INTEGRATED REGULATION OF PULMONARY VESSELS AND AIRWAYS

In this program we will investigate the integrated regulation of the
airways and blood vessels in the lung. The function of these two systems
of distensible tree structures is to allow the passage and distribution
of gas and blood, respective. The ability to facilitate these functions
is regulated by several factors. First is the fact that, because of the
structural nature of the lung, these two systems are in close proximity
to each other. This structural proximity leads to a host of mechanical
interactions that bear on the regulation of airway and vascular
dimensions. Second is the regulation of local function in airways and
vessels by respiratory gas concentrations. Third is the innervation of
the two systems. Neural reflex control of airways, and pulmonary and
bronchial blood vessels by afferent and efferent autonomic nervous system
pathways is well documented. In this application we will focus five
interrelated projects exploring the mechanisms involved in the functional
interactions regulating the airways and blood vessels in the lung. One
project focuses on the intrinsic regulation of the vessels, one project
focuses on the intrinsic regulation of the airways, two projects deal
directly with the physical interactions between vessels and airways, and
the last projects deals with a critical component involved in the neural
regulation of both the airways and blood vessels of the lung. Although
each of these individual projects represents strong and creative
research, this program project serves as a vehicle that promotes active
collaboration among investigators, opportunities for frequent
communication of ideas, and utilization of common resources and
facilities. Such interactions provide not only unique opportunities for
collaborative research, but also an exciting environment for scholarly
activities that have been the long standing focus for the successful
training of students and fellows supported by a NHLBI Training Grant.
This program project thus provides much more than support for five
interrelated projects. In this application we have incorporated new
initiatives and methodologies at both the cellular and whole animal
level, but a central thrust continues at the systems level. This
approach provides a necessary link between rapidly advancing disciplines
at the molecular level with real problems experienced in medical and
public health settings.