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Content archived on 2024-05-29

Caveolae and Caveolins: Integrating signals for airway smooth muscle cell proliferation

Objective

Inflammation-induced airway remodelling is a major pathophysiological feature in chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma. Remodelling of airway smooth muscle (ASM) may contribute to the chronic deterioration of airway function in these airway diseases through increases in mass, allowing exaggerated bronchus obstruction. Classically, this increase in mass is thought to be mediated by peptide growth factors. However, neurotransmitters and allergic mediators are increasingly being recognized as important t o airway remodelling by amplifying the effects induced by growth factors (cross-talk). Recent studies indicate that caveolae membrane compartments and their membrane marker proteins, the caveolin(s), regulate receptor mediated signalling events and cross-talk between signalling pathways. Our project will investigate the role of caveolae and caveolins in controlling the mentioned synergistic effects on proliferation of ASM cells.

Research groups from the U of Groningen (EU) and the U of Manitoba (Canada) will be involved as hosts. Both universities have longstanding experience in respiratory pharmacology (U of Groningen) and physiology (U of Manitoba), respectively, which will have synergistic impact on the quality of the research. In addition, the applicant will receive advanced training during his outgoing period, aimed to improve his expertise, international contacts, technical skills and mentoring skills to the extent of becoming a prominent candidate for a future tenure track position at the U of Groninge nor another EU university. Transfer of this knowledge to the U of Groningen is important for the continuation and expansion of the described line of research within the EU, which is warranted since this specific research area is currently dominated by North-American institutes. Being a EU research institute, the U of Groningen will then be better equipped to cope with the increasing demand in insight in (patho) physiology of obstructive airway diseases.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

FP6-2002-MOBILITY-6
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

OIF - Marie Curie actions-Outgoing International Fellowships

Coordinator

RIJKSUNIVERSITEIT GRONINGEN
EU contribution
No data
Total cost
No data

Participants (1)