Luiz Fernando Ferrari, DDS, PhD

Languages spoken: English, Portuguese

Academic Information

Departments: Anesthesiology - Research Assistant Professor

Academic Office Information

Luiz.ferrari@utah.edu

Research Interests

  • Pain and Hyperalgesia
  • Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Inflammatory and Neuropathic Pain
  • Peripheral Mechanisms Involved in the Transition from Acute to Chronic Pain
  • Nociceptor Plasticity and Memory
  • Pharmacology of Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Drugs
  • Temporomandibular Dysfunctions and Orofacial Pain Mechanisms & Therapy
  • Neuropharmacology
  • Neurophysiology

Research Statement

I am a pharmacologist with expertise in preclinical models of pain and peripheral nervous system physiology, working in the field of Pain Neuroscience for 15+ years, performing and managing research projects focused in the determination of cellular/molecular mechanisms involved in the development of pain, and the processes in the sensory neuron responsible for the transition from acute to chronic painful states. My experience of 10+ years working in private practice as a DDS, treating patients with painful disorders, gave me background to translate my research findings to conditions observed in patients. My recent studies focused on 1) the processes triggered by different conditions such as inflammation or stress that play a role in peripheral neuroplasticity associated with the development of persistent pain; 2) mechanisms responsible for the differences between the sexes in the susceptibility to develop chronic pain; 3) mechanisms in the peripheral nervous system involved in the induction of pain and/or worsening of chronic pain by use of opioids. The major goal from my work is to contribute to a better understanding about the neurophysiology of pain, and perhaps to help the development of more specific pharmacological therapies and design of therapeutic strategies to alleviate/treat painful conditions.

Education History

Postdoctoral Training Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo
Neuroscience/Pharmacology 		Postdoctoral Research Associate
Doctoral Training Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo
Neuroscience/Pharmacology 		Ph.D.
Graduate Training Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo
Neuroscience/Pharmacology 		M.S.
Professional Dental Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo
Dental Surgery 		D.D.S.

