Christopher Benson, MD

Contact Information

Office: E315 GH
Phone: 319-356-4991
Faculty Profile

Brief description of current research:

Dr. Benson's research interests include the study of ion channels involved in sensation. We have focused on a class of ion channels called Acid-sensing Ion Channels (ASICs), which play a role in responses to nociceptive, taste, and mechanical stimuli. We have discovered that ASICs are highly expressed in cardiac sensory neurons and we believe they are particularly important as pH sensors in the setting of myocardial ischemia. In addition, we are interested in how cardiac afferent activation might trigger deleterious neural reflexes in cardiac disease states. Our lab is also interested on the general physiology of ASIC channels, and has discovered several proteins and signaling pathways that modulate ASIC function. Our research methods utilize electrophysiology, whole animal recordings, molecular and cell biology, and protein biochemistry techniques.

3 most influential diabetes/obesity/metabolism publications:

  • Heart failure induces changes in acid-sensing ion channels in sensory neurons innervating skeletal muscle. Gibbons DD, Kutschke WJ, Weiss RM, Benson CJ. J Physiol. 2015 Oct 15;593(20):4575-87.
  • Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) in mouse skeletal muscle afferents are heteromers composed of ASIC1a, ASIC2, and ASIC3 subunits. Gautam M, Benson CJ. FASEB J. 2013 Feb;27(2):793-802.
  • Acid-sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC3) cell surface expression is modulated by PSD-95 within lipid rafts. Eshcol JO, Harding AM, Hattori T, Costa V, Welsh MJ, Benson CJ. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2008 Sep;295(3):C732-9​

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