Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Oslo University Hospital Ullevaal

Current research focus

Excitation-contraction coupling in failing cardiomyocytes and the effects of heart failure on skeletal muscle function

Research projects

Supervisor

• The role of SERCA2 in calcium dependent arrhythmias
• Mouse models for defective Ca²⁺ handling and SR dysfuntion in the heart and skeletal muscle
• Exercise and heart failure in patients
• The connection between membrane potential and contractility is changed in heart failure
• Targeting of Na⁺ transporting proteins determines cardiac contractility and rhythm
• Heart failure protein interaction
• Modelling of excitation-contraction coupling
• The importance of skeletal muscle extracellular matrix in CHF related fatigue and the role of skeletal muscle in the systemic inflammatory state of heart failure
• L-type Ca2+ channel antagonism for Ca2+-triggered arrhythmias: Novel treatment strategy or potentially harmfull?
• Effect of beta-adrenergic stimulation on Ca2+ wave development in SERCA2 KO mice
• Spatial homogeneity of cardiomyocyte Ca²⁺ handling and sarcomeric function
• Molecular processes triggered by altered Ca²⁺ cycling and SR dysfunction in heart failure
• Skeletal muscle fatigue mechanisms in rats and humans

Collaborator

• Hematopoiesis in mice with heart failure
• Electrical remodelling in heart failure
• Effects and mechanisms of prostanoid receptor stimulation in normal and failing myocardium
• Effects and mechanisms of muscarinic receptor stimulation in failing myocardium
• Changes of adrenergic receptor functions in failing myocardium
• Involvement of phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC) in the inotropic responses to stimulation of Gq coupled receptors
• Mechanism of action of 5-HT₄ serotonin receptors in failing myocardium
• Relation between serotonin receptors and myocardial hypertrophy
• Skeletal muscle fatigue during heart failure in rats
• Reduction of Serca2 function in skeletal muscle: effects on muscle function and fatigue development
• 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?
• Characterization of increased calcium sensitivity in heart muscle as inotropic mechanism for receptor stimulation and for levosimendan.
• Identification and modulation of signaling complexes involved in hypertrophy and heart failure
• 3D imaging of the dyad
• IP₃ signalling and Ca²⁺-wave development in ventricular cardiomyocytes
• Crosstalk between transport proteins that control intracellular sodium in cardiomyoctyes