Non-FAU Project
Acronym: ARC International Linkage Fellowship
Start date : 01.04.2008
End date : 31.03.2009
The applicant aims to perform electrophysiology and fluorescence microscopy experiments in mammalian neurons and skeletal muscle cells under
(patho-)physiological conditions. Cellular Ca2+ and membrane potential signaling are investigated with high resolution confocal microscopy or ultrafast CCD cameras while electrically stimulating cells. In cellular models of severe inflammation and sepsis, cytokines will be applied to cells and changes in signaling studied. We expect that Ca2+ and membrane signals are impaired under these conditions. This will clarify mechanisms underlying organ failure of nervous system in critical illness that is among the top death counts. Therefore, this research will be of high significance.
The objectives were to study cellular Ca2+ signalling and ion channel functions under pathophysiological situations related to human disorders, mainly in skeletal muscle and peripheral neurons.
1. Ca2+ homeostasis was meant to be studied under conditions of inflammatory cytokine load as a model for sepsis related myopathy (own project and collaboration with PI Launikonis).
2. Ion channel function of the surface membrane was meant to be studied under conditions with altered membrane cholesterol composition that could be important for treatment of obesity (collaboration with PI Launikonis).
3. Cellular Ca2+ responses to store depletion in muscular dystrophy (collaboration with PI Launikonis)
4. Regulation of Ca2+ homeostasis in skeletal muscle by mechanosensitive channels under (patho-)physiological conditions (collaboration PI Martinac)
5. It was planned to establish a combined fluorescence method to study membrane potential and Ca2+ fluctuations in peripheral neurons and apply this to inflammatory disease (collaboration PI Adams)