Objective
Research objectives and content
The vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a member of a family peptides that includes the gastrointestinal hormone, secretin, and the neuropeptides PACAP-27 and PACAP-38. These neurpeptides (VIP, PACAP-27, PACAP-38) are implicated in many functions in the organism, such as regulation of epithelial secretion, smooth muscle relaxation, vasodilatation, regulation of cell proliferation, etc. They acts through the binding to their own receptors, at the moment, it has been described the existence of three VIP and PACAP receptors PACAP type I, PACAP type II (VIP- 1 and VIP-2). We will try to search for highly selective molecules for these receptors, to identify the different human cells ( blood cells, pulmonary cells,cells from surgically removed gut material and tumoral cells) that express each type of receptors; evaluate the role of each receptor subtype in one tissue and, for last, we will study the regulation of the expression of these receptors in normal and pathological situations.
Training content (objective, benefit and expected impact)
The Knowledge of the precise "anatomical" distribution, regulation, mode of action of each VIP receptor subclass is a fundamental prerequisite to evaluate the therapeutically impact of selective VIP derivates that may actually be conceived.
Fields of science
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
RGI - Research grants (individual fellowships)Coordinator
1070 Bruxelles
Belgium