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Karen T. Coschigano, PhD

Associate Professor, Molecular/Cellular Biology

Biomedical Sciences, HCOM

coschigk@ohio.edu

Ph.D., 1992, Biochemistry, Brandeis University

Current Curriculum Vitae (PDF)

 

Research Interest

     The main research focus of my laboratory is the identification of genes, proteins and regulatory pathways involved in the development of diabetic nephropathy, with an emphasis on the roles of growth hormone, signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5), and inflammation.  My group uses mouse models, cell culture and molecular techniques, including microarray analyses and real-time RT/PCR.  We correlate changes in gene expression with changes in kidney function and histomorphometric parameters (the latter performed in collaboration with Dr. Ramiro Malgor, a colleague in my department).  We expect this knowledge to aid in the design of more specific, targeted markers and therapeutic approaches for the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of human diabetic kidney disease.

Selected Publications

• Coschigano KT, Wetzel AN, Obichere N, Sharma A, Lee S, Rasch R, Guigneaux MM, Flyvbjerg A, Wood TG, Kopchick JJ  (2010)  Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes in the Kidneys of Growth Hormone Transgenic Mice. Growth Hormone & IGF Research 20, 345-55.

• Coschigano, K.T..  (2006)  Aging-related characteristics of growth hormone receptor/binding protein gene-disrupted mice.  AGE 28,191-200.  Invited review.
  

• Coschigano, K. T., Holland, A. N., Riders, M. E., List, E. O., Flyvbjerg, A., and Kopchick, J. J. (2003). Deletion, but not antagonism, of the mouse growth hormone receptor results in severely decreased body weights, insulin and IGF-1 levels and increased lifespan. Endocrinology 144, 3799-3810.