Curriculum Vitae
Name: Maria Beatrice Passani
Work Address: Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute Universitá degli Studi di Firenze Viale G. Pieraccini 6, 50139 Firenze
e-mail: beatrice.passani@unifi.it
Maria Beatrice Passani obtained the Degree in Biological Sciences at Universitá di Firenze, Italy in 1983. In 1986 she received a Master’s Degree in Psychobiology at Center of Learning and Memory University of Irvine, California (CA, USA). During this period, she learned electrophysiological and immunohistochemical techniques to study hippocampal synaptic plasticity as a physiological mechanism subserving learning and memory storage. In 1993, she obtained a Doctoral Degree (PhD) in Biological Science at Columbia University-New York (NY, USA). Her studies focused on the developmental strategies of the leech nervous system contributing to delineate specific molecular interactions during the development of leech neurons, which serve to define their adult morphology and synaptic connections. The results were published as 3 articles in the Journal of Neuroscience (2 of which first-authorship) and 1 article in the Journal of Neurobiology.
MB Passani returned to Firenze (I) and worked as a Research Fellow at the Dept. of Preclinical and Clinical Pharmacology-Universitá di Firenze. MB PAssani was appointed Assistant Professor (RU) in Pharmacology at the School of Pharmacy-Universitá di Firenze in 2005 and then Associate Professor at the Dip. di Scienze della Salute of the same University on November 1st 2015. Initially, she studied the role of serotonergic modulation of excitatory neurotransmission in the rat hippocampus as correlates of cognitive processes. She then became interested in the physiological role of histamine as a central neurotransmitter involved in cognitive, homeostatic processes and brain inflammatory processes. By using a combination of in-vivo microdialysis and behavioural tests, she found that antagonists of the histamine H3 auto-heteroceptor increase the cholinergic output in brain regions like the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala (important for the elaboration of persistent memories) and counteract the amnesic effects of scopolamine. These results are relevant in the understanding of the physio-pathological mechanisms of cognitive disorders. The research of MB Passani also has contributed to describe the intracellular mechanisms that underlie some functional properties of the H3 receptors. In cultured murine cortical pyramidal cells, H3 receptor stimulation activates the Akt/GSK3beta/Bcl-2 pathway and protects cortical neurons from neurotoxic insults.
Subsequently, by using behaviouraltests and pharmacological manipulations, she contributed to characterize the histaminergic neurons as a cluster of heterogeneous cells organized in functionally distinct neuronal population. Her studies strongly suggest that different brain histaminergic circuits are activated according to the homeostatic status or the necessary behavioural response. In this regard, MB Passani demonstrated the relevance of brain histamine in controlling feeding behaviour, and in mediating the central effects of endogenous lipids secreted by enterocytes such as oleoylethanolamide (OEA). Her studies described the interplay between histamine and OEA in the control of food consumption and eating behaviour, in the consolidation of emotional memory and mood, and finally, in the synthesis of ketone bodies in the liver. MB Passani was also involved in learning the role of the histamine H4 receptor, which are primarily expressed in the hematopoietic cells, in the pathogenesis of neuroinflammatory autoimmune diseases, in particular, in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) a murine model of multiple sclerosis. Selective antagonists of the H4 receptor have raised considerable interest for their anti-inflammatory and anti-itch properties. It was found that the selective antagonism of the H4 receptor in the EAE model significantly worsens the clinical signs of the disease and increases the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Hence, these data may help anticipate positive and negative effects of these compounds in the treatment of MS patients. More recently, her research interests included studying the effects of carbonic anhydrases (CA) inhibitors in memory processing and in a murine model of Alzheimer’s disease. The results revealed that the engagement of Cas in selected brain regions is essential for providing the brain with resilience necessary to ensure long-lasting extinction of emotionally salient events. Also, preliminary results indicate that CA inhibition protects mice from amyloid deposition and cognitive impairments. The results of MB Passani’s studies were published in several articles published in high impact journals such as Cell Metabolism, Proc Natl Acad Sci, Br J Pharmacol, J Neurosci, J Physiol.
MB Passani’s teaching assignments include undergraduate courses at the University of Irvine (CA, USA) and Columbia University (NY, USA), the undergraduate course in Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy at the School of Pharmacy, Universitá di Firenze (I) and graduate courses at the School of Hospital Pharmacology, Universitá di Firenze (I). She supervised the doctoral thesis of several PhD students and undergraduate students in Pharmacy or Biology. She acted as doctoral thesis opponent at Biomedicum University of Helsinki (FL), and United Arab Emirates University (Al Ain UEA). Several visiting PhD students from Brazil, The Netherlands, Belgium, UK worked in the laboratory within exchange programmes.
Education 1983 Degree in Biological Sciences at Universitá di Firenze, Italy.
1983-1986 Master’s degree, Dept of Psychobiology, University of California, Irvine (CA)
1986-1991 Philosophy Doctor (PhD) degree at Dept of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York (NY).
Professional curriculum
1986 Research Associate, Dept of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York (NY). 1987 Attended the course Neurobiology of the leech, Woods Hole Laboratories, Woods Hole (MA) 1992-2004 Research Fellow at the Dept of Preclinical e Clinical Pharmacology, Universitá di Firenze
2005-2015 Assistant Professor (RU) at the Dip di Farmacologia Preclinica e Clinica, Universitá di Firenze
2015 Associate Professor at Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Universitá di Firenze.
Teaching Assignments
1983-1986 Teaching assistant for Psychobiology Lectures and Psychobiology Laboratory, University of California Irvine, (CA).
