Mario Skarica, MD
Associate Research ScientistCards
About
Research
Publications
2026
Central amygdala single-nucleus atlas reveals chromatin and gene transcription dynamics in human alcohol use disorder
Lee C, Hwang A, McRiley D, Lee J, Thibodeau G, Duman C, Zhang X, Skarica M, Coudriet J, Xu S, Terwilliger R, Sliby A, Wang J, Nguyen T, Liu Y, Li H, Dai Y, Duan Z, Lei Y, Lin Y, Glausier J, Lewis D, Gelernter J, Holtzheimer P, Xu K, Zhou H, Zhao H, Thompson S, Krystal J, Che A, Taylor J, Zhang J, Girgenti M. Central amygdala single-nucleus atlas reveals chromatin and gene transcription dynamics in human alcohol use disorder. Nature Communications 2026, 17: 1634. PMID: 41554730, PMCID: PMC12905162, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-68351-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlcohol use disorderCandidate cis-regulatory elementsCell type-specific gene expressionGene expressionFunctional genomic elementsRegulation of gene expressionTranscription factor footprintsCis-regulatory elementsGene transcription dynamicsCell typesCell type-specificHuman alcohol use disordersUse disorderGenomic elementsChromatin loopsGWAS genesChromatin accessibilityTranscriptional dynamicsExpressed genesRisk genesCNS cell typesGenesCentral amygdalaType-specificInhibitory neurons
2025
Single-cell transcriptomic and chromatin dynamics of the human brain in PTSD
Hwang A, Skarica M, Xu S, Coudriet J, Lee C, Lin L, Terwilliger R, Sliby A, Wang J, Nguyen T, Li H, Wu M, Dai Y, Duan Z, Srinivasan S, Zhang X, Lin Y, Cruz D, Deans P, Huber B, Levey D, Glausier J, Lewis D, Gelernter J, Holtzheimer P, Friedman M, Gerstein M, Sestan N, Brennand K, Xu K, Zhao H, Krystal J, Young K, Williamson D, Che A, Zhang J, Girgenti M. Single-cell transcriptomic and chromatin dynamics of the human brain in PTSD. Nature 2025, 643: 744-754. PMID: 40533550, PMCID: PMC12267058, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09083-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPost-traumatic stress disorderPrefrontal cortexDorsolateral prefrontal cortexHuman prefrontal cortexTraumatic stress responseHuman brainDepressive disorderStress disorderTrauma exposureCell type-specific contextRegulatory mechanismsGABAergic transmissionCell-type clusteringCell type-specific mannerMolecular regulatory mechanismsGlucocorticoid signalingGene expression changesChromatin dynamicsCredible variantsDisordersTranscriptional regulationEpigenetic dataCortexPersistent effectsPolygenic disorder
2022
AgRP neurons control structure and function of the medial prefrontal cortex
Stutz B, Waterson MJ, Šestan-Peša M, Dietrich MO, Škarica M, Sestan N, Racz B, Magyar A, Sotonyi P, Liu ZW, Gao XB, Matyas F, Stoiljkovic M, Horvath TL. AgRP neurons control structure and function of the medial prefrontal cortex. Molecular Psychiatry 2022, 27: 3951-3960. PMID: 35906488, PMCID: PMC9891653, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01691-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMedial prefrontal cortexAgRP neuronsNon-selective dopamine receptor antagonistBrain functionPrefrontal cortexHypothalamic AgRP neuronsMedial thalamic neuronsAdministration of clozapineDopamine receptor antagonistVentral tegmental areaOscillatory network activityHigher-order brain functionsHypothalamic agoutiThalamic neuronsChemogenetic inhibitionDopaminergic neuronsReceptor antagonistTegmental areaNeuronal pathwaysSensorimotor gatingAdult miceModulatory impactAmbulatory behaviorConstitutive impairmentNeurons
2017
Expression and immunolocalization of metallothioneins MT1, MT2 and MT3 in rat nephron
Sabolić I, Škarica M, Ljubojević M, Breljak D, Herak-Kramberger C, Crljen V, Ljubešić N. Expression and immunolocalization of metallothioneins MT1, MT2 and MT3 in rat nephron. Journal Of Trace Elements In Medicine And Biology 2017, 46: 62-75. PMID: 29413112, DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2017.11.011.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2013
Immunoregulatory Neuropeptides
Ganea D, Skarica M. Immunoregulatory Neuropeptides. 2013, 144-160. DOI: 10.1002/9781118314814.ch7.BooksVasoactive intestinal peptideCentral nervous systemAnti-inflammatory neuropeptidesImmunoregulatory neuropeptideParasympathetic innervationAutoimmune diseasesImmunomodulatory roleIntestinal peptideImmune cellsLymphoid organsAdaptive immunityVivo effectsNervous systemImmune systemImmune sourcesClinical useNeuropeptidesMajor signaling pathwaysSignaling pathwaysPeptide familyReceptorsPleiotropic effectsInnervationChemokinesCytokines
2011
Modulation of Inflammatory Responses by a Cannabinoid-2–Selective Agonist after Spinal Cord Injury
