Dr. Cintia Citterio
Email: citterio@chapman.edu
Website: https://www.chapman.edu/our-faculty/cintia-citterio
College: School of Pharmacy
Overview of scholarly research/creative activity:
Our research focuses on the molecular mechanisms leading to thyroid disorders and the biochemistry behind thyroid hormone formation with the goal of understanding the molecular basis of disease to improve diagnosis and treatment.
Specific projects working on:
A) CRISPR/Cas9-Edited Mouse Model of Deficient Thyroxine (T4) Production. Thyroid hormones, known as T4 and triiodothyronine (T3), are synthesized in the thyroid gland on specific sites within the hormone precursor protein, thyroglobulin. We have created a new mouse model with loss of T4 formation while preserving T3 formation in thyroglobulin which will, for the first time, establish the extent to which T4 is required for normal development, growth, behavior, and metabolism. These studies will aid in our understanding of the defects and treatment of hypothyroidism, which affects 10% of the world's population and constitutes the most common congenital endocrinopathy in humans.
B) Structural Requirements of the Thyroid Hormone Precursor Protein for its Intracellular Trafficking. In vertebrates, thyroglobulin is secreted into the lumen of thyroid follicles to enable its iodination for the synthesis of thyroid hormone - defective thyroglobulin secretion causes hypothyroidism. These investigations explore the molecular pathogenesis of congenital hypothyroidism.
C) T3-toxicosis of Graves' Disease. We seek to further dissect the molecular basis for the T3-toxicosis of Graves' disease (the most common cause of hyperthyroidism) in vivo utilizing thyroid tissue samples from patients (to
confirm the pathological mechanisms that we have already observed in vitro). This project will rely on proteomics, immunohistochemistry, and biochemical analysis thyroglobulin iodination.
Number of students looking to work with:
1-2
When students are needed:
Fall 2023
Interterm 2024
Spring 2024
Summer 2024
What students need to work with Dr. Citterio:
Responsible and enthusiastic students, who are committed to the research project.
What students would be doing:
Students will work under the guidance of the primary mentor with the support of our research team. According to their interests, students can choose to work at the molecular and cellular level and/or with rodents in the whole-body context. Students will have the opportunity to learn and assist with molecular cloning, cell culture, PCR, real-time PCR, Western blots, molecular studies of tissue samples, histological analyses, confocal microscopy, mouse handling, genotyping, blood sampling, thyroid hormone determinations through ELISA (and other biochemical determinations), tissue dissection, physiological and biochemical mouse phenotype analyses, data analyses and record keeping.
In summary, students will gain skills in different areas that are relevant to performing benchtop experiments including molecular biology and animal pathophysiology. Moreover, students will be trained to maximize their critical thinking skills to carry out their future endeavors.
Time commitment for students:
8-10 hours/week