1987 Teaching assistant of the course in Neurobiology, Dept of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York (NY).
2006-today Undergraduate course (Degree in Pharmacy): Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy
Graduate courses: Hospital pharmacology
Other teaching activities
- 2012-2016 Seminars for Graduate and Master Students at Brain Institute-Pontificia Universidate Católica do Rio Grande do Sul-Porto Alegre (Br).
- Committee member of Master and PhD theses at United Arab Emirates University
- Committee member PhD theses at University of Helsinki (Fl).
- Committee member PhD theses in Drug Discovery-Universitá di Genova/Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
- Committee member PhD theses in Pharmaceutical Sciences at Universitá di Perugia
- Tutor of PhD thesis Course in Translational Medicine, Scuola Studi Avanzati S. Anna-Pisa
- Tutor of PhD students in Drug research and Innovative Treatments- Universitá di Firenze
- Seminars for Evento Formativo Residenziale: Ruolo del Microbiota intestinale nelle patologie psichiatriche e neurodegenerative Centro S. Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli Brescia 28 giugno 2021 & 13 aprile 2022.
- Seminars for Graduate Students - Doctoral programme in Drug research and Innovative Treatments-Universitá di Firenze
- Seminars for Students of the School of Toxicology and Pharmacology-Universitá di Firenze
Awards and fellowships
1987 "Charles A. Huebschman" award to participate to the course Neurobiology of the leech at Woods Hole Laboratories, MA (USA)
1992-1993 Fellowship of Comitato di Gestione e Ricerca sui Farmaci (GESCO).
1994-1995 Fellowship of Universitá di Firenze provided by ACRAF, Angelini Francesco S.P.A.
1995-1997 Consultant within PNR for Pharmacia SpA
Most Relevant Research Funding as Lead/Co-Applicant
Prinicipal Investigator:PRIN 2009ESX7T3_003 “Role of brain histaminergic system in the anorexic effect of oleoylethanolamide”
Coordinator: FISM Pilot Project 2010/R/27 “Histaminergic H4 receptor contribution to autoimmune diseases: unravelling a receptor mechanisms of EAE exacerbation”
Prinicipal Investigator: “AMBROSIAC” 2016-2019 JPI HDHL Nutrition and Cognitive Function:“A Menu for Brain Responses Opposing Stress-Induced Alterations in Cognition”
Coordinator: "Role of the histaminergic system in aversive and pleasurable memories" finanziato da CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO (CNpQ, Brasile) Pesquisador Visitante Especial CNPq 314503/2014-5;
Fondazione CR Firenze grant n. 2017.0787
Coordinator: 2019-2022 Flag-Era/Human brain project “Hypothalamic histaminergic modulation of brain regions involved in fear memory”
Coordinator: 2019-2021 Fondazione Ente Cassa Risparmio Firenze “A preclinical study of CA anhydrase involvement in Alzheimer’s Disease. New pharmacological perspectives”
Invited lectures in the last 10 years
Organization of Symposia
Organization/coordination of international networks
-Member of COST action BM0806 Advances in histamine H4 receptor research 2009-2013
-Coordinator of the FlagEra consortium (2020-2023) Partecipants: Rob Leurs Vreje-Universitat Amsterdam Nl), Guillaume Ferreira-NutriNeuro Université de Bordeaux (Fr), Ludovico Silvestri-LENS Universitá di Firenze. The consortium was awarded a JPI-Human Brain Project grant. 2019-today
-Coordinator of scientific network with Sophie Layé-Université de Bordeaux and John Cryan-University College Cork (Ireland). Joint publications:
-Coordinator of a scientific network with Cristiane R Furini and late Ivan Izquierdo, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre (Br). The collaboration produced 8 joint publications (please refer to Complete Publications) 2015-2019
-Italian PI and coordinator of the JPI-A healthy diet for a Healthy Life “Ambrosiac: A Menu for Brain Responses Opposing Stress-Induced Alterations in Cognition”. Partners: international coordinator, John Cryan-University College Cork; local PIs, Lucille Capuron-Université de Bordeaux; Monique Breteler-German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases Bonn (D); Annemie Schols Maastricht University (Nl); Carmine Pariante king’s College London (UK) 2016-2020
-Member of the Scientific Programme Committee of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology 2022-2023
Ongoing scientific collaborations
Prof Zhong Chen Zhejiang University, China
Editorial activity
-Editor with Patrizio Blandina of the book Histamine receptors. Preclinical and clinical Aspects. Humana Press
-Editor with Kazuhiko Yanai of the book Functional roles of Histamine Receptors in ‘Current Topics in Behavioural Neuroscience’ 2020-2022
-Editorial board member of Neuropharmacology, 2018-today
-Editorial board member ofEndocrinology 2022
-Member of the Editorial Board of Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
-Associate Editor of Frontiers in System Neuroscience
Biomedicines- Neurobiology and Neurologic Disease 2019-today
-Associate Editor of Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience 2020-today
-Guest Associate Editor of Frontiers
Institutional activities
2010-2015 Coordinator of Internationalisation programme at Dipartimento di Neurofarba-Universitá di Firenze.
2015-today Responsible of the organization of seminars and presentations for/by graduate students in Pharmacology and Innovative Treatments School of Human Health Science-Universitá di Firenze.
