Department of Pharmacology, University of Oslo

Current research focus

Studying changes in receptor-signalling-mechanisms in failing myocardium. Exploring mechanisms for inotropic effects mediated through various receptors, especially those coupled to Gq and particularly the role of phosphorylation of myosin light chain. Compartmentation of cAMP and cGMP increases after different agonists and the regulatory role of various PDE subtypes. Role of natriuretic peptides in normal and failing myocardium. Role of myocardial tissue hypothyroidism in the changes of receptor signaling in failing myocardium.

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.
• Crosstalk of cGMP on cAMP signalling systems in cardiomyocytes. A key to modifications of cAMP-dependent receptor functions in failing myocardium?
• Regulation of myocardial cGMP by PDE subtypes.

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
• Role of CCN2/CTGF in in autonomic control of the heart
• Heart failure protein interaction
• A comparison between the receptor signalling mechanisms coupled to 5-HT4 serotonin receptors and to beta-adrenoceptors in failing myocardium.
• Signalling mechanisms for the negative inotropic effect of natriuretic peptides in failing myocardium
• Investigation of role of G protein receptor kinase-5 (GRK5) in cardioprotection
• Cardiac tissue hypothyroidism and receptor functions in heart failure.
• 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
• Mitochondrial p66Shc - fiend or foe?