Luiz Fernando Ferrari

Luiz Fernando Ferrari, DDS, PhD

Languages spoken: Portuguese, English

Academic Information

Departments Primary - Anesthesiology

Academic Office Information

Luiz.ferrari@utah.edu

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

Professional Dental Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo
 DDS
Graduate Training Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo
 MS
Doctoral Training Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo
 PhD
Postdoctoral Training Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo
 Postdoctoral Research Associate

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Ferrari LF, Rey C, Ramirez A, Dziuba A, Zickella J, Zickella M, Raff H, Taylor N (2022). Characterization of the Dahl salt-sensitive rat as a rodent model of inherited, widespread, persistent pain. Scientific reports, 12(1), 19348.
  2. Phero A, Ferrari LF, Taylor N (2021). A novel rat model of temporomandibular disorder with improved face and construct validities. Life sciences, 286, 120023.
  3. Ferrari LF, Pei J, Zickella M, Rey C, Zickella J, Ramirez A, Taylor N (2021). D2 Receptors in the Periaqueductal Gray/Dorsal Raphe Modulate Peripheral Inflammatory Hyperalgesia via the Rostral Ventral Medulla. Neuroscience, 463, 159-173.
  4. Staurengo-Ferrari L, Green PG, Araldi D, Ferrari LF, Miaskowski C, Levine J (2021). Sexual dimorphism in the contribution of neuroendocrine stress axes to oxaliplatin-induced painful peripheral neuropathy. Pain, 162(3), 907-918.
  5. Ferrari LF, Araldi D, Green PG, Levine J (2020). Marked sexual dimorphism in neuroendocrine mechanisms for the exacerbation of paclitaxel-induced painful peripheral neuropathy by stress. Pain, 161(4), 865-874.
  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 (2020). Oncostatin M induces hyperalgesic priming and amplifies signaling of cAMP to ERK by RapGEF2 and PKA. Neurochemistry,
  7. Ferrari LF, Araldi D, Bogen O, Green PG, Levine J (2019). Systemic Morphine Produces Dose-dependent Nociceptor-mediated Biphasic Changes in Nociceptive Threshold and Neuroplasticity. Neuroscience, 398, 64-75.
  8. Araldi D, Ferrari LF, Levine J (2018). Mu-opioid Receptor (MOR) Biased Agonists Induce Biphasic Dose-dependent Hyperalgesia and Analgesia, and Hyperalgesic Priming in the Rat. Neuroscience, 394, 60-71.
  9. 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 (2018). Swedish Nerve Growth Factor Mutation (NGFR100W) Defines a Role for TrkA and p75NTR in Nociception. The Journal of neuroscience, 38(14), 3394-3413.
  10. Araldi D, Khomula EV, Ferrari LF, Levine J (2018). Fentanyl Induces Rapid Onset Hyperalgesic Priming: Type I at Peripheral and Type II at Central Nociceptor Terminals. The Journal of neuroscience, 38(9), 2226-2245.
  11. Araldi D, Ferrari LF, Levine J (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. Ferrari LF, Khomula EV, Araldi D, Levine J (2018). CD44 Signaling Mediates High Molecular Weight Hyaluronan-Induced Antihyperalgesia. The Journal of neuroscience, 38(2), 308-321.
  13. Ferrari LF, Araldi D, Green P, Levine J (2018). Age-Dependent Sexual Dimorphism in Susceptibility to Develop Chronic Pain in the Rat. Neuroscience, 387, 170-177.
  14. Ferrari LF, Araldi D, Levine J (2017). Regulation of Expression of Hyperalgesic Priming by Estrogen Receptor α in the Rat. The journal of pain, 18(5), 574-582.
  15. Araldi D, Ferrari LF, Levine J (2017). Hyperalgesic priming (type II) induced by repeated opioid exposure: maintenance mechanisms. Pain, 158(7), 1204-1216.
  16. Khomula EV, Ferrari LF, Araldi D, Levine J (2017). Sexual Dimorphism in a Reciprocal Interaction of Ryanodine and IP3 Receptors in the Induction of Hyperalgesic Priming. The Journal of neuroscience, 37(8), 2032-2044.
