Objective
Brain activity can modulate immune responses, but mechanisms involved have remained an enigma. Here, we will substantiate modulation of the innate immune response by the parasympathetic nervous system and evaluate the receptors and signal transduction mechanisms involved.
Excessive inflammation is devastating to tissue and counter-regulatory systems are needed to keep immune responses under control. In a mouse model of intestinal inflammation, we have recently demonstrated that such a mechanism is provided by the cholinergic nervous system. Our data, and that of others, suggest that particularly the vagal nerve, the largest nerve of the body, can reflexively monitor and regulate activation of enteric macrophages (the main class of innate immune cells) via peripheral release of its neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Compared to the classically known regulation of macrophage activation via humoral pathways (i.e. cytokines), neuronal signalling can be rapid, targeted, and directly integrated. This concept is supported by in vivo as well as in vitro data, as acetylcholine negatively regulates macrophage activation via acetylcholine receptors present on these cells.
In the current project we will study which receptors for acetylcholine are involved in the cholinergic nervous systems control of macrophage activation. Cellular responses of macrophages to acetylcholine, and the receptor involved will be determined. We will study which macrophage populations express the acetylcholine receptor, and how these cells respond to agonists of this receptor.
Several acetylcholine receptor agonists are now used to treat neurological disorders. The efficacy of these compounds to regulate inflammatory signalling will be addressed. Also, their efficacy to ameliorate inflammatory disease will be studied in models of enteric inflammation to explore their potential as novel class of anti-inflammatory drugs.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences neurobiology
- medical and health sciences health sciences inflammatory diseases
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP6-2005-MOBILITY-5
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Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
PO Box 9600 OXFORD
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.