Adhikary S, Li H, Heller J, Skarica M, Zhang M, Ganea D, Tuma R. Modulation of Inflammatory Responses by a Cannabinoid-2–Selective Agonist after Spinal Cord Injury. Journal Of Neurotrauma 2011, 28: 2417-2427. PMID: 21970496, PMCID: PMC3235339, DOI: 10.1089/neu.2011.1853.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSpinal cord injuryInflammatory responseSpinal cordSelective CB2 agonistAutonomic functionCord injuryMotor functionCB2 agonistsToll-like receptor expressionChemokine/cytokine expressionIL-23p19 expressionCell invasionInflammatory cell invasionSignificant reductionContusion injuryPercentage of animalsCXCL-9Immunoreactive microgliaCXCL-11Cytokine expressionIL-23RReceptor expressionInflammatory reactionInjuryEntire study periodNovel mechanisms of immune modulation of natalizumab in multiple sclerosis patients
Skarica M, Eckstein C, Whartenby K, Calabresi P. Novel mechanisms of immune modulation of natalizumab in multiple sclerosis patients. Journal Of Neuroimmunology 2011, 235: 70-76. PMID: 21550672, DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2011.02.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNatalizumab therapyPeripheral bloodMonth timepointProportion of CD20Proportion of CD4Number of CD14Multiple sclerosis patientsImmune cell compositionHematopoetic stem cellsPercentage of cellsMechanism of actionNatalizumab treatmentRRMS patientsMS patientsNK cellsSclerosis patientsTreatment onsetCytokine productionImmune compositionImmune modulationImmune cellsT cellsB cellsPatientsTherapy
2010
Role of metallothionein in cadmium traffic and toxicity in kidneys and other mammalian organs
Sabolić I, Breljak D, Škarica M, Herak-Kramberger C. Role of metallothionein in cadmium traffic and toxicity in kidneys and other mammalian organs. BioMetals 2010, 23: 897-926. PMID: 20549307, DOI: 10.1007/s10534-010-9351-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProximal tubule cellsChronic toxicityTubular injuryRole of metallothioneinMT-1Intracellular MTSquamous epitheliumCytotoxicity of CdChronic intoxicationTubule cellsVariety of stimuliRole of MTKidneyMajor physiological functionsMT-2Oxidative stressAdult mammalsMT-4Acute toxicityMajor targetMT-3Essential metals ZnMost tissuesToxicityDe novo synthesisDendritic Cells Transduced With Lentiviral Vectors Expressing VIP Differentiate Into VIP-secreting Tolerogenic-like DCs
Toscano M, Delgado M, Kong W, Martin F, Skarica M, Ganea D. Dendritic Cells Transduced With Lentiviral Vectors Expressing VIP Differentiate Into VIP-secreting Tolerogenic-like DCs. Molecular Therapy 2010, 18: 1035-1045. PMID: 20068554, PMCID: PMC2890107, DOI: 10.1038/mt.2009.293.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsBone Marrow CellsCell DifferentiationCell MovementCells, CulturedDendritic CellsEnzyme-Linked Immunosorbent AssayFlow CytometryGenetic VectorsLentivirusMiceMice, Inbred BALB CPolymerase Chain ReactionReverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain ReactionTransduction, GeneticVasoactive Intestinal PeptideConceptsVasoactive intestinal peptideExperimental autoimmune encephalomyelitisDendritic cellsTherapeutic effectTolerogenic DCsVIP administrationInflammatory disordersT cellsImmune responseBone marrow-derived dendritic cellsBone marrow-derived DCsMarrow-derived dendritic cellsNeuropeptide vasoactive intestinal peptideTolerogenic dendritic cellsAllogeneic T cellsAutoimmune/inflammatory disordersRegulatory T cellsIL-10 productionProinflammatory cytokine secretionPromising therapeutic toolLentiviral vectorsHigh-dose inoculationCLP miceAutoimmune encephalomyelitisPuncture (CLP) sepsis
2009
Cyclophosphamide resets dendritic cell homeostasis and enhances antitumor immunity through effects that extend beyond regulatory T cell elimination
Radojcic V, Bezak K, Skarica M, Pletneva M, Yoshimura K, Schulick R, Luznik L. Cyclophosphamide resets dendritic cell homeostasis and enhances antitumor immunity through effects that extend beyond regulatory T cell elimination. Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy 2009, 59: 137-148. PMID: 19590872, PMCID: PMC3103867, DOI: 10.1007/s00262-009-0734-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDendritic cell homeostasisAntitumor immunityT cellsLow-dose total body irradiationTumor antigen-specific T cellsAnti-CD25 monoclonal antibodyHematopoietic stem cell supportAntigen-specific T cellsUntreated tumor-bearing animalsTumor-infiltrating DCsExpansion of TregsRegulatory T cellsStem cell supportTotal body irradiationT cell responsesLess IL-10More IL-12Tumor-bearing animalsT cell eliminationCell homeostasisDC turnoverTreg depletionImmunotherapeutic strategiesIL-10Body irradiation