2015-today Coordinator of International agreement with Universidade Estadual de Ciencias da Saude de Alagoas, Alagoas (Br)
Evaluations & expertise
Grant proposal revisions for Agencie National de la Recherche (ANR, France), Research Council UK, the Dutch Research Council (NWO)
Manuscripts reviewer for British journal of Pharmacology, Nature Health, Neuropharmacology, Biomolecules, Frontiers in Behavioural Neuroscience, Behavioural Brain Research, Trends in Neuroscience
Other Professional Activities
2012-2015 Council member of the European Histamine Research Society
2009-2013 Member of COST action BM0806 “Advances in histamine H4 receptor research”
Third Mission
-Articles published in Toscana Medica and Psychology Today
-The article Satiety factor oleoylethanolamide recruits the brain histaminergic system to inhibit food intake published in Proc. Natl Acad Sci (2014) was reviewed in several daily newspapers among which La Stampa and Repubblica
-Webinar for layman audience organized by The Brazilian Academy of Sciences: The legacy of Iván Izquierdo for neuroscience of memory (2021)
-Responsible for 3-week stages for high school students (2017-2019)
Bibliometric parameters
Publications with a total of more than 3300 citations and an H index of 34 (Scopus).
Peer reviewed articles
Costa A, Micioni Di Bonaventura E,Botticelli L, Eramo B, Gaetani S et al. (2025) Brain histaminergic system: An emerging target for the treatment of feeding and eating-related disorders. Pharmacol Res. 221, 107949
Costa A, Bozdag M, Renzi G, Rani B, Passani MB, et al. (2025) Hitting Two Birds With One Stone: Dual Modulation of Brain Carbonic Anhydrases and Histone Deacetylases Boosts Memory ConsolidationArch Pharm (Weinheim), 358(6):e70020.
Nocentini A, Costa A, Bonardi A, Ammara A, Giovannnuzzi S, et al (2024) Enhanced Recognition Memory through Dual Modulation of Brain Carbonic Anhydrases and Cholinesterases. J Med Chem. 67(18):16873-16898
Costa A, Micheli L, Sordi V, Ciampi C, Lucci J, Passani MB, Provensi G. (2024)Preventing social defeat stress-induced behavioural and neurochemical alterations by repeated treatment with a mix of Centella asiatica, Echinacea purpurea and Zingiber officinale standardized extracts. Front Pharmacol. 15:1439811.
Costa A, Ducourneau E, Curti L, Masi L, Mannaioni G, Hardt L, Biyong EF, Potier M, Blandina P, Trifilieff P, Provensi G, Ferreira G, Passani MB. (2024) Chemogenetic activation or inhibition of histaminergic neurons bidirectionally modulates recognition memory formation and retrieval in male and female mice Sci Rep. 14(1):11283
Franceschini A, Mazzamuto G, Checcucci C, Chicchi L, Fanelli D, Costantini I, Passani MB, Silva BA, Pavone FS, Silvestri L. (2023) Brain-wide neuron quantification toolkit reveals strong sexual dimorphism in the evolution of fear memory. Cell Rep. 42:112908.
De Filippo C, Costa A, Becagli MV, Monroy MM, Provensi G, Passani MB. (2023) Gut microbiota and oleoylethanolamide in the regulation of intestinal homeostasis. Front Endocrinol. 14:1135157.
Provensi G, Costa A, Rani B, Becagli MV, Vaiano F, Passani MB, Tanini D, Capperucci A, Carradori S, Petzer JP, Petzer A, Vullo D, Costantino G, Blandina P, Angeli A, Supuran CT (2022) New β-arylchalcogeno amines with procognitive properties targeting Carbonic Anhydrases and Monoamine Oxidases. Eur J Med Chem. 244:114828.
Schmidt SD, Nachtigall EG, Marcondes LA, Zanluchi A, Furini CRG, Passani MB, Supuran CT, Blandina P, Izquierdo I, Provensi G, de Carvalho Myskiw J (2022) Modulation of Carbonic Anhydrases Activity in the Hippocampus or Prefrontal Cortex Differentially Affects Social Recognition Memory in Rats. Neuroscience. S0306-4522(22)00148-8. doi: 10.1016/neuroscience.2022.03.025. IF 3.59
Costa A, Rani B, Bastiaanssen TFS, Bonfiglio F, Gunnigle E, Provensi G, Rossitto M, Boehme M, Strain C, Martínez CS, Blandina P, Cryan JF, Layé S, Corradetti R, Passani MB (2022). Diet Prevents Social Stress-Induced Maladaptive Neurobehavioural and Gut Microbiota Changes in a Histamine-Dependent Manner. Int J Mol Sci. 23:862. doi: 10.3390/ijms23020862. IF 5.92
Rodríguez-González A, Vitali F, Moya M, De Filippo C, Passani MB, Orio L. Effects of Alcohol Binge Drinking and Oleoylethanolamide Pretreatment in the Gut Microbiota (2021). Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 11:731910. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.731910 IF 5.29
Baldi E, Costa A, Rani B, Passani MB, Blandina P, Romano A, Provensi G. (2021) Oxytocin and Fear Memory Extinction: Possible Implications for the Therapy of Fear Disorders? Int J Mol Sci. 22(18):10000. doi: 10.3390/ijms221810000. IF 5.92
Provensi G, Passani MB, Blandina P. Different Peas in the Same Pod: The Histaminergic Neuronal Heterogeneity. Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2021. doi: 10.1007/7854_2021_241. IF NA
Provensi G, Costa A, Rani B, Blandina P, Passani MB A Duet Between Histamine and Oleoylethanolamide in the Control of Homeostatic and Cognitive Processes. Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2021 Aug 20. doi: 10.1007/7854_2021_236. IF NA
Rani B, Silva-Marques B, Leurs R, Passani MB, Blandina P, Provensi G. (2021) Short- and Long-Term Social Recognition Memory Are Differentially Modulated by Neuronal Histamine. Biomolecules. 11(4):555. doi: 10.3390/biom11040555. IF 4.569
