

Neuropharmacology. 2004 Dec;47(8):1198-204.

doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2004.08.011. PMID: 15567429

Evaluation of the prophylactic efficacy of amitriptyline and citalopram, alone or in combination, in patients with comorbidity of depression, migraine, and tension-type headache.

Rampello L, Alvano A, Chiechio S, Malaguarnera M, Raffaele R, Vecchio I, Nicoletti F.

Neuropsychobiology. 2004;50(4):322-8. doi: 10.1159/000080960.

PMID: 15539864 Clinical Trial.

Metabotropic receptors as targets for drugs of potential use in the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Chiechio S, Copani A, Melchiorri D, Canudas AM, Storto M, Calvani M, Nicolai R, Nicoletti F.

J Endocrinol Invest. 2004;27(6 Suppl):171-6. PMID: 15481819 Review.

Beta-amyloid-activated cell cycle in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells: correlation with the MAP kinase pathway.

Frasca G, Chiechio S, Vancheri C, Nicoletti F, Copani A, Angela Sortino M.

J Mol Neurosci. 2004;22(3):231-6. doi: 10.1385/jmn:22:3:231. PMID: 14997017

Prediction of the response to citalopram and reboxetine in post-stroke depressed patients.

Rampello L, Chiechio S, Nicoletti G, Alvano A, Vecchio I, Raffaele R, Malaguarnera M.

Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2004 Apr;173(1-2):73-8. doi: 10.1007/s00213-003-1698-1. Epub 2003 Dec 17. PMID: 14685645 Clinical Trial.

Effects of phenformin on the proliferation of human tumor cell lines.

Caraci F, Chisari M, Frasca G, Chiechio S, Salomone S, Pinto A, Sortino MA, Bianchi A.

Life Sci. 2003 Dec 19;74(5):643-50. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2003.07.015. PMID: 14623034

An increased expression of the mGlu5 receptor protein following LTP induction at the perforant path-dentate gyrus synapse in freely moving rats.

Manahan-Vaughan D, Ngomba RT, Storto M, Kulla A, Catania MV, Chiechio S, Rampello L, Passarelli F, Capece A, Reymann KG, Nicoletti F.

Neuropharmacology. 2003 Jan;44(1):17-25. doi: 10.1016/s0028-3908(02)00342-8.

PMID: 12559118

Erratic expression of DNA polymerases by beta-amyloid causes neuronal death.

Copani A, Sortino MA, Caricasole A, Chiechio S, Chisari M, Battaglia G, Giuffrida-Stella AM, Vancheri C, Nicoletti F.

FASEB J. 2002 Dec;16(14):2006-8. doi: 10.1096/fj.02-0422fje. Epub 2002 Oct 18.

PMID: 12397084

L-Acetylcarnitine induces analgesia by selectively up-regulating mGlu2 metabotropic glutamate receptors.

Chiechio S, Caricasole A, Barletta E, Storto M, Catania MV, Copani A, Vertechy M, Nicolai R, Calvani M, Melchiorri D, Nicoletti F.

Mol Pharmacol. 2002 May;61(5):989-96. doi: 10.1124/mol.61.5.989. PMID: 11961116

The SSRI, citalopram, improves bradykinesia in patients with Parkinson's disease treated with L-dopa.

Rampello L, Chiechio S, Raffaele R, Vecchio I, Nicoletti F.

Clin Neuropharmacol. 2002 Jan-Feb;25(1):21-4. doi: 10.1097/00002826-200201000-00004. PMID: 11852292 Clinical Trial.

Preparation and analgesic activity of Eudragit RS100 microparticles containing diflunisal.

Pignatello R, Amico D, Chiechio S, Spadaro C, Puglisi G, Giunchedi P.

Drug Deliv. 2001 Jan-Mar;8(1):35-45. doi: 10.1080/107175401300002748.

PMID: 11280442

Evidence of a key-role for histamine from mast cells in the analgesic effect of clomipramine in rats.

Arrigo-Reina R, Chiechio S.

Inflamm Res. 1998 Feb;47(2):44-8. doi: 10.1007/s000110050262.

PMID: 9535540

H3-histamine receptors and clonidine analgesia in rats. Chiechio S, Spadaro C, Arrigo-Reina R.

Inflamm Res. 1997 Mar;46(Suppl 1):43-4. doi: 10.1007/s000110050054.

PMID: 27517995 No abstract available.

H3-histamine receptors and clonidine analgesia in rats. Chiechio S, Spadaro C, Arrigo-Reina R.

Inflamm Res. 1997 Mar;46 Suppl 1:S43-4. PMID: 9098757 No abstract available.

Histaminergic mechanisms in clonidine induced analgesia in rat tail-flick test. Arrigo-Reina R, Chiechio S.

Inflamm Res. 1995 Jan;44(1):21-3. doi: 10.1007/BF01630482. PMID: 7664025

Synthesis of carboxyalkylthio-triazoles and bicyclic derivatives with antiinflammatory and analgesic activity.

Mazzone G, Pignatello R, Mazzone S, Panico A, Barbera F, Catti T, Chiechio S, Arrigo-Reina R, Castorina C, Russo A.

Farmaco. 1992 Feb;47(2):149-69. PMID: 1324687