Sergei A. Grando, M.D.

Sergei A. Grando

Dr. Grando is internationally recognized for his work on medical and biological applications of the non-neuronal cholinergic system, which he discovered in human skin. He is especially interested in developing safer treatments for immunobullous dermatoses, including pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus, as well as novel approaches to pharmacological control of skin pigmentation and aging. Dr. Grando had extensive postgraduate training in pharmacology, biochemistry, immunology, and cell biology before coming to the U.S. in 1991. He serves on editorial boards or as a reviewer for numerous dermatology journals. 

Title: Professor

Specialty: Dermatology

Phone: (916) 734-6111

Residence: Woodland, California, USA

Medical Education: Medical Institute Kiev, Ukraine, M.D. 1980

Internships: Medical Institute Kiev, Ukraine 1979-8, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota 1995-96

Fellowships:  Central Institute of Dermatology & Venereology Moscow, Russia 1984-89

Professional Memberships:
International Society of Dermatology
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Medical Dermatology Society
American Academy of Dermatology
Dermatology Foundation (Leaders Society)
The Society for Investigative Dermatology
Ukranian Medical Association of North America

Publications (Selected)

Arredondo, J., Chernyavsky, A.I., Jolkovsky, D.L., Marubio, L.M., Pinkerton, K.E., Beaudet, A.L., Grando, S.A.: Novel Mechanism of Nicotine Toxicity: Regulation of Gene Expression through alpha3beta2 Nicotonic Acetylcholine Receptors in Oral Keratinocytes. Am J Pathol 2005; 166: 597-613.

Chernyavsky, A.I., Arredondo, J., Marubio, L.M., Grando, S.A.: Differential regulation of keratinocyte chemokinesis and chemotaxis through distinct nicotinic receptor subtypes. J Cell Sci 2004; 117: 5665-79.

Chernyavsky, A. I., J. Arredondo, J. Wess, E. Karlsson, and S. A. Grando. 2004. Novel signaling pathways mediating reciprocal control of keratinocyte migration and wound epithelialization through M3 and M4 muscarinic receptors. J Cell Biol 166:261.

Nguyen, V. T., J. Arredondo, A. I. Chernyavsky, M. R. Pittelkow, Y. Kitajima, and S. A. Grando. 2004. Pemphigus vulgaris acantholysis ameliorated by cholinergic agonists. Arch Dermatol 140:327.

Nguyen, V. T., A. I. Chernyavsky, J. Arredondo, D. Bercovich, A. Orr-Urtreger, D. E. tter, J. Wess, A. L. Beaudet, Y. Kitajima, and S. A. Grando. 2004. Synergistic control of keratinocyte adhesion through muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes. Exp Cell Res 294:534.

Grando, S. A. 2004. New approaches to the treatment of pemphigus. J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc 9:84.

Nguyen, V. T., J. Arredondo, A. I. Chernyavsky, Y. Kitajima, M. Pittelkow, and S. A. Grando. 2004. Pemphigus vulgaris IgG and methylprednisolone exhibit reciprocal effects on keratinocytes. J Biol Chem 279:2135.

Grando, S. A. 2003. Mucocutaneous cholinergic system is targeted in mustard-induced vesication. Life Sci 72:2135.

Nguyen, V. T., J. Arredondo, A. I. Chernyavsky, Y. Kitajima, and S. A. Grando. 2003. Keratinocyte acetylcholine receptors regulate cell adhesion. Life Sci 72:2081.

Chernyavsky, A. I., V. T. Nguyen, J. Arredondo, A. Ndoye, S. Zia, J. Wess, and S. A. Grando. 2003. The M4 muscarinic receptor-selective effects on keratinocyte crawling locomotion. Life Sci 72:2069.

Arredondo, J., V. T. Nguyen, A. I. Chernyavsky, D. Bercovich, A. Orr-Urtreger, D. E. Vetter, and S. A. Grando. 2003. Functional role of alpha7 nicotinic receptor in physiological control of cutaneous homeostasis. Life Sci 72:2063.

Grando, S. A., K. Kawashima, and I. Wessler. 2003. Introduction: the non-neuronal cholinergic system in humans. Life Sci 72:2009.

Arredondo, J., L. L. Hall, A. Ndoye, V. T. Nguyen, A. I. Chernyavsky, D. Bercovich, A. Orr-Urtreger, A. L. Beaudet, and S. A. Grando. 2003. Central role of fibroblast alpha3 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in mediating cutaneous effects of nicotine. Lab Invest 83:207.

Arredondo, J., L. L. Hall, A. Ndoye, A. I. Chernyavsky, D. L. Jolkovsky, and S. A. Grando. 2003. Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors regulating cell cycle progression are expressed in human gingival keratinocytes. J Periodontal Res 38:79.

Grando, S. A., A. A. Grando, B. T. Glukhenky, V. Doguzov, V. T. Nguyen, and K. Holubar. 2003. History and clinical significance of mechanical symptoms in blistering dermatoses: a reappraisal. J Am Acad Dermatol 48:86.

Arredondo, J., V. T. Nguyen, A. I. Chernyavsky, D. Bercovich, A. Orr-Urtreger, W. Kummer, K. Lips, D. E. Vetter, and S. A. Grando. 2002. Central role of alpha7 nicotinic receptor in differentiation of the stratified squamous epithelium. J Cell Biol 159:325.

Buchli, R., A. Ndoye, J. Arredondo, R. J. Webber, and S. A. Grando. 2001. Identification and characterization of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes expressed in human skin melanocytes. Mol Cell Biochem 228:57.

Arredondo, J., V. T. Nguyen, A. I. Chernyavsky, D. L. Jolkovsky, K. E. Pinkerton, and S. A. Grando. 2001. A receptor-mediated mechanism of nicotine toxicity in oral keratinocytes. Lab Invest 81:1653.

Grando, S. A. 2001. Receptor-mediated action of nicotine in human skin. Int J Dermatol 40:691.

Grando, S. A., M. R. Pittelkow, L. D. Shultz, M. Dmochowski, and V. T. Nguyen. 2001. Pemphigus: an unfolding story. J Invest Dermatol 117:990.

Nguyen, V. T., A. Ndoye, L. L. Hall, S. Zia, J. Arredondo, A. I. Chernyavsky, D. A. Kist, B. D. Zelickson, M. A. Lawry, and S. A. Grando. 2001. Programmed cell death of keratinocytes culminates in apoptotic secretion of a humectant upon secretagogue action of acetylcholine. J Cell Sci 114:1189.

Nguyen, V. T., A. Ndoye, K. D. Bassler, L. D. Shultz, M. C. Shields, B. S. Ruben, R. J. Webber, M. R. Pittelkow, P. J. Lynch, and S. A. Grando. 2001. Classification, clinical manifestations, and immunopathological mechanisms of the epithelial variant of paraneoplastic autoimmune multiorgan syndrome: a reappraisal of paraneoplastic pemphigus. Arch Dermatol 137:193.