Rani B, Santangelo A, Romano A, Koczwara JB, Friuli M, Provensi G, Blandina P, Casarrubea M, Gaetani S, Passani MB*, Costa A. (2021) Brain histamine and oleoylethanolamide restore behavioral deficits induced by chronic social defeat stress in mice. Neurobiol Stress. 14:100317. doi: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100317. *Corresponding author IF 6.49
Provensi G, Nocentini A, Passani MB, Blandina P, Supuran CT. (2021) Activation of carbonic anhydrase isoforms involved in modulation of emotional memory and cognitive disorders with histamine agonists, antagonists and derivatives. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem. 36(1):719-726. doi: 10.1080/14756366.2021.1891051. IF 4.31
Schmidt SD, Costa A, Rani B, Godfried Nachtigall E, Passani MB, Carta F, Nocentini A, de Carvalho Myskiw J, Furini CRG, Supuran CT, Izquierdo I, Blandina P, Provensi G. (2020) The role of carbonic anhydrases in extinction of contextual fear memory. Proc Natl Acad Sci 117(27):16000-16008. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1910690117 IF 11.205
Bernardino L , Volonté C, Passani MB, Ferreira R (2020) Editorial: Dual Role of Microglia in Health and Disease: Pushing the Balance Towards Repair. Front Cell Neurosci 14:259. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00259. eCollection 2020. IF 5.78
Lama A, Provensi G, Amoriello R, Pirozzi C, Rani B, Mollica MP, Raso GM, Ballerini C, Meli R, Passani MB. (2020) The anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory effects of OEA limit DSS-induced colitis in mice. Biomed Pharmacother. 129:110368. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110368. IF 7.18
Provensi G, Carta F, Nocentini A, Supuran CT, Casamenti F, Passani MB, Fossati S.A. (2019) New Kid on the Block? Carbonic Anhydrases as Possible New Targets in Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci. 20(19):4724. doi: 10.3390/ijms20194724. IF 5.92
Provensi G, Schmidt SD, Boehme M, Bastiaanssen TFS, Rani B, Costa A, Busca K, Fouhy F, Strain C, Stanton C, Blandina P, Izquierdo I, Cryan JF, Passani MB (2019) Preventing adolescent stress-induced cognitive and microbiome changes by diet. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 116(19):9644-9651. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1820832116. IF 11.205
Misto A, Provensi G, Vozella V, Passani MB, Piomelli D. (2019) Mast Cell-Derived Histamine Regulates Liver Ketogenesis via Oleoylethanolamide Signaling. Cell Metab. Jan 8;29(1):91-102.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2018.09.014. IF 27.287
Di Paola M, Bonechi E, Provensi G, Costa A, Clarke G, Ballerini C, De Filippo C, Passani MB. (2018) Oleoylethanolamide treatment affects gut microbiota composition and the expression of intestinal cytokines in Peyer's patches of mice. Sci Rep. 8(1):14881. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-32925-x. IF 4.379
Provensi G, Costa A, Izquierdo I, Blandina P, Passani MB. Brain histamine modulates recognition memory: possible implications in major cognitive disorders. Br J Pharmacol. 2020 Feb;177(3):539-556. doi: 10.1111/bph.14478. IF 8.739
Provensi G, Passani MB, Costa A, Izquierdo I, Blandina P. (2020) Neuronal histamine and the memory of emotionally salient events. Br J Pharmacol. 177(3):557-569. doi: 10.1111/bph.14476. Epub 2018 Sep 18. IF 8.739
Costa A, Cristiano C, Cassano T, Gallelli CA, Gaetani S, Ghelardini C, Blandina P, Calignano A, Passani MB, Provensi G. (2018) Histamine-deficient mice do not respond to the antidepressant-like effects of oleoylethanolamide. Neuropharmacology. 135:234-241. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.03.033. IF 5.25
Passani MB, Benetti F, Blandina P, Furini CRG, de Carvalho Myskiw J, Izquierdo I. (2017) Histamine regulates memory consolidation. Neurobiol Learn Mem. 145:1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.nlm.2017.08.007 IF 2.88
Provensi G, Fabbri R, Munari L, Costa A, Baldi E, Bucherelli C, Blandina P, Passani MB. Histaminergic Neurotransmission as a Gateway for the Cognitive Effect of Oleoylethanolamide in Contextual Fear Conditioning. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2017 20(5):392-399. doi: 10.1093/ijnp/pyw110. IF 5.176
Canto de Souza L, Provensi G, Vullo D, Carta F, Scozzafava A, Costa A, Schmidt SD, Passani MB, Supuran CT, Blandina P. (2017) Carbonic anhydrase activation enhances object recognition memory in mice through phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase in the cortex and the hippocampus. Neuropharmacology. 118:148-156. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.03.009. IF 5.25
Santangelo A, Passani MB, Casarrubea M. (2017) Brain histamine and behavioral neuroscience. Oncotarget. 8(10):1 6107-16108. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.15365. IF 2.68
Santangelo A, Provensi G, Costa A, Blandina P, Ricca V, Crescimanno G, Casarrubea M, Passani MB Brain histamine depletion enhances the behavioural sequences complexity of mice tested in the open-field: Partial reversal effect of the dopamine D2/D3 antagonist sulpiride. Neuropharmacology. 2017 113 :533-542. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.11.007. IF 5.25
Gaetani S, Romano A, Provensi G, Ricca V, Lutz T, Passani MB. (2016) Eating disorders: from bench to bedside and back. J Neurochem. Dec;139(5):691-699. doi: 10.1111/jnc.13848. IF 5.372
Umehara H, Fabbri R, Provensi G, Passani MB. (2016) The hypophagic factor oleoylethanolamide differentially increases c-fos expression in appetite regulating centres in the brain of wild type and histamine deficient mice. Pharmacol Res. 113(Pt A):100-107. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2016.08.020. IF 7.65
