Reprogramming ghrelin-dopamine interactions in stress-induced psychopathology through caloric restriction. (FWOTM780)

Stress-related psychiatric disorders and anxiety disorders are very difficult to treat with the currently available treatments. With my PhD project I want to contribute to fundamental research that can lead to future improved and novel therapeutic strategies for these disorders, which have an enormous impact on the quality of life of the patients. Boosting the endogenous neuropeptide ghrelin might be such an interesting therapeutic option and is the topic of my PhD research. We indeed presume that ghrelin could be beneficial in stress-related psychiatric disorders. The neurobiological target of ghrelin is the ghrelin receptor which a constitutively active G-protein coupled receptor, for which several
downstream and ligand-directed signaling mechanisms have been described, and for which heteromeric interactions with dopamine receptors can significantly alter its functions. We use caloric restriction as a suitable endogenous way to activate the ghrelin system and will compare its effects with ghrelin receptor agonists.

Keywords:ghreline-dopamine

Disciplines:Pharmacology not elsewhere classified