Pinna Annalisa
Research scientist
Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato
S.S. 554, Km 4,5
09042 Monserrato (CA)
Tel 070-6758662
Fax 070-6754320
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Role of adenosine A2A receptors in Parkinson’s disease
Research summary
The principal aim of the laboratory is to explore the modifications of dopamine neurotransmission in the Parkinson’s disease and the interaction with other neurotransmission systems involved in this neurological disorder, in order to identify a new therapy that might ameliorate the quality of life of parkinsonian Patients. In particular, our research activity is aimed at evaluating symptomatic and neuroprotective potential of adenosine A2A receptor antagonist drugs and at characterizing the role of the interaction of adenosine A2A receptor with dopaminergic, serotoninergic, cannabinoid and glutamatergic neurotransmission systems on Parkinson’s disease. Moreover, the laboratory investigate the neurotoxicity and neuroinflammation induced by psychostimulant drugs on nigro-striatal dopaminergic system.
The laboratory is specialized in procedures of evaluation of motor and non-motor behavioral deficits in animal models of Parkinson's disease, which are combined with immunohistochemistry, molecular biology and in vivo microdialysis procedures, in order to study the neurochemical basis of symptomatic or neurotoxic effects of drugs utilized in behavioral and neutotoxic studies.
Research’s Topics
Role of adenosine A2A receptors in Parkinson’s disease
Behavioral characterization of mutant mice as model of Parkinson’s disease
Interaction between adenosine A2A receptors and G protein coupled receptors of other neurotransmission systems (CB1, mGlu5, 5-HT1A/B)
Representative publications
Pinna A, Ko WK, Costa G, Tronci E, Fidalgo C, Simola N, Li Q, Tabrizi MA, Bezard E, Carta M, Morelli M. Antidyskinetic effect of A2A and 5HT1A/1B receptor ligands in two animal models of Parkinson's disease. Mov Disord. 2016 Apr;31(4):501-11. doi: 10.1002/mds.26475.
Pinna A. Adenosine A2A receptor antagonists in Parkinson's disease: progress in clinical trials from the newly approved istradefylline to drugs in early development and those already discontinued. CNS Drugs. 2014 May;28(5):455-74. doi: 10.1007/s40263-014-0161-7.
Pinna A, Bonaventura J, Farré D, Sánchez M, Simola N, Mallol J, Lluís C, Costa G, Baqi Y, Müller CE, Cortés A, McCormick P, Canela EI, Martínez-Pinilla E, Lanciego JL, Casadó V, Armentero MT, Franco R. L-DOPA disrupts adenosine A(2A)-cannabinoid CB(1)-dopamine D(2) receptor heteromer cross-talk in the striatum of hemiparkinsonian rats: biochemical and behavioral studies. Exp Neurol. 2014 Mar;253:180-91. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2013.12.021.
Baiguera C, Alghisi M, Pinna A, Bellucci A, De Luca MA, Frau L, Morelli M, Ingrassia R, Benarese M, Porrini V, Pellitteri M, Bertini G, Fabene PF, Sigala S, Spillantini MG, Liou HC, Spano PF, Pizzi M.Late-onset Parkinsonism in NFκB/c-Rel-deficient mice. Brain. 2012; 135(Pt 9): 2750-65.
Armentero MT, Pinna A, Ferré S, Lanciego JL, Müller CE, Franco R. Past, present and future of A(2A) adenosine receptor antagonists in the therapy of Parkinson's disease. Pharmacol Ther. 2011; 132(3): 280-99.
Pinna A, Pontis S, Borsini F, Morelli M. Adenosine A2A receptor antagonists improve deficits in initiation of movement and sensory motor integration in the unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson's disease. Synapse. 2007; 61(8): 606-14.