Anna Maria Santoro

Estrogen-deficiency bone loss, as is seen post-menopausal women, is due to an increase in osteoclast formation and activity. Both CSF1 and RANK ligand are absolutely required for osteoclast formation and function. CSF1 has two isoforms, a membrane bound or cell-surface isoform and a soluble CSF1 isoform. We have found that the soluble form is selectively upregulated by estrogen deficiency in vivo and in vitro. We have constructed a CSF1minigene that faithfully recapitulates the effect of estrogen withdrawal on CSF1 splicing and seek to determine the components of the spliceosome responsible for this effect.

I also work in the Yale Mineral Metabolism Laboratory as a clinical research assistant. Dr. Insogna is the lab director. The Yale Mineral Metabolism Laboratory is CLIA and CAP certified. We analyze clinical and research samples for vitamin D metabolites, bone turnover markers and a wide range of cytokines relevant to skeletal metabolism.

I received my bachelors of science in Biology from Quinnipiac University in 2008 and have returned to my alma mater for my masters in Molecular and Cell Biology. Outside of the lab I enjoy yoga, hiking, traveling, rock climbing and spending time with my family and friends.