Teaching
Lecture: Gender Pharmacology - Chiara Fiorentini
Course: Pharmacology - Bachelor’s Degree Program in Medicine and Surgery; Master’s Degree Program in Nursing and Midwifery Sciences.
Third Mission Activities
October 21, 2021:
Conference organized by ASST Spedali Civili-Brescia: “Gender Medicine: The Value of Difference Throughout the Life Course.”
“Gender, Research, and Clinical Trials”
Speakers: Chiara Fiorentini - Sandra Sigala
November 11, 2019:
Event for high school students: “Connections: Meeting and Exchanging Perspectives on Equal Opportunity Pathways” – Main Auditorium, Abba-Ballini Institute, Brescia.
“Appropriate Use of Medications: Gender Issues”
Speaker: Chiara Fiorentini
June 8, 2019:
Continuing education course organized by the Brescia Medical Association: Gender-Specific Pharmacology “Are We All Equal in the Face of Pain? Gender Differences and Beyond” Conference Room, Santa Giulia Academy of Fine Arts – Brescia.
“Opioids”
Speaker: Chiara Fiorentini
March 24, 2018:
Continuing education course organized by the Brescia Medical Association: Gender Pharmacology – S. Barnaba Auditorium, Brescia
“Cardiovascular Medications Tailored to Men… and Women?”
Speaker: Sandra Sigala,
“Psychotropic Drugs and Gender: The Value of Difference.”
Speaker: Chiara Fiorentini
“Presentation of the Observatory for Research and Training on Gender Pharmacology”
Speaker: Cristina Missale
Research Areas
The role of estrogens in the neurotrophic and neuroprotective mechanisms induced by nicotine and dopaminergic agonists in murine and human dopaminergic neurons.
Chiara Fiorentini, Cristina Missale.
In dopaminergic neurons, nicotine-induced stimulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAchR) triggers neurotrophic effects through a mechanism involving the dopamine D3 receptor (D3R): more specifically, the neurotrophic effects of nicotine appear to be related to the activation of a receptor heteromer consisting of the D3R and the nicotinic receptor (D3R-nAchR heteromer), expressed on the neurons themselves (Bontempi et al., 2017, Eur Neuropsychopharmacol; Bono et al., 2018, Mol Neurobiol). Recently, we have also observed that in dopaminergic neurons, stimulation of this heteromer is also involved in neuroprotective mechanisms (Bono et al., 2019, Neurobiol Dis). The activity of the D3R-nAchR heteromer is therefore crucial for the well-being of dopaminergic neurons, and its impaired function may underlie the vulnerability of dopaminergic neurons observed in Parkinson’s disease or be involved in the mechanisms underlying nicotine addiction.
A body of experimental evidence has suggested that nAChRs are more strongly activated in the presence of estrogens: in particular, estrogens—but not testosterone—appear to act as positive allosteric modulators for nAChR subtypes that are highly expressed in dopaminergic neurons (Curtis et al., 2002, Mol Pharmacol), suggesting that, in the female brain, the functions regulated by the D3R-nAChR heteromer differ from those observed in the male brain. The aim of this project is to investigate, in murine and human cellular models, the effect of estrogens on the functioning of the D3R-nAChR heteromer, with particular reference to its neurotrophic and neuroprotective properties.
Thesis
Bachelor’s Degree Program in Biotechnology – Academic Year 2018/2019
“Effect of Estrogens on Nicotinic Receptor Activity in Dopaminergic Neurons”
Undergraduate Student: Simone D’Ali
Advisor: Chiara Fiorentini