Karolina Kowalska

Education

  • 10/2013-12/2018 PhD in medicine, Department of Comparative Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland, with distinction
  • 10/2011-07/2013 MSc in medical biotechnology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland (studies in English), with distinction
  • 10/2008-07/2011 BSc in biotechnology, specialization medical biotechnology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland

Career

  • 05/2023-now The Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) postdoctoral fellow, Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna
  • 10/2018-now Senior research specialist, Department of Cell Culture and Genomic Analysis, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
  • 05/2016-10/2016 & 04/2017-09/2017 Scientific intern participant and employee, Department of Vascular Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
  • 10/2013-12/2018 Predoc researcher and academic teacher, Department of Comparative Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
  • 09/2011 Scientific intern participant, Department of Cell Biology, Laboratory of Signal Transduction, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland

Research Experience (Grants)

  • 02/2020- now Investigator, “Novel polymers-based nanocarriers as radioisotope transporters for oncological theranostics” founded by National Science Centre, Poland
  • 07/2019- 05/2023 Coordinator of the task, „BRaIn – Badania Rozwój Innowacje w łódzkim kampusie biomedycyny i farmacji” at Medical University of Lodz cofounded by European Union
  • 02/2017- 2023 Investigator,  “Effect of deoxynivalenol on oxidative stress in prostate cancer cell” founded by National Science Centre, Poland
  • 09/2017-09/2019 Principal Investigator, “Evaluation of the role of estrogen receptors in the effect of mycotoxin zearalenone on cell metabolism, oxidative stress and invasiveness of prostate proper and cancer cells” founded by National Science Centre, Poland
  • 02/2014-02/2018 Investigator, “The selective gene silencing, as the advanced research tool in evaluation of AngII influence on tumorigenesis in endometrium - the definition of the AR receptor function in signaling pathways by AngII” founded by National Science Centre, Poland