Provensi G, Costa A, Passani MB, Blandina P. (2016) Donepezil, an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor, and ABT-239, a histamine H3 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist, require the integrity of brain histamine system to exert biochemical and procognitive effects in the mouse. Neuropharmacology. 109:139-147. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.06.010. IF 5.25
Aldinucci A, Bonechi E, Manuelli C, Nosi D, Masini E, Passani MB, Ballerini C. (2016) Histamine Regulates Actin Cytoskeleton in Human Toll-like Receptor 4-activated Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells Tuning CD4+ T Lymphocyte Response. J Biol Chem. 291(28):14803-14. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M116.720680. IF 5.157
Fabbri R, Furini CR, Passani MB, Provensi G, Baldi E, Bucherelli C, Izquierdo I, de Carvalho Myskiw J, Blandina P. (2016) Memory retrieval of inhibitory avoidance requires histamine H1 receptor activation in the hippocampus. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 113(19):E2714-20. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1604841113. IF 11.205
Provensi G, Blandina P, Passani MB. (2016) The histaminergic system as a target for the prevention of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Neuropharmacology. 106:3-12. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.07.002. IF 5.25
Benetti F, Furini CR, de Carvalho Myskiw J, Provensi G, Passani MB, Baldi E, Bucherelli C, Munari L, Izquierdo I, Blandina P (2015) Histamine in the basolateral amygdala promotes inhibitory avoidance learning independently of hippocampus. Proc Natl Acad Sci 112(19):E2536-42. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1506109112. IF 11.205
Munari L, Provensi G, Passani MB, Galeotti N, Cassano T, Benetti F, Corradetti R, Blandina P. (2015) Brain Histamine Is Crucial for Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors' Behavioral and Neurochemical Effects. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 18(10):pyv045. doi: 10.1093/ijnp/pyv045. IF 5.176
Provensi G, Coccurello R, Umehara H, Munari L, Giacovazzo G, Galeotti N, Nosi D, Gaetani S, Romano A, Moles A, Blandina P, Passani MB. (2014) Satiety factor oleoylethanolamide recruits the brain histaminergic system to inhibit food intake. Proc Natl Acad Sci 111(31):11527-32. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1322016111. IF 11.205
Passani MB, Panula P, Lin JS. (2014) Histamine in the brain. Front Syst Neurosci. 8:64. doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2014.00064. IF 3.203
Musilli C, De Siena G, Manni ME, Logli A, Landucci E, Zucchi R, Saba A, Donzelli R, Passani MB, Provensi G, Raimondi L. (2014) Histamine mediates behavioural and metabolic effects of 3-iodothyroacetic acid, an endogenous end product of thyroid hormone metabolism. Br J Pharmacol. 171(14):3476-84. doi: 10.1111/bph.1269 IF 8.739
Ballerini C, Aldinucci A, Luccarini I, Galante A, Manuelli C, Blandina P, Katebe M, Chazot PL, Masini E, Passani MB. (2013) Antagonism of histamine H4 receptors exacerbates clinical and pathological signs of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Br J Pharmacol. 170(1):67-77. doi: 10.1111/bph.12263. IF 8.739
Munari L, Provensi G, Passani MB, Blandina P. (2013) Selective brain region activation by histamine H₃ receptor antagonist/inverse agonist ABT-239 enhances acetylcholine and histamine release and increases c-Fos expression. Neuropharmacology. 70:131-40. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.01.021. IF 5.25
Blandina P, Munari L, Provensi G, Passani MB. (2012) Histamine neurons in the tuberomamillary nucleus: a whole center or distinct subpopulations? Front Syst Neurosci. 6:33. doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2012.00033. IF 3.203
Passani MB, Ballerini C. (2012) Histamine and neuroinflammation: insights from murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Front Syst Neurosci. 6:32. doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2012.00032. IF 3.203
Pini A, Mannaioni G, Pellegrini-Giampietro D, Passani MB, Mastroianni R, Bani D, Masini E. (2012) The role of cannabinoids in inflammatory modulation of allergic respiratory disorders, inflammatory pain and ischemic stroke. Curr Drug Targets. 13(7):984-93. doi: 10.2174/138945012800675786. IF 3.465
Benetti F, Baldi E, Bucherelli C, Blandina P, Passani MB. (2013) Histaminergic ligands injected into the nucleus basalis magnocellularis differentially affect fear conditioning consolidation. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 16(3):575-82. doi: 10.1017/S1461145712000181. IF 5.176
Tiligada E, Kyriakidis K, Chazot PL, Passani MB. 2011 Histamine pharmacology and new CNS drug targets. CNS Neurosci Ther. 17(6):620-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-5949.2010.00212.x. IF 5.243
Passani MB, Blandina P. (2011) Histamine receptors in the CNS as targets for therapeutic intervention. Trends Pharmacol Sci. Apr;32(4):242-9. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2011.01.003. IF 14.819
Yanovsky Y, Li S, Klyuch BP, Yao Q, Blandina P, Passani MB, Lin JS, Haas HL, Sergeeva OA. (2011) L-Dopa activates histaminergic neurons. J Physiol. 589(Pt 6):1349-66. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2010.203257 IF 5.182
Passani MB, Blandina P, Torrealba F. (2011) The histamine H3 receptor and eating behavior. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 336(1):24-9. doi: 10.1124/jpet.110.171306. IF 4.2
