Department of Pharmacology, University of Oslo

Current research focus

Department of Pharmacology

Research projects

Supervisor

• Effects and mechanisms of prostanoid receptor stimulation in normal and failing myocardium
• Changes of adrenergic receptor functions in failing myocardium
• Changes of expression of the cardiac NKCC in ischemic heart failure
• Involvement of phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC) in the inotropic responses to stimulation of Gq coupled receptors
• On the role of myocardial α1-adrenoceptors in clinical situations
• Mechanism of action of 5-HT₄ serotonin receptors in failing myocardium
• Relation between serotonin receptors and myocardial hypertrophy
• Characterization of increased calcium sensitivity in heart muscle as inotropic mechanism for receptor stimulation and for levosimendan.
• A comparison between the receptor signalling mechanisms coupled to 5-HT4 serotonin receptors and to beta-adrenoceptors in failing myocardium.
• Crosstalk of cGMP on cAMP signalling systems in cardiomyocytes. A key to modifications of cAMP-dependent receptor functions in failing myocardium?
• Signalling mechanisms for the negative inotropic effect of natriuretic peptides in failing myocardium
• Cardiac tissue hypothyroidism and receptor functions in heart failure.

Collaborator

• Characterization of intracellular signaling pathways of CTGF and mechanisms of cytoprotective actions in cardiac myocytes
• Regulation of serotonin receptor expression in normal and failing hearts
• Effects and mechanisms of muscarinic receptor stimulation in failing myocardium
• Substrate specificities and function of G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK) isoforms in adult, differentiated cardiac myocytes
• Functions of myocardial CTGF in the postnatal heart – signalling pathways, delineation of CTGF-induced gene expression programs and role in cell proliferation, differentiation and cell death
• Heart failure protein interaction
• Regulation of myocardial cGMP by PDE subtypes.
• Investigation of role of G protein receptor kinase-5 (GRK5) in cardioprotection
• Safety and efficacy of levosimendan in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by symptomatic left ventricular failure
• Is heme oxygenase-1 a downstream mediator of HIF-1a induced protection?
• A role of retinoic acid in remodelling of the failing heart
• L-type Ca2+ channel antagonism for Ca2+-triggered arrhythmias: Novel treatment strategy or potentially harmfull?
• Mitochondrial p66Shc - fiend or foe?
• Role of CCN2/CTGF in in autonomic control of the heart