Selected Publications

  1. Ferrari LF, Arendt-Nielsen L (2022). Safety of Intravenous and Inhalation Anesthetics. In Hock, FJ, Gralinski, MR, Pugsley, MK (Eds.), Drug Discovery and Evaluation: Safety and Pharmacokinetic Assays. Springer, Cham.
  2. Ferrari LF, Rey C, Ramirez A, Dziuba A, Zickella J, Zickella M, Raff H, Taylor NE (2022). Characterization of the Dahl salt-sensitive rat as a rodent model of inherited, widespread, persistent pain. Sci Rep, 12(1), 19348.
  3. Phero A, Ferrari LF, Taylor NE (2021). A novel rat model of temporomandibular disorder with improved face and construct validities. Life Sci, 286, 120023.
  4. Ferrari LF, Pei J, Zickella M, Rey C, Zickella J, Ramirez A, Taylor NE (2021). D2 Receptors in the Periaqueductal Gray/Dorsal Raphe Modulate Peripheral Inflammatory Hyperalgesia via the Rostral Ventral Medulla. Neuroscience, 463, 159-173.
  5. Staurengo-Ferrari L, Green PG, Araldi D, Ferrari LF, Miaskowski C, Levine JD (2020). Sexual dimorphism in the contribution of neuroendocrine stress axes to oxaliplatin-induced painful peripheral neuropathy. Pain, 162(3), 907-918.
  6. Garza Carbajal A, Ebersberger A, Thiel A, Ferrari L, Acuna J, Brosig S, Isensee J, Moeller K, Siobal M, Rose-John S, Levine J, Schaible HG, Hucho T (2020). Oncostatin M induces hyperalgesic priming and amplifies signaling of cAMP to ERK by RapGEF2 and PKA. Neurochemistry.
  7. Ferrari LF, Araldi D, Green PG, Levine JD (2020). Marked sexual dimorphism in neuroendocrine mechanisms for the exacerbation of paclitaxel-induced painful peripheral neuropathy by stress. Pain, 161(4), 865-874.
  8. Ferrari LF, Araldi D, Bogen O, Green PG, Levine JD (2018). Systemic Morphine Produces Dose-dependent Nociceptor-mediated Biphasic Changes in Nociceptive Threshold and Neuroplasticity. Neuroscience, 398, 64-75.
  9. Araldi D, Ferrari LF, Levine JD (2018). Mu-opioid Receptor (MOR) Biased Agonists Induce Biphasic Dose-dependent Hyperalgesia and Analgesia, and Hyperalgesic Priming in the Rat. Neuroscience, 394, 60-71.
  10. Ferrari LF, Araldi D, Green P, Levine JD (2017). Age-Dependent Sexual Dimorphism in Susceptibility to Develop Chronic Pain in the Rat. Neuroscience, 387, 170-177.
  11. Araldi D, Ferrari LF, Levine JD (2018). Role of GPCR (mu-opioid)-receptor tyrosine kinase (epidermal growth factor) crosstalk in opioid-induced hyperalgesic priming (type II). Pain, 159(5), 864-875.
  12. Sung K, Ferrari LF, Yang W, Chung C, Zhao X, Gu Y, Lin S, Zhang K, Cui B, Pearn ML, Maloney MT, Mobley WC, Levine JD, Wu C (2018). Swedish Nerve Growth Factor Mutation (NGFR100W) Defines a Role for TrkA and p75NTR in Nociception. J Neurosci, 38(14), 3394-3413.
  13. Araldi D, Khomula EV, Ferrari LF, Levine JD (2018). Fentanyl Induces Rapid Onset Hyperalgesic Priming: Type I at Peripheral and Type II at Central Nociceptor Terminals. J Neurosci, 38(9), 2226-2245.
  14. Ferrari LF, Khomula EV, Araldi D, Levine JD (2017). CD44 Signaling Mediates High Molecular Weight Hyaluronan-Induced Antihyperalgesia. J Neurosci, 38(2), 308-321.
  15. Araldi D, Ferrari LF, Levine JD (2017). Hyperalgesic priming (type II) induced by repeated opioid exposure: maintenance mechanisms. Pain, 158(7), 1204-1216.
  16. Ferrari LF, Araldi D, Levine JD (2017). Regulation of Expression of Hyperalgesic Priming by Estrogen Receptor α in the Rat. J Pain, 18(5), 574-582.
  17. Araldi D, Ferrari LF, Green P, Levine JD (2016). Marked sexual dimorphism in 5-HT1 receptors mediating pronociceptive effects of sumatriptan. Neuroscience, 344, 394-405.
  18. Khomula EV, Ferrari LF, Araldi D, Levine JD (2017). Sexual Dimorphism in a Reciprocal Interaction of Ryanodine and IP3 Receptors in the Induction of Hyperalgesic Priming. J Neurosci, 37(8), 2032-2044.
  19. Ferrari LF, Khomula EV, Araldi D, Levine JD (2016). Marked Sexual Dimorphism in the Role of the Ryanodine Receptor in a Model of Pain Chronification in the Rat. Sci Rep, 6, 31221.
  20. Araldi D, Ferrari LF, Levine JD (2016). Gi-protein-coupled 5-HT1B/D receptor agonist sumatriptan induces type I hyperalgesic priming. Pain, 157(8), 1773-1782.
  21. Ferrari LF, Araldi D, Bogen O, Levine JD (2016). Extracellular matrix hyaluronan signals via its CD44 receptor in the increased responsiveness to mechanical stimulation. Neuroscience, 324, 390-8.
  22. Ferrari LF, Levine JD, Green PG (2016). Mechanisms mediating nitroglycerin-induced delayed-onset hyperalgesia in the rat. Neuroscience, 317, 121-9.
  23. Araldi D, Ferrari LF, Levine JD (2017). Adenosine-A1 receptor agonist induced hyperalgesic priming type II. Pain, 157(3), 698-709.
  24. Grava AL, Ferrari LF, Parada CA, Defino HL (2015). Evaluation of Hyperalgesia and Histological Changes of Dorsal Root Ganglion Induced by Nucleus Pulposus. Rev Bras Ortop, 45(5), 460-7.
  25. de Souza Grava AL, Ferrari LF, Parada CA, Defino HL (2015). Pharmacologic Treatment of Hyperalgesia Experimentally Induced by Nucleus Pulposus. Rev Bras Ortop, 45(6), 569-76.
  26. Ferrari LF, Bogen O, Green P, Levine JD (2015). Contribution of Piezo2 to endothelium-dependent pain. Mol Pain, 11, 65.
  27. Araldi D, Ferrari LF, Levine JD (2015). Repeated Mu-Opioid Exposure Induces a Novel Form of the Hyperalgesic Priming Model for Transition to Chronic Pain. J Neurosci, 35(36), 12502-17.
