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Dr. Carreno

Contact

carrenof@uthscsa.edu

Departments & Divisions

Institutes & Centers

Flavia R Carreno, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor/ Research

My current research focuses on alternative therapies for treatment resistant depression. Based on our published data showing that the sustained antidepressant-like response to ketamine is dependent on the activation of the ventral hippocampus, we propose a more translationally relevant approach by selectively targeting the hippocampus pharmacologically. We are exploiting the discrete localization of the alpha5-subunit of the GABAA receptor to modulate preferentially hippocampal activity. We have also published that such an approach produces an antidepressant-like response without the psychotomimetic effects and abuse related properties associated with the use of ketamine. Currently we are studying the mechanisms by which pharmacological augmentation of hippocampal activity produces sustained antidepressant-like effects.

  • Professional Background

    Education

    • 2004 - PhD - Cell and Tissue Biology - Institute of Biosciences of the University of Sao Paulo
    • 2001 - MS - Cell and Tissue Biology - Institute of Biosciences of the University of Sao Paulo
    • Postdoctoral Training - Neuroendocrinology & Neuropsychopharmacology - University of Texas Health Science Center

    Highlights

    2004 Poster award from NSF, Gordon Research Conference, New London, NH, USA

    2007 Abstract award for a podium presentation. Experimental Biology Meeting, Washington, DC, USA

    2014 Thomas Booth Memorial Travel Award, UT Health San Antonio, TX, USA

    2014 Chair‘s Award for Excellence in Research, Dept. of Pharmacology, UT Health San Antonio, TX, USA

    2019 Poster presentation award 1st place (faculty category), LLSOM Research Day, UT Health San Antonio

  • Instruction & Training

    • 2018 - Present, Undergraduate Student Supervision (ASPET), The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
    • 2016- present, Lecturer, Fundamentals of Biomedical Science (IBMS 5000), The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
    • 2019- present, Lecturer, Principles of Pharmacology (PHAR 5013), The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

  • Research & Grants

    Grants

    NIMH R21 Carreno (PI) 04/01/2018-02/28/2021 (NCE)
    Title: Novel mechanisms contributing to the antidepressant-like response of pharmacological hippocampal activation.
    $ 275,000.00

    CBN pilot project grant Carreno (PI) 01/01/2020- 12/31/2020
    Title: Dissecting the circuit contributing to the sustained antidepressant-like effects of L-655,708
    $50,000.00

    VA 2I01BX000559-08A1 Frazer (PI) Carreno (co-I) 04/01/2019-03/31/2023
    Title: Selective negative allosteric modulators of alpha5 GABAA receptors: novel psychotherapeutic drugs
    $ 897,258

  • Service

    Department

    Depart of Pharmacology Cross/Adjunct Faculty Committee Member - 2020 - present

    School

     

    Institutional

    Institutional Chemical Safety Committee Vice-Chair - 2019-present

    Institutional Chemical Safety Committee member 2017-2019

     

  • Publications

      1. Bugay V, McCoy AM, Lodge DJ, Brenner R, Frazer A, Carreno FR. Mechanisms associated with the antidepressant-like effects of L-655,708. Neuropsychopharmacology. In press.

      2. Carreno FR, Lodge DJ,Frazer A. Ketamine: Leading us into the future for development of antidepressants. Behav Brain Res 2020 383: 112532.

      3. Carreno FR, Frazer A. Vagal Nerve Stimulation for Treatment-Resistant Depression. Neurotherapeutics. 2017 14(3):716-727.

      4. Carreno FR, Collins GT, Frazer A, Lodge JD. Selective pharmacological augmentation of hippocampal activity produces a sustained antidepressant-like response without abuse-related or psychotomimetic effects. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol., 2017 20(6):504-509.

      5. Carreno FR, Donegan JJ, Boley AM, Shah A, DeGuzman M, Frazer A, Lodge DJ. Activation of a ventral hippocampus-medial prefrontal cortex pathway is both necessary and sufficient for an antidepressant response to ketamine. Mol Psychiatry. 2016 Sep 21 (9):1298-308.

      6. Carreno FR, Frazer A. The allure of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation as a novel therapeutic modality. Biol Psychiatry. 2016 Feb 15; 79(4):260-1.

      7. Shah AP, Carreno FR, Wu H, Chung YA, Frazer A. Role of TrkB in the anxiolytic-like and antidepressant-like effects of vagal nerve stimulation: comparison with desipramine. Neuroscience. 2016 May 13; 322:273-86.

      8. Carreno, FR, Frazer, A. Activation of signaling pathways downstream of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor recptor, TrkB, in rat brain by vagal nerve stimulation and antidepressant drugs. The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. 17(2), 2014.

