The last decade has witnessed a sharp increase in cocaine abuse and indeed a corresponding increase in young patients presenting with cardiovascular complications mediated by the drug has been observed. However, the majority of patients dying of cocaine abuse have minimal pathological changes in the heart that can not account for the patients' deaths. Preliminary data presented in the proposal suggest that opioid receptors are expressed on vascular smooth muscle and these receptors are functionally coupled to vascular contraction. Indeed, the cloned human opioid receptors have been demonstrated to inhibit cyclic nucleotide production and modulate ion channel conductivity, events that will have pronounced effects on vascular tone. The long term goals of the laboratory are to define mechanisms that modulate vascular reactivity and promote disease progression following substance abuse, to define rational approaches for pharmaceutical intervention. The objectives of this proposal are to characterize the biochemical and physiological properties of vascular smooth muscle opioid receptors in human and rodent tissue by: (1) evaluation and classification of opioid peptide binding sites in vascular tissue and cell lines; (2) evaluation of the pharmacological properties (vascular contraction) and receptor signaling (e.g., intracellular Ca2+ transients, changes in K+ channel conductivity and membrane polarization) mediated by opioid receptors in vascular tissue and cell lines, respectively, and (3) cloning and sequence analysis of the human vascular smooth muscle opioid receptors. Accomplishment of these specific aims will define the normal functioning of vascular smooth muscle opioid peptide receptors so that the role of these receptors in various disease states, including those mediated by drug abuse, can be evaluated.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
First Independent Research Support & Transition (FIRST) Awards (R29)
Project #
5R29DA010558-03
Application #
2770143
Study Section
Human Development Research Subcommittee (NIDA)
Program Officer
Rapaka, Rao
Project Start
1996-09-30
Project End
2001-08-31
Budget Start
1998-09-30
Budget End
1999-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Queens College
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Flushing
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
11367
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Magazine, H I; Chang, J; Goumon, Y et al. (2000) Rebound from nitric oxide inhibition triggers enhanced monocyte activation and chemotaxis. J Immunol 165:102-7
Saeed, R W; Stefano, G B; Murga, J D et al. (2000) Expression of functional delta opioid receptors in vascular smooth muscle. Int J Mol Med 6:673-7