Giannoni P, Medhurst AD, Passani MB, Giovannini MG, Ballini C, Corte LD, Blandina P. (2010) Regional differential effects of the novel histamine H3 receptor antagonist 6-[(3-cyclobutyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepin-7-yl)oxy]-N-methyl-3-pyridinecarboxamide hydrochloride (GSK189254) on histamine release in the central nervous system of freely moving rats. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 332(1):164-72. doi: 10.1124/jpet.109.158444. . IF 4.2
Mariottini C, Scartabelli T, Bongers G, Arrigucci S, Nosi D, Leurs R, Chiarugi A, Blandina P, Pellegrini-Giampietro DE, Passani MB. (2009) Activation of the histaminergic H3 receptor induces phosphorylation of the Akt/GSK-3 beta pathway in cultured cortical neurons and protects against neurotoxic insults. J Neurochem. 110(5):1469-78. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06249.x. IF 5.372
Giannoni P*, Passani MB*, Nosi D, Chazot PL, Shenton FC, Medhurst AD, Munari L, Blandina P. (2009) Heterogeneity of histaminergic neurons in the tuberomammillary nucleus of the rat. Eur J Neurosci. 29(12):2363-74. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2009.06765.x. *equal contributors IF 3.386
Giannini L, Nistri S, Mastroianni R, Cinci L, Vannacci A, Mariottini C, Passani MB, Mannaioni PF, Bani D, Masini E. (2008) Activation of cannabinoid receptors prevents antigen-induced asthma-like reaction in guinea pigs. J Cell Mol Med. 12(6A):2381-94. doi: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2008.00258.x. IF 5.31
Giannini L, Mastroianni R, Mariottini C, Passani MB, Nistri S, Mannaioni PF, Masini E. (2007) Activation of cannabinoid receptors reduces allergen-induced oxidative stress damage during asthma-like reaction in sensitised guinea-pigs Inflamm Res. 56 Suppl 1:S11-2. doi: 10.1007/s00011-006-0505-y.
Bongers G, Sallmen T, Passani MB, Mariottini C, Wendelin D, Lozada A, Marle Av, Navis M, Blandina P, Bakker RA, Panula P, Leurs R (2007) The Akt/GSK-3beta axis as a new signaling pathway of the histamine H(3) receptor. J Neurochem. 103(1):248-58. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2007.04752.x. IF 5.372
Passani MB, Giannoni P, Bucherelli C, Baldi E, Blandina P. (2007) Histamine in the brain: beyond sleep and memory. Biochem Pharmacol. 73(8):1113-22. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2006.12.002.
Blandina P, Passani MB. (2006) Central histaminergic system interactions and cognition. EXS.;98:149-63. doi: 10.1007/978-3-7643-7772-4_8. IF NA
Cenni G, Blandina P, Mackie K, Nosi D, Formigli L, Giannoni P, Ballini C, Della Corte L, Mannaioni PF, Passani MB. (2006) Differential effect of cannabinoid agonists and endocannabinoids on histamine release from distinct regions of the rat brain. Eur J Neurosci. 24(6):1633-44. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2006.05046.x. IF 3.386
Bucherelli C, Baldi E, Mariottini C, Passani MB, Blandina P. (2006) Aversive memory reactivation engages in the amygdala only some neurotransmitters involved in consolidation. Learn Mem. 13(4):426-30. doi: 10.1101/lm.326906. IF 2.877
Cenni G, Passani MB, Mannaioni PF, Blandina P. (2006) Betahistine increases ACh release from the cortex, but not histamine release from the nucleus basalis magnocellularis of freely-moving rats. 2. Histaminergic mechanisms in the CNS. Inflamm Res. 55 Suppl 1:S28-9. doi: 10.1007/s00011-005-0027-z. IF 4.575
Baldi E, Bucherelli C, Schunack W, Cenni G, Blandina P, Passani MB. (2005) The H3 receptor protean agonist proxyfan enhances the expression of fear memory in the rat. Neuropharmacology. 48(2):246-51. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2004.09.009. IF 5.25
Passani MB, Lin JS, Hancock A, Crochet S, Blandina P. (2004) The histamine H3 receptor as a novel therapeutic target for cognitive and sleep disorders. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 25(12):618-25. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2004.10.003. IF 14.819
Vannacci A, Giannini L, Passani MB, Di Felice A, Pierpaoli S, Zagli G, Fantappiè O, Mazzanti R, Masini E, Mannaioni PF. (2004) The endocannabinoid 2-arachidonylglycerol decreases the immunological activation of Guinea pig mast cells: involvement of nitric oxide and eicosanoids. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 311(1):256-64. doi: 10.1124/jpet.104.068635 IF 4.2
Cenni G, Cangioli J, Yamatodani A, Passani MB, Mannaioni PF, Di Felice AM, Blandina P. (2004) Thioperamide-elicited increase of histamine release from basolateral amygdala of freely moving rats and its therapeutic implications Inflamm Res53 Suppl 1:S53-4. doi: 10.1007/s00011-003-0325-2. IF 4.575
Blandina P, Efoudebe M, Cenni G, Mannaioni P, Passani MB. (2004) Acetylcholine, histamine, and cognition: two sides of the same coin. Learn Mem. 11(1):1-8. doi: 10.1101/lm.68004. IF 2.46
Giovannini MG, Efoudebe M, Passani MB, Baldi E, Bucherelli C, Giachi F, Corradetti R, Blandina P. (2003) Improvement in fear memory by histamine-elicited ERK2 activation in hippocampal CA3 cells. J Neurosci. 23(27):9016-23. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.23-27-09016.2003. IF 6.167
Vannacci A, Passani MB, Pierpaoli S, Giannini L, Mannaioni PF, Masini E. (2003) Nitric oxide modulates the inhibitory effect of cannabinoids on the immunological activation of guinea pig mast cells Inflamm Res. 52 Suppl 1:S07-8. doi: 10.1007/s000110300029.