      9. Perez S, Carreno FR, Frazer A, Lodge D. Vagal Nerve Stimulation Reverses Aberrant Dopamine System Function in the MAM Rodent Model of Schizophrenia. J Neurosci. 2014; 34(28):9261-7.

      10. Shah A, Carreno FR, Frazer A. Therapeutic modalities for Treatment Resistant Depression: Focus on Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS) and Ketamine. Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2014; 12(2):83-93.

      11. Saxena A, Bachelor M, Park YH, Carreno FR, Nedungadi TP, Cunningham JT. Angiotensin II induces membrane trafficking of natively expressed transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 channels in hypothalamic 4B cells. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2014; 307(8):R945-55.

      12. Furmaga H*, Carreño FR*, Frazer A. (* co-first author) Vagal nerve stimulation rapidly activates brain-derived neurotrophic factor receptor TrkB in rat brain. PLoS One. 7(5), 2012.

      13. Walch JD, Carreño FR, Cunningham JT. Intracerebroventricular losartan infusion modulates angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) expression in the subfornical organ (SFO) and drinking behaviour in bile duct ligated rats. Exp Physiol. 98(4), 2012.

      14. Nedungadi TP, Carreño FR, Walch JD, Bathina CS, Cunningham JT. Region-specific changes in transient receptor potential vanilloid channel expression in the vasopressin magnocellular system in hepatic cirrhosis-induced hyponatremia. Journal of Neuroendocrinology. 24(4):642-52, 2012.

      15. Carreño FR, Walch J, Cunningham JT. BDNF-TrkB Pathway Mediates NMDA receptor NR2B subunit phosphorylation in the supraoptic nuclei following progressive dehydration. Journal of Neuroendocrinology. 23(10):894-905, 2011.

      16. Knight WD, Little JT, Carreño FR, Mifflin SW, Cunningham JT. Chronic intermittent hypoxia increases blood pressure and expression of FosB/DFosB in central autonomic regions”. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 301(1): R131-9, 2011.

      17. Carreño FR, Ji LL, Cunningham JT. Altered central TRPV4 expression and lipid raft association related to inappropriate vasopressin secretion in cirrhotic rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 296(2):R454-66, 2009.

      18. Zhang W, Carreño FR, Cunningham JT, Mifflin SW. Chronic sustained hypoxia enhances both evoked EPSCs and norepinephrine inhibition of glutamatergic afferent inputs in the nucleus of the solitary tract. J Neurosci. 29(10):3093-102, 2009.

      19. Zhang W, Carreño FR, Cunningham JT, Mifflin SW. Chronic sustained and intermittent hypoxia reduce function of ATP-sensitive potassium channels in nucleus of the solitary tract. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 295(5):R1555-62, 2008.

      20. Carreño FR, Goñi CN, Castro LM, Ferro ES. 14-3-3 epsilon modulates the stimulated secretion of endopeptidase 24.15. Journal of Neurochemistry, 93(1):10-25, 2005.

      21. Heimann AS, Favarato MH, Gozzo F, Rioli V, Carreño FR, Eberlin MN, Ferro ES, Krege JH, Krieger JE. ACE gene titration in mice uncovers a new mechanism for ACE on the control of body weight. Physiological Genomics, 20; 20(2):173-82, 2005.

      22. Batlouni SR, Carreño FR, Romagosa E, Borella MI. Cell junctions may play an important role in spermatogenesis of catfish P. fasciatum (PISCES, SILURIFORMES). Journal of Molecular Histology, 36(1-2):97-110, 2005.

      23. Ferro ES, Carreño FR, Goñi CN, Garrido PAG, Guimarães AO, Castro LM, Oliveira V, Araujo MC, Rioli V, Gomes MD, Fontenele-Neto JD, Hyslop S. The intracellular distribution and secretion of endopeptidases 24.15 (EC 3.4.24.15) and 24.16 (EC 3.4.24.16). Special issue “Novel Roles for metallopeptidases in intracellular signaling”. Protein and Peptide Letters, 11:5, 415-421, 2004.

      24. Carreño FR, Seelaender MC. Liver denervation affects hepatocyte mitochondrial fatty acid transport capacity. Cell Biochem Funct. 22(1):9-17; 2004.

      25. Junqueira-de-Azevedo Ide L, Pertinhez T, Spisni A, Carreño FR, Farah CS, Ho PL. Cloning and expression of calglandulin, a new EF-hand protein from the venom glands of Bothrops insularis snake in E. coli. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1648(1-2):90-8; 2003.