Publications

  • Habrowska-Górczyńska DE, Kowalska K, Urbanek KA, Domińska K, Kozieł MJ, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. Effect of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol in combinational therapy with TRAIL on prostate cancer cells. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2023 Feb 15;461:116390. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2023.116390. Epub 2023 Jan 21.
  • Domińska K, Urbanek KA, Kowalska K, Habrowska-Górczyńska DE, Kozieł MJ, Ochędalski T, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. The Influence of Angiotensin Peptides on Survival and Motility of Human High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Cells in Serum Starvation Conditions. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Dec 21;23(1):52. doi: 10.3390/ijms23010052.
  • Habrowska-Górczyńska DE, Kozieł MJ, Kowalska K, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. FOXO3a and Its Regulators in Prostate Cancer. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Nov 20;22(22):12530. doi: 10.3390/ijms222212530.
  • Kowalska K, Kozieł MJ, Urbanek KA, Habrowska-Górczyńska DE, Domińska K, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. Estrogen Receptor β Participates in Alternariol- Induced Oxidative Stress in Normal Prostate Epithelial Cells. Toxins (Basel). 2021 Oct 29;13(11):766. doi: 10.3390/toxins13110766.
  • Urbanek KA, Kowalska K, Habrowska-Górczyńska DE, Domińska K, Sakowicz A, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. In Vitro Analysis of Deoxynivalenol Influence on Steroidogenesis in Prostate. Toxins (Basel). 2021 Sep 26;13(10):685. doi: 10.3390/toxins13100685.
  •  Kowalska K, Kozieł MJ, Habrowska-Górczyńska DE, Urbanek KA, Domińska K, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. Deoxynivalenol induces apoptosis and autophagy in human prostate epithelial cells via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Arch Toxicol. 2022 Jan;96(1):231-241. doi: 10.1007/s00204-021-03176-z. Epub 2021 Oct 22.
  • Ziaja M, Urbanek KA, Kowalska K, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. Angiotensin II and Angiotensin Receptors 1 and 2-Multifunctional System in Cells Biology, What Do We Know? Cells. 2021 Feb 12;10(2):381. doi: 10.3390/cells10020381.
  • Kozieł MJ, Kowalska K, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. Nrf2: a main responsive element in cells to mycotoxin-induced toxicity. Arch Toxicol. 2021 May;95(5):1521-1533. doi: 10.1007/s00204-021-02995-4. Epub 2021 Feb 8.
  • Domińska K, Kowalska K, Urbanek KA, Habrowska-Górczyńska DE, Ochędalski T,Piastowska Ciesiel ska AW. The Impact of Ang-(1-9) and Ang-(3-7) on the Biological Properties of Prostate Cancer Cells by Modulation of Inflammatory and Steroidogenesis Pathway Genes. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Aug 28;21(17):6227. doi: 10.3390/ijms21176227.
  • Kowalska K, Habrowska-Górczyńska DE, Kozieł MJ, Urbanek KA, Domińska K, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. Mycotoxin Alternariol (AOH) Affects Viability and Motility of Mammary Breast Epithelial Cells. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jan 12;22(2):696. doi: 10.3390/ijms22020696.
  • Kowalska K, Habrowska-Górczyńska DE, Kurczewska D, Domińska K, Urbanek KA, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. Methylsulfonylmethane sensitizes endometrial cancer cells to doxorubicin. Cell Biol Toxicol. 2021 Apr;37(2):261-275. doi: 10.1007/s10565-020-09542-4. Epub 2020 Jun 20.
  • Kowalska K, Habrowska-Górczyńska DE, Domińska K, Urbanek KA, Piastowska- Ciesielska AW. ERβ and NFκB-Modulators of Zearalenone-Induced Oxidative Stress in Human Prostate Cancer Cells. Toxins (Basel). 2020 Mar 22;12(3):199. doi: 10.3390/toxins12030199.
  • Kozieł MJ, Kowalska K, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. Claudins: New Players in Human Fertility and Reproductive System Cancers. Cancers (Basel). 2020 Mar 18;12(3):711. doi: 10.3390/cancers12030711.
  • Domińska K, Kowalska K, Habrowska-Górczyńska DE, Urbanek KA, Ochędalski T, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. The opposite effects of angiotensin 1-9 and angiotensin 3-7 in prostate epithelial cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2019 Nov 19;519(4):868-873. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.09.079. Epub 2019 Sep 25.
  • Habrowska-Górczyńska DE, Kowalska K, Urbanek KA, Domińska K, Sakowicz A, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. Deoxynivalenol Modulates the Viability, ROS Production and Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer Cells. Toxins (Basel). 2019 May 11;11(5):265. doi: 10.3390/toxins11050265.
  • Kowalska K, Habrowska-Górczyńska DE, Urbanek KA, Domińska K, Sakowicz A, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. Estrogen receptor β plays a protective role in zearalenone-induced oxidative stress in normal prostate epithelial cells. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2019 May 15;172:504-513. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.01.115. Epub 2019 Feb 7.