  17. Araldi D, Ferrari LF, Green P, Levine J (2017). Marked sexual dimorphism in 5-HT1 receptors mediating pronociceptive effects of sumatriptan. Neuroscience, 344, 394-405.
  18. Ferrari LF, Khomula EV, Araldi D, Levine J (2016). Marked Sexual Dimorphism in the Role of the Ryanodine Receptor in a Model of Pain Chronification in the Rat. Scientific reports, 6, 31221.
  19. Araldi D, Ferrari LF, Levine J (2016). Gi-protein-coupled 5-HT1B/D receptor agonist sumatriptan induces type I hyperalgesic priming. Pain, 157(8), 1773-1782.
  20. Ferrari LF, Araldi D, Bogen O, Levine J (2016). Extracellular matrix hyaluronan signals via its CD44 receptor in the increased responsiveness to mechanical stimulation. Neuroscience, 324, 390-8.
  21. Ferrari LF, Levine JD, Green P (2016). Mechanisms mediating nitroglycerin-induced delayed-onset hyperalgesia in the rat. Neuroscience, 317, 121-9.
  22. Araldi D, Ferrari LF, Levine J (2016). Adenosine-A1 receptor agonist induced hyperalgesic priming type II. Pain, 157(3), 698-709.
  23. Ferrari LF, Bogen O, Green P, Levine J (2015). Contribution of Piezo2 to endothelium-dependent pain. Molecular pain, 11, 65.
  24. Araldi D, Ferrari LF, Levine J (2015). Repeated Mu-Opioid Exposure Induces a Novel Form of the Hyperalgesic Priming Model for Transition to Chronic Pain. The Journal of neuroscience, 35(36), 12502-17.
  25. Ferrari LF, Araldi D, Levine J (2015). Distinct terminal and cell body mechanisms in the nociceptor mediate hyperalgesic priming. The Journal of neuroscience, 35(15), 6107-16.
  26. Ferrari LF, Bogen O, Reichling DB, Levine J (2015). Accounting for the delay in the transition from acute to chronic pain: axonal and nuclear mechanisms. The Journal of neuroscience, 35(2), 495-507.
  27. Joseph EK, Green PG, Ferrari LF, Levine J (2015). Homocysteine-induced attenuation of vascular endothelium-dependent hyperalgesia in the rat. Neuroscience, 284, 678-684.
  28. Ferrari LF, Levine J (2015). Plasma membrane mechanisms in a preclinical rat model of chronic pain. The journal of pain, 16(1), 60-6.
  29. de Souza Grava AL, Ferrari LF, Parada CA, Defino H (2015). Pharmacologic Treatment of Hyperalgesia Experimentally Induced by Nucleus Pulposus. Revista brasileira de ortopedia, 45(6), 569-76.
  30. Grava AL, Ferrari LF, Parada CA, Defino H (2015). Evaluation of Hyperalgesia and Histological Changes of Dorsal Root Ganglion Induced by Nucleus Pulposus. Revista brasileira de ortopedia, 45(5), 460-7.
  31. Ferrari LF, Lotufo CM, Araldi D, Rodrigues MA, Macedo LP, Ferreira SH, Parada C (2014). Inflammatory sensitization of nociceptors depends on activation of NMDA receptors in DRG satellite cells. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 111(51), 18363-8.
  32. Ferrari LF, Bogen O, Levine J (2014). Second messengers mediating the expression of neuroplasticity in a model of chronic pain in the rat. The journal of pain, 15(3), 312-20.
  33. Gear RW, Bogen O, Ferrari LF, Green PG, Levine J (2014). NOP receptor mediates anti-analgesia induced by agonist-antagonist opioids. Neuroscience, 257, 139-48.
  34. Ferrari LF, Bogen O, Levine J (2013). Role of nociceptor αCaMKII in transition from acute to chronic pain (hyperalgesic priming) in male and female rats. The Journal of neuroscience, 33(27), 11002-11.
  35. Ferrari LF, Bogen O, Chu C, Levine J (2013). Peripheral administration of translation inhibitors reverses increased hyperalgesia in a model of chronic pain in the rat. The journal of pain, 14(7), 731-8.
  36. Araldi D, Ferrari LF, Lotufo CM, Vieira AS, Athié MC, Figueiredo JG, Duarte DB, Tambeli CH, Ferreira SH, Parada C (2013). Peripheral inflammatory hyperalgesia depends on the COX increase in the dorsal root ganglion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 110(9), 3603-8.
