Detail

Keywords

Electrophysiology; Ion Channels; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Neurons, Afferent; Nociception; Reactive Oxygen Species

Research interests

I am interested in exploring the fundamental mechanisms of pain transduction, namely how the peripheral nervous system converts environmental and endogenous chemical signals into noxious sensations. At the center of this are TRP channels, specifically how their gating and regulation contribute to the body's perception of noxious stimuli. To investigate these processes, I use a multifaceted approach that combines calcium imaging, electrophysiology, and molecular biology with behavioral assessments.

Current projects:

• Human TRPA1 single nucleotide polymorphisms
• Sensory neuron activation by reactive oxygen species

Techniques, methods & infrastructure

Fluorescence microscopy - Olympus ix73 with a 10 Megapixel Kinetix camera (Teledyne Photometrics)

• calcium imaging
• reactive oxygen species imaging

Medium throughput functional analysis (Flexstation 3, Molecular Devices)

Behavioural assays

Selected publications

1. Heber, S. et al. (2024) ‘Human heat sensation: A randomized crossover trial’, Science Advances, 10(36). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.ado3498.
2. Rojas-Galvan, N.S. et al. (2024) ‘Correlation of TRPA1 RNAscope and Agonist Responses’, Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry, 72(5), pp. 275–287. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1369/00221554241251904.
3. Ciotu, C.I. et al. (2022) ‘Schwann cell stimulation induces functional and structural changes in peripheral nerves’, Glia, 71(4), pp. 945–956. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/glia.24316.
4. Ciotu, C.I. et al. (2019) ‘Noncanonical Ion Channel Behaviour in Pain’, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 20(18), p. 4572. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20184572.
5. Babes, A. et al. (2017) ‘Photosensitization of TRPA1 and TRPV1 by 7-dehydrocholesterol: implications for the Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome’, Pain, 158(12), pp. 2475–2486. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001056.