GRK 2338 Seminar - Sven Eric Jordt
Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, US
03.05.2019 at 16:00
Title: Sensing the Chemical Environment: Receptors, Mechanisms, and Implications for Toxicology
The capability to detect chemicals in the environment is crucial for animals to identify and evaluate food sources, to initiate social and reproductive behaviors and to evade toxic chemical exposures. Chemosensory neurons of the somatosensory system, originating in the trigeminal, vagal and dorsal root ganglia, play a key role in exposure detection, triggering pain, itch, irritation and essential reflex responses such as cough. Studies by the Jordt laboratory identified Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) ion channels as key sensory receptors for reactive aldehydes such as acrolein, the major irritant in tobacco smoke, for painful tear gas agents and toxic isocyanates and for oxidants such as chlorine gas and ozone.
Continuous TRP channel activity during chronic toxic exposures and inflammatory sensitization contributes to chronic environmental diseases. TRP channels maintain inflammation and airway hyperreactivity in asthma, contribute to the runaway inflammatory response and pulmonary edema following toxic inhalation exposures, and promote neuropeptide-driven skin pathologies upon exposures to blistering agents and other chemicals.
Recent studies revealed key contributions of TRP channels to tobacco use initiation and nicotine dependence, as receptors for irritants in smoke and E-cigarettes, and for flavors such as menthol that suppress irritation and increase nicotine intake. Whole transcriptome analysis of sensory neurons revealed the plasticity of the chemosensory system and essential mechanisms controlling toxicant sensitivity.
Time:
- 4.00 pm GRK 2338 Lecture
- 5.00 pm Meet the Speaker Session
Venue:
Pettenkoferstr. 14, 1st floor, F 108
Host: Dirk Steinritz (P03)
PhD-Host: Katharina Müller-Dott (P03)