Objective
Serotonin (5-hydroxytrypatmine, 5-HT) regulates diverse processes in both the central nervous system (e.g. cognition, perception, mood, feeding behaviour) and the periphery (e.g. smooth muscle contractility, platelet aggregation). As such, dysregulation in the 5-HT system has been shown to contribute to several pathophysiological states, including depression, migraine headaches, and, more recently, some cardiovascular diseases.
During my thesis research with Bryan Roth, we demonstrated that 5-HT, the level s of which are elevated in carcinoid syndrome, causes heart valve fibrosis (i.e. cardiac valvulopathy) via activation of 5-HT2B receptors. An additional cardiovascular complication stemming from 5-HT levels is pulmonary hypertension (PH). Prof. Maroteaux has shown, using genetic and pharmacological approaches, that functional 5-HT2B receptors are required for the development of PH in the hypoxic mouse model of the disease. Also, Prof. Maroteaux's in vivo studies have shown that decreased 5-HT2B receptor function prevents hypoxia-induced increases in plasma 5-HT. Thus, 5-HT2B receptors appear to play an unappreciated role in 5-HT synthesis, release, and/or uptake in the cardiovascular system and likely elsewhere (e.g. the CNS).
Indeed, preliminary findings from Prof. Maroteaux's group reveal a role for 5-HT2B receptors in the plasma membrane targeting of the 5-HT transporter (SERT), suggesting that 5-HT2B receptors affect 5-HT levels by modulating SERT function. Thus, Prof. Maroteaux and I propose to characterize, through in vitro and tissue-specific in vivo studies, the mechanism of 5-HT2B receptors regulate SERT function and 5-HT levels in the cardiovascular system. These studies are likely to uncover previously unidentified mechanisms regulating 5-HT in the cardiovascular system; mechanisms that may be pertinent in the CNS. As such, our efforts could lead to novel strategies to treat cardiovascular diseases and, possibly, psychiatric disorders.
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 clinical medicine psychiatry
- natural sciences biological sciences developmental biology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine cardiology cardiovascular diseases
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
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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.
FP6-2004-MOBILITY-7
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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.
IIF - Marie Curie actions-Incoming International Fellowships
Coordinator
PARIS
France
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