Vannacci A, Baronti R, Zagli G, Marzocca C, Pierpaoli S, Bani D, Passani MB, Mannaioni PF, Masini E. (2003) Carbon monoxide modulates the response of human basophils to FcepsilonRI stimulation through the heme oxygenase pathway. Eur J Pharmacol. 465(3):289-97. doi: 10.1016/s0014-2999(03)01489-4. IF 4.432
Ingram JN, Jones KE, Passani B, van Beers RJ. (2002) NeuroWatch. Neuroreport. 13(1):A19-A20. doi: 10.1097/00001756-200201210-00004. IF NA
Cangioli I, Baldi E, Mannaioni PF, Bucherelli C, Blandina P, Passani MB. (2002) Activation of histaminergic H3 receptors in the rat basolateral amygdala improves expression of fear memory and enhances acetylcholine release. Eur J Neurosci. 16(3):521-8. doi: 10.1046/j.1460-9568.2002.02092.x. IF 3.386
Bacciottini L, Passani MB, Giovannelli L, Cangioli I, Mannaioni PF, Schunack W, Blandina P. (2002) Endogenous histamine in the medial septum-diagonal band complex increases the release of acetylcholine from the hippocampus: a dual-probe microdialysis study in the freely moving rat. Eur J Neurosci. 15(10):1669-80. doi: 10.1046/j.1460-9568.2002.02005.x. IF 3.386
Vannacci A, Zagli G, Marzocca C, Pierpaoli S, Passani MB, Mannaioni PF, Masini E. (2002) Down-regulation by cannabinoids of the immunological activation of human basophils and guinea pig mast cells. Inflamm Res. 51 Suppl 1:S09-10. doi: 10.1007/pl00022463. IF 4.575
Passani MB, Cangioli I, Baldi E, Bucherelli C, Mannaioni PF, Blandina P. (2001) Histamine H3 receptor-mediated impairment of contextual fear conditioning and in-vivo inhibition of cholinergic transmission in the rat basolateral amygdala. Eur J Neurosci. 14(9):1522-32. doi: 10.1046/j.0953-816x.2001.01780.x. IF 3.386
Bacciottini L, Passani MB, Mannaioni PF, Blandina P. (2001) Interactions between histaminergic and cholinergic systems in learning and memory. Behav Brain Res. 124(2):183-94. doi: 10.1016/s0166-4328(01)00230-3. IF 3.332
Cecchi M, Passani MB, Bacciottini L, Mannaioni PF, Blandina P. (2001) Cortical acetylcholine release elicited by stimulation of histamine H1 receptors in the nucleus basalis magnocellularis: a dual-probe microdialysis study in the freely moving rat. Eur J Neurosci. 13(1):68-78. IF 3.386
Passani MB, Cangioli I, Bacciottini L, Mannaioni PF, Blandina P. (2000) Thioperamide and cimetidine modulate acetylcholine release from the amygdala of freely moving rats. Inflamm Res 49 Suppl 1:S43-4. doi: 10.1007/PL00000175. IF 4.575
Bacciottini L, Giovannelli L, Passani MB, Schunack W, Mannaioni PF, Blandina P. (2000) Ciproxifan and cimetidine modulate c-fos expression in septal neurons, and acetylcholine release from hippocampus of freely moving rats. Inflamm Res. 49 Suppl 1:S41-2. doi: 10.1007/PL00000174. IF 4.575
Passani MB, Bacciottini L, Mannaioni PF, Blandina P. (2000) Central histaminergic system and cognition. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 24(1):107-13. doi: 10.1016/s0149-7634(99)00053-6. IF 8.989
Arcangeli A, Rosati B, Crociani O, Cherubini A, Fontana L, Passani B, Wanke E, Olivotto M. (1999) Modulation of HERG current and herg gene expression during retinoic acid treatment of human neuroblastoma cells: potentiating effects of BDNF. J Neurobiol. 40(2):214-25. IF 3.935
Passani MB, Blandina P. (1998) Cognitive implications for H3 and 5-HT3 receptor modulation of cortical cholinergic function: a parallel story. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol. 20(8):725-33. doi: 10.1358/mf.1998.20.8.487510. IF NA
Arcangeli A, Rosati B, Cherubini A, Crociani O, Fontana L, Passani B, Wanke E, Olivotto M. (1998) Long-term exposure to retinoic acid induces the expression of IRK1 channels in HERG channel-endowed neuroblastoma cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 244(3):706-11. doi: 10.1006/bbrc.1998.8319. IF 3.575
Pugliese AM, Passani MB, Corradetti R. (1998) Effect of the selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY 100635 on the inhibition of e.p.s.ps produced by 5-HT in the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices. Br J Pharmacol. 124(1):93-100. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0701807. IF 8.739
Passani MB, Luceri C, Caderni G, Dolara P. (1998) Intercellular communication in normal and aberrant crypts of rat colon mucosa. Cancer Lett. 123(1):77-81. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3835(97)00409-6. IF 8.679
Pugliese AM, Passani MB, Pepeu G, Corradetti R. (1996) Felbamate decreases synaptic transmission in the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 279(3):1100-8. IF 4.2
Passani MB, Corradetti R. (1996) Therapeutic potentials of itasetron (DAU 6215), a novel 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, in the treatment of central nervous system disorders. CNS Drug Reviews 2(2), 195-213. IF NA