  37. Ferrari LF, Levine E, Levine J (2013). Role of a novel nociceptor autocrine mechanism in chronic pain. The European journal of neuroscience, 37(10), 1705-13.
  38. Ferrari LF, Levine E, Levine J (2013). Independent contributions of alcohol and stress axis hormones to painful peripheral neuropathy. Neuroscience, 228, 409-17.
  39. Apkarian AV, Neugebauer V, Koob G, Edwards S, Levine JD, Ferrari L, Egli M, Regunathan (2013). Neural mechanisms of pain and alcohol dependence. Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior, 112, 34-41.
  40. Hendrich J, Alvarez P, Joseph EK, Ferrari LF, Chen X, Levine J (2012). In vivo and in vitro comparison of female and male nociceptors. The journal of pain, 13(12), 1224-31.
  41. Ferrari LF, Bogen O, Alessandri-Haber N, Levine E, Gear RW, Levine J (2012). Transient decrease in nociceptor GRK2 expression produces long-term enhancement in inflammatory pain. Neuroscience, 222, 392-403.
  42. de Souza Grava AL, Ferrari LF, Defino H (2012). Cytokine inhibition and time-related influence of inflammatory stimuli on the hyperalgesia induced by the nucleus pulposus. European spine journal, 21(3), 537-45.
  43. Green PG, Chen X, Alvarez P, Ferrari LF, Levine J (2011). Early-life stress produces muscle hyperalgesia and nociceptor sensitization in the adult rat. Pain, 152(11), 2549-2556.
  44. Ferrari LF, Chum A, Bogen O, Reichling DB, Levine J (2011). Role of Drp1, a key mitochondrial fission protein, in neuropathic pain. The Journal of neuroscience, 31(31), 11404-10.
  45. Alvarez P, Ferrari LF, Levine J (2011). Muscle pain in models of chemotherapy-induced and alcohol-induced peripheral neuropathy. Annals of neurology, 70(1), 101-9.
  46. Ferrari LF, Gear RW, Levine J (2010). Attenuation of activity in an endogenous analgesia circuit by ongoing pain in the rat. The Journal of neuroscience, 30(41), 13699-706.
  47. Ferrari LF, Levine J (2010). Alcohol consumption enhances antiretroviral painful peripheral neuropathy by mitochondrial mechanisms. The European journal of neuroscience, 32(5), 811-8.
  48. Ferrari LF, Bogen O, Levine J (2010). Nociceptor subpopulations involved in hyperalgesic priming. Neuroscience, 165(3), 896-901.
  49. Funez MI, Ferrari LF, Duarte DB, Sachs D, Cunha FQ, Lorenzetti BB, Parada CA, Ferreira S (2008). Teleantagonism: A pharmacodynamic property of the primary nociceptive neuron. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 105(49), 19038-43.
  50. Napimoga MH, Souza GR, Cunha TM, Ferrari LF, Clemente-Napimoga JT, Parada CA, Verri WA Jr, Cunha FQ, Ferreira S (2008). 15d-prostaglandin J2 inhibits inflammatory hypernociception: involvement of peripheral opioid receptor. The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics, 324(1), 313-21.
  51. Grava ALS, Ferrari LF, Parada CA, Defino HL (2008). Experimental model to study intervertebral disc herniation. Revista brasileira de ortopedia, 43(4), 116-25.
  52. Ferrari LF, Cunha FQ, Parada CA, Ferreira S (2007). A novel technique to perform direct intraganglionar injections in rats. Journal of neuroscience methods, 159(2), 236-43.
  53. Ting E, Roveroni RC, Ferrari LF, Lotufo CM, Veiga MC, Parada CA, Tambeli C (2007). Indirect mechanism of histamine-induced nociception in temporomandibular joint of rats. Life sciences, 81(9), 765-71.

Book Chapter

  1. Ferrari LF, Arendt-Nielsen (2022). Safety of Intravenous and Inhalation Anesthetics.
  2. Ferreira SH, Prado WA, Ferrari L (2010). Chapter 8: Potassium and Calcium Channels in Pain Pharmacology.
  3. Ferreira SH, Ferrari LF, Cunha TM, Nascimento PGBD, Verri Jr WA, Cunha F (2008). Dor inflamatória.