  28. Ferrari LF, Araldi D, Levine JD (2015). Distinct terminal and cell body mechanisms in the nociceptor mediate hyperalgesic priming. J Neurosci, 35(15), 6107-16.
  29. Joseph EK, Green PG, Ferrari LF, Levine JD (2014). Homocysteine-induced attenuation of vascular endothelium-dependent hyperalgesia in the rat. Neuroscience, 284, 678-684.
  30. Ferrari LF, Bogen O, Reichling DB, Levine JD (2015). Accounting for the delay in the transition from acute to chronic pain: axonal and nuclear mechanisms. J Neurosci, 35(2), 495-507.
  31. Ferrari LF, Levine JD (2014). Plasma membrane mechanisms in a preclinical rat model of chronic pain. J Pain, 16(1), 60-6.
  32. Ferrari LF, Lotufo CM, Araldi D, Rodrigues MA, Macedo LP, Ferreira SH, Parada CA (2014). Inflammatory sensitization of nociceptors depends on activation of NMDA receptors in DRG satellite cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 111(51), 18363-8.
  33. Ferrari LF, Bogen O, Levine JD (2014). Second messengers mediating the expression of neuroplasticity in a model of chronic pain in the rat. J Pain, 15(3), 312-20.
  34. Gear RW, Bogen O, Ferrari LF, Green PG, Levine JD (2013). NOP receptor mediates anti-analgesia induced by agonist-antagonist opioids. Neuroscience, 257, 139-48.
  35. Apkarian AV, Neugebauer V, Koob G, Edwards S, Levine JD, Ferrari L, Egli M, Regunathan S (2013). Neural mechanisms of pain and alcohol dependence. Pharmacol Biochem Behav, 112, 34-41.
  36. Ferrari LF, Bogen O, Levine JD (2013). Role of nociceptor αCaMKII in transition from acute to chronic pain (hyperalgesic priming) in male and female rats. J Neurosci, 33(27), 11002-11.
  37. Ferrari LF, Bogen O, Chu C, Levine JD (2013). Peripheral administration of translation inhibitors reverses increased hyperalgesia in a model of chronic pain in the rat. J Pain, 14(7), 731-8.
  38. Ferrari LF, Levine E, Levine JD (2013). Role of a novel nociceptor autocrine mechanism in chronic pain. Eur J Neurosci, 37(10), 1705-13.
  39. Araldi D, Ferrari LF, Lotufo CM, Vieira AS, Athi MC, Figueiredo JG, Duarte DB, Tambeli CH, Ferreira SH, Parada CA (2013). Peripheral inflammatory hyperalgesia depends on the COX increase in the dorsal root ganglion. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 110(9), 3603-8.
  40. Ferrari LF, Levine E, Levine JD (2012). Independent contributions of alcohol and stress axis hormones to painful peripheral neuropathy. Neuroscience, 228, 409-17.
  41. Hendrich J, Alvarez P, Joseph EK, Ferrari LF, Chen X, Levine JD (2012). In vivo and in vitro comparison of female and male nociceptors. J Pain, 13(12), 1224-31.
  42. Ferrari LF, Bogen O, Alessandri-Haber N, Levine E, Gear RW, Levine JD (2012). Transient decrease in nociceptor GRK2 expression produces long-term enhancement in inflammatory pain. Neuroscience, 222, 392-403.
  43. de Souza Grava AL, Ferrari LF, Defino HL (2011). Cytokine inhibition and time-related influence of inflammatory stimuli on the hyperalgesia induced by the nucleus pulposus. Eur Spine J, 21(3), 537-45.
  44. Green PG, Chen X, Alvarez P, Ferrari LF, Levine JD (2011). Early-life stress produces muscle hyperalgesia and nociceptor sensitization in the adult rat. Pain, 152(11), 2549-2556.
  45. Ferrari LF, Chum A, Bogen O, Reichling DB, Levine JD (2011). Role of Drp1, a key mitochondrial fission protein, in neuropathic pain. J Neurosci, 31(31), 11404-10.
  46. Alvarez P, Ferrari LF, Levine JD (2011). Muscle pain in models of chemotherapy-induced and alcohol-induced peripheral neuropathy. Ann Neurol, 70(1), 101-9.
  47. Ferrari LF, Gear RW, Levine JD (2010). Attenuation of activity in an endogenous analgesia circuit by ongoing pain in the rat. J Neurosci, 30(41), 13699-706.
  48. Ferrari LF, Levine JD (2010). Alcohol consumption enhances antiretroviral painful peripheral neuropathy by mitochondrial mechanisms. Eur J Neurosci, 32(5), 811-8.
  49. Ferrari LF, Bogen O, Levine JD (2009). Nociceptor subpopulations involved in hyperalgesic priming. Neuroscience, 165(3), 896-901.
  50. Ferreira SH, Prado WA, Ferrari LF (2010). Chapter 8: Potassium and Calcium Channels in Pain Pharmacology. In Beaulieu P, Lussier D, Porreca F, Dickenson A (Eds.), Pharmacology of Pain. IASP Press.
  51. Funez MI, Ferrari LF, Duarte DB, Sachs D, Cunha FQ, Lorenzetti BB, Parada CA, Ferreira SH (2008). Teleantagonism: A pharmacodynamic property of the primary nociceptive neuron. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 105(49), 19038-43.
  52. Ferreira SH, Ferrari LF, Cunha TM, Nascimento PGBD, Verri Jr WA, Cunha FQ (2008). Dor inflamatória. In Neto AO, et al (Eds.), Dor: princípios e prática. Porto Alegre: Artmed.
  53. Grava ALS, Ferrari LF, Parada CA, Defino HLA (2008). Experimental model to study intervertebral disc herniation. Rev Bras Ortop, 43(4), 116-25.
  54. Napimoga MH, Souza GR, Cunha TM, Ferrari LF, Clemente-Napimoga JT, Parada CA, Verri WA Jr, Cunha FQ, Ferreira SH (2007). 15d-prostaglandin J2 inhibits inflammatory hypernociception: involvement of peripheral opioid receptor. J Pharmacol Exp Ther, 324(1), 313-21.
  55. Ting E, Roveroni RC, Ferrari LF, Lotufo CM, Veiga MC, Parada CA, Tambeli CH (2007). Indirect mechanism of histamine-induced nociception in temporomandibular joint of rats. Life Sci, 81(9), 765-71.
  56. Ferrari LF, Cunha FQ, Parada CA, Ferreira SH (2006). A novel technique to perform direct intraganglionar injections in rats. J Neurosci Methods, 159(2), 236-43.