This is a 5-year training plan for a mentored physician scientist in Gastroenterology and Hepatology. The Principal Investigator is a junior faculty member in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM). Drs. Thomas Pallone and Jean-Pierre Raufman will co-mentor the Pi's scientific training. Dr. Pallone (Professor, Departments of Medicine and Physiology) is a renowned leader in microcirculation. Dr. Raufman (Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology) has expertise in bile acid signaling. An Advisory Committee of established scientists/mentors will provide scientific and career guidance. The UMSOM provides an ideal training environment for the Pi's academic career development. The combination of mentoring, didactic coursework, unwavering institutional support and commitment will maximize the Pi's ability to launch a productive scientific career. The proposed study focuses on elucidating the mechanisms of vascular dysfunction in cirrhosis. The preliminary data indicates that (i) conjugated bile acids (BA) induce vasodilation in rodent aortae;(ii) BA-mediated vasodilation is endothelium-dependent and nitric oxide (NO)-mediated;(iii) M3 muscarinic receptor inhibition and ablation attenuates BA- and acetylcholine-mediated vasodilation. Our central hypothesis is that cholinergic stimulation of vascular endothelial cells mediates vascular dysfunction and systemic vasodilation in cirrhosis.
The Specific Aims are (1) To define the role of M3R-dependent signaling in bile acid-mediated vasodilation;(2) To establish that bile acid-mediated changes in small mesenteric arterial tone mimic changes in aortic vascular tone;(3) To determine the mechanism whereby M3R contributes to vascular dysfunction in a mouse model of cirrhosis. Portal hypertension is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in advanced liver disease and vascular dysfunction contributes significantly to the progression of portal hypertension in this setting. The proposed complementary in vitro and in vivo approaches will help (a) determine the importance of cholinergic stimulation in the development of NO-mediated stress in EC, (b) elucidate molecular mechanisms of BA- mediated vasodilation and (c) determine the impact of M3R knockdown on vascular dysfunction in the animal model of experimental cirrhosis. This line of investigation will fill critical gaps in understanding the mechanisms of vascular dysfunction in cirrhosis and identify molecules for therapeutic targeting.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
3K08DK081479-01S1
Application #
7806780
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDK1-GRB-1 (M3))
Program Officer
Podskalny, Judith M,
Project Start
2008-07-28
Project End
2013-06-30
Budget Start
2008-07-28
Budget End
2009-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$540
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Maryland Baltimore
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
188435911
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21201
Jadeja, Ravirajsinh N; Thounaojam, Menaka C; Bartoli, Manuela et al. (2018) Deoxycholylglycine, a conjugated secondary bile acid, reduces vascular tone by attenuating Ca2+ sensitivity via rho kinase pathway. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 348:14-21
Jadeja, Ravirajsinh N; Thounaojam, Menaka C; Khurana, Sandeep (2017) Characterization of pressure-mediated vascular tone in resistance arteries from bile duct-ligated rats. Oncotarget 8:30706-30722
Jadeja, Ravirajsinh N; Urrunaga, Nathalie H; Ahmad, Daniel et al. (2016) Data regarding M1 muscarinic receptor-mediated modulation of hepatic catalase activity in response to oxidative stress. Data Brief 6:405-9
Jadeja, Ravirajsinh N; Rachakonda, Vikrant; Bagi, Zsolt et al. (2015) Assessing Myogenic Response and Vasoactivity In Resistance Mesenteric Arteries Using Pressure Myography. J Vis Exp :e50997
Jadeja, Ravirajsinh N; Urrunaga, Nathalie H; Dash, Suchismita et al. (2015) Withaferin-A Reduces Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury in Mice. Biochem Pharmacol 97:122-32
Urrunaga, Nathalie H; Jadeja, Ravirajsinh N; Rachakonda, Vikrant et al. (2015) M1 muscarinic receptors modify oxidative stress response to acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury. Free Radic Biol Med 78:66-81
Rachakonda, Vikrant; Jadeja, Ravirajsinh N; Urrunaga, Nathalie H et al. (2015) M1 Muscarinic Receptor Deficiency Attenuates Azoxymethane-Induced Chronic Liver Injury in Mice. Sci Rep 5:14110
Cheng, Kunrong; Xie, Guofeng; Khurana, Sandeep et al. (2014) Divergent effects of muscarinic receptor subtype gene ablation on murine colon tumorigenesis reveals association of M3R and zinc finger protein 277 expression in colon neoplasia. Mol Cancer 13:77
Vivian, Diana; Cheng, Kunrong; Khurana, Sandeep et al. (2014) Design and evaluation of a novel trifluorinated imaging agent for assessment of bile acid transport using fluorine magnetic resonance imaging. J Pharm Sci 103:3782-3792
Vivian, Diana; Cheng, Kunrong; Khurana, Sandeep et al. (2014) In vivo performance of a novel fluorinated magnetic resonance imaging agent for functional analysis of bile acid transport. Mol Pharm 11:1575-82

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