Victor Uteshev, Ph.D., to present seminar on 9/14/2018 at 11:00 LIB-110: “Modulation of Endogenous Cholinergic Cytoprotection in Ischemic Stroke”.

Victor Uteshev, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience
University of North Texas Health Science Center

“Modulation of Endogenous Cholinergic Cytoprotection in Ischemic Stroke”

The cholinergic system is essential for maintenance of cognitive, autonomic and immune homeostasis in mammals. Pre-clinical studies utilizing rodent models of ischemic stroke suggest that endogenous cholinergic tone elevated by injury, infection and/or inflammation serves as a combination therapy aiming at multiple cellular and molecular pathways with converging anti-inflammatory cytoprotective efficacies. These hardwired endogenous protective mechanisms can be augmented by cholinergic treatments including nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonists, positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) and vagus nerve stimulation. Therapeutic strategies that employ cholinergic PAMs, augment endogenous cholinergic protective mechanisms and may target ischemic brain injury with high spatiotemporal precision. The α7 subtype of nAChRs is uniquely positioned as a promising therapeutic target in ischemic stroke because of the high anti-inflammatory cytoprotective efficacy of α7 nAChR activation and the ubiquitous expression of α7 nAChRs in mammalian neuronal, glial and immune tissues. The injury-induced endogenous α7-dependent auto-therapy may act as an important physiological function of these receptors. Selective cholinergic agents that enhance endogenous protective mechanisms may hold significant translational potential.

Friday, September 14, 2018, 11:00AM-12:00PM, LIB-110
University of North Texas Health Science Center
Fort Worth, Texas