Project Details
Projekt
Role of the endocannabinoid system in homeostasis and adaptation to pathological conditions in the cardiopulmonary system
Applicant
Professor Dr. Oliver Dewald
Subject Area
Biological Psychiatry
Term
from 2008 to 2016
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 42860621
In the first funding period we have found clear evidence that endocannabinoids play an important role in the homeostatis of the cardiovascular system and its adaptation upon injury. We could identify a novel and important role of anandamide and its metabolites in the regulation of pulmonary vascular tone and their potential involvement in acute and chronic pulmonary hypertension. Moreover, we could reveal a critical role for the endocannabinoid receptor CB2 in cardioprotection and tissue remodeling in murine ischemic myocardium. Based on these findings, we plan to further analyze the endocannabinoid-mediated signaling involved in pulmonary vascular tone regulation and its relevance for pulmonary hypertension. Furthermore, we will also explore the differential role of CB1- and CB2 receptors for cardiac adaption post-ischemia and during tissue remodeling. We expect that these studies provide novel mechanistic insights into cannabinoid-mediated modulation of cardiopulmonary function under healthy and pathological conditions.
DFG Programme
Research Units
Participating Persons
Professor Dr. Bernd Fleischmann; Professorin Dr. Daniela Wenzel