  • Domińska K, Okła P, Kowalska K, Habrowska-Górczyńska DE, Urbanek KA, Ochędalski T, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. Angiotensin 1-7 modulates molecular and cellular processes central to the pathogenesis of prostate cancer. Sci Rep. 2018 Oct 25;8(1):15772. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-34049-8.
  • Kowalska K, Habrowska-Górczyńska DE, Domińska K, Urbanek KA, Piastowska- Ciesielska AW. Methylsulfonylmethane (organic sulfur) induces apoptosis and decreases invasiveness of prostate cancer cells. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2018 Dec;64:101-111. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2018.10.001. Epub 2018 Oct 10.
  • Matysiak-Burzyńska ZE, Nowakowska M, Domińska K, Kowalska K, Płuciennik E, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. Silencing of angiotensin receptor 1 interferes with angiotensin II oncogenic activity in endometrial cancer. J Cell Biochem. 2018 Nov;119(11):9110-9121. doi: 10.1002/jcb.27174. Epub 2018 Aug 13.
  • Domińska K, Okła P, Kowalska K, Habrowska-Górczyńska DE, Urbanek KA, Ochędalski T, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. Influence and mechanism of Angiotensin 1-7 on biological properties of normal prostate epithelial cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2018 Jul 7;502(1):152-159. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.05.138. Epub 2018 May 26.
  • Urbanek KA, Habrowska-Górczyńska DE, Kowalska K, Stańczyk A, Domińska K, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. Deoxynivalenol as potential modulator of human steroidogenesis. J Appl Toxicol. 2018 Dec;38(12):1450-1459. doi: 10.1002/jat.3623. Epub 2018 Apr 3.
  • Kowalska K, Habrowska-Górczyńska DE, Neumayer C, Bolliger M, Domenig C, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW, Huk I, Piechota-Polanczyk A. Lower levels of Caveolin-1 and higher levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase are observed in abdominal aortic aneurysm patients treated with simvastatin. Acta Biochim Pol. 2018;65(1):111-118. doi: 10.18388/abp.2017_2305. Epub 2018 Mar 15.
  • Kowalska K, Habrowska-Górczyńska DE, Urbanek KA, Domińska K, Piastowska- Ciesielska AW. Estrogen Receptor α Is Crucial in Zearalenone-Induced Invasion and Migration of Prostate Cancer Cells. Toxins (Basel). 2018 Feb 28;10(3):98. doi: 10.3390/toxins10030098..
  • Domińska K, Kowalska K, Matysiak ZE, Płuciennik E, Ochędalski T, Piastowska- Ciesielska AW. Regulation of mRNA gene expression of members of the NF-κB transcription factor gene family by angiotensin II and relaxin 2 in normal and cancer prostate cell lines. Mol Med Rep. 2017 Jun;15(6):4352-4359. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2017.6514. Epub 2017 Apr 26.
  • Kowalska K, Habrowska-Górczyńska DE, Domińska K, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. The dose-dependent effect of zearalenone on mitochondrial metabolism, plasma membrane permeabilization and cell cycle in human prostate cancer cell lines. Chemosphere. 2017 Aug;180:455-466. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.04.027. Epub 2017 Apr 10.
  • Kowalska K, Habrowska-Górczyńska DE, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. Zearalenone as an endocrine disruptor in humans. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2016 Dec;48:141-149. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2016.10.015. Epub 2016 Oct 18.
  • Nowakowska M, Matysiak-Burzyńska Z, Kowalska K, Płuciennik E, Domińska K, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. Angiotensin II promotes endometrial cancer cell survival. Oncol Rep. 2016 Aug;36(2):1101-10. doi: 10.3892/or.2016.4887. Epub 2016 Jun 21.
  • Kowalska K, Nowakowska M, Domińska K, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. Coexpressionof CAV-1, AT1-R and FOXM1 in prostate and breast cancer and normal cell lines and their influence on metastatic properties. Acta Biochim Pol. 2016;63(3):493-9. doi: 10.18388/abp.2015_1016. Epub 2016 May 20.
  • Kowalska K, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. Oestrogens and oestrogen receptors in prostate cancer. Springerplus. 2016 Apr 26;5:522. doi: 10.1186/s40064-016-2185-6.
  • Domińska K, Ochędalski T, Kowalska K, Matysiak-Burzyńska ZE, Płuciennik E, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. A common effect of angiotensin II and relaxin 2 on the PNT1A normal prostate epithelial cell line. J Physiol Biochem. 2016 Sep;72(3):381-92. doi: 10.1007/s13105-016-0489-1. Epub 2016 Apr 27
  • Domińska K, Ochędalski T, Kowalska K, Matysiak-Burzyńska ZE, Płuciennik E, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. Interaction between angiotensin II and relaxin 2 in the progress of growth and spread of prostate cancer cells. Int J Oncol. 2016 Jun;48(6):2619-28. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2016.3458. Epub 2016 Mar 24.