Wolszon LR*, Passani MB*, Macagno ER. (1995) Interactions during a critical period inhibit bilateral projections in embryonic neurons. J Neurosci. 15(2):1506-15. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.15-02-01506.1995. IF 6.167 *equal contributors
Pugliese AM, Ballerini L, Passani MB, Corradetti R. (1994) EPSP-spike potentiation during primed burst-induced long-term potentiation in the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices. Neuroscience. 62(4):1021-32. doi: 10.1016/0306-4522(94)90340-9. IF 3.59
Passani MB, Pugliese AM, Azzurrini M, Corradetti R. (1994) Effects of DAU 6215, a novel 5-hydroxytryptamine3 (5-HT3) antagonist on electrophysiological properties of the rat hippocampus. Br J Pharmacol. 112(2):695-703. doi:) 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1994.tb13132.x. IF 8.739
Wolszon LR, Gao WQ, Passani MB, Macagno ER. (1994) Growth cone "collapse" in vivo: are inhibitory interactions mediated by gap junctions? J Neurosci. 14(3 Pt 1):999-1010. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.14-03-00999.1994. IF 6.167
Passani MB, Peinado A, Engelman H, Baptista CA, Macagno ER. (1991) Normally unused positional cues guide ectopic afferents in the leech CNS. J Neurosci. 11(12):3868-76. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.11-12-03868.1991. IF 6.167
Consi TR, Passani MB, Macagno ER (1990) Eye movements in Daphnia magna. Regions of the eye are specialized for different behaviors. J Comp Physiol A. 166(3):411-20. doi: 10.1007/BF00204815. IF 1.97
Macagno ER, Gao WQ, Baptista CA, Passani MB. (1990) Competition or inhibition? Developmental strategies in the establishment of peripheral projections by leech neurons. J Neurobiol. 21(1):107-19. doi: 10.1002/neu.480210108. IF 3.935
Corradetti R, Lo Conte G, Moroni F, Passani MB, Pepeu G. (1984) Adenosine decreases aspartate and glutamate release from rat hippocampal slices. Eur J Pharmacol. 104(1-2):19-26. doi: 10.1016/0014-2999(84)90364-9. IF 4.432
Corradetti R, Moroni F, Passani MB, Pepeu G. (1984) 8-Phenyltheophylline potentiates the electrical activity evoked in hippocampal slices. Eur J Pharmacol. 103(1-2):177-80. doi: 10.1016/0014-2999(84)90208-5. IF 4.432
BOOK CHAPTERS
Il nostro laboratorio è attualmente impegnato in progetti paralleli volti a comprendere la rilevanza dell'istamina cerebrale nel controllo di diversi comportamenti e risposte disadattive a situazioni stressanti.
Utilizzando approcci tecnici complementari come la chemiogenetica, l'immunoistochimica e i test comportamentali, miriamo a descrivere come il sistema istaminergico cerebrale regoli il comportamento alimentare e come questo medi gli effetti centrali di lipidi endogeni secreti dagli enterociti, quali l'oleoiletanolamide (OEA). A questo proposito, stiamo anche esplorando il potenziale uso terapeutico dei ligandi istaminergici per il trattamento dei disturbi alimentari.
Esploriamo inoltre l'ipotesi che agendo sulle vie istaminergiche neuronali possiamo fornire una strategia innovativa per contrastare le alterazioni disadattive (comportamentali, omeostatiche e funzionali) innescate da situazioni stressanti persistenti. In condizioni di stress psicosociale, gli individui adottano strategie di 'coping', che possono essere adattive o disadattive, con conseguente resilienza o suscettibilità allo stress. I neuroni istaminergici ipotalamici svolgono un ruolo chiave nella modulazione delle risposte allo stress e il nostro obiettivo è comprendere il loro ruolo nel plasmare la risposta comportamentale a sfide stressanti.
Legenda
Our laboratory is currently engaged in parallel projects aimed at understanding the relevance of brain histamine in controlling diverse behaviours and maladaptive responses to stressful insults.
By using complementary technical approaches such as chemogenetic, immunohistochemistry, behavioural tests, we aim at describing how the brain histaminergic system regulates feeding behaviour, and how it mediates the central effects of endogenous lipids secreted by enterocytes such as oleoylethanolamide (OEA). In this regards, we are also exploring the potential therapeutic use of histaminergic ligands for the treatment of eating disorders.
We also explore the hypothesis that acting on neural histaminergic pathways we can provide an innovative strategy for counteracting the maladaptive (behavioral, homeostatic, and functional) alterations triggered by enduring stressful challenges. Under psychosocial stress, individuals employ coping strategies, which can be adaptive or maladaptive, resulting in susceptibility or resilence to stress. Hypothalamic, histaminergic neurons play a key role in modulating stress responses, and we aim at undertanding their role in shaping the phenotipic response to stressful challenges.
