Project II

Hypertension is the leading contributor to global disease burden and the most common cause of preventable death. Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) has recently emerged as a key regulator of vascular tone and blood pressure. PVAT surrounds most blood vessels and releases anticontractile factors that influence vasodilation.

The production of these anticontractile mediators is driven by the sympathetic neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE), but the source of NE that drives this effect is unknown. It is possible that the anticontractile effects of PVAT are driven by local mediators released by non-neuronal cells, by neural innervation, or by circulating neurotransmitters. Therefore, the objective of this project is to understand the mechanisms that mediate neurotransmission in PVAT in health and disease.

about Project II

Mission

Our study will clarify the presynaptic mechanisms that regulate PVAT.

This is important because it will identify novel mechanisms that could lead to new therapies to improve the treatment of vascular dysfunction induced by conditions such as obesity.

Project II Team

Brian Gulbransen

Associate Professor, Dept of Physiology
Co-Director of the PPG, Project II Leader

Director of Project II. Dr. Gulbransen is responsible for the overall research direction and progress of this project which aims to study neurohumoral regulation of PVAT. He leads a team of investigators, provides training and supervision for junior team members, conducts experiments, interprets data, and contributes to writing manuscripts. Dr. Gulbransen also coordinates efforts with the other projects and cores to further the goals of the larger PPG.

William F. Jackson

Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Core D Leader, Project II Collaborator

Dr. Jackson is an expert in the optical imaging of cells amd tissues and will assist Project Leaders and other team members in the design and analysis of imaging experiments involving PVAT and blood vessels. He will also collaborate with Dr. Gulbransen and team members in Project II in imaging and quantifying PVAT innervation.

Hiring now — Interested in joining the team? Get in touch!

Integration with other projects

Utilizes imaging core for experiments. Plans to use sequencing data generated by genomics core to generate hypotheses. Possible interactions with other projects investigating how presynaptic roles of adipocytes or neural innervation influence immune cells and adipogenesis. Possible link with P1 in mechanical forces stimulating transmitter release from adipocytes.

Publications

Available soon.

Protocols

Available soon.