Center for Neurovisceral Sciences & Women's Health

描述(申请人提供)：神经内脏科学和妇女健康中心由一群临床研究人员和基础科学家组成，他们在神经系统和内脏之间的相互作用方面拥有强大的独立拨款支持的研究计划，特别强调女性的健康和功能性疼痛障碍，以及与性别有关的应激神经生物学差异(促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子[CRF]信号系统)。大多数调查人员都有在目前资助的SCOR内进行合作的记录。该中心的主要重点是确定与性别有关的因素，这些因素在肠易激综合征(IBS)和间质性膀胱炎(IC)这两种常见内脏疼痛综合征的发展、临床表现和治疗反应中发挥作用。这两种疾病都很常见，更常见于女性，似乎显示出治疗反应的性别差异，并导致显著的发病率和生活质量损害。该中心有两个临床和两个基础科学项目，在主题、实验方法和假设方面紧密交错和重叠。从分子生物学方法、细胞成像和完整的大脑，最先进的技术将被用来研究这4个项目的特定目标：1.有和没有慢性盆腔内脏症状(IBS，IC)的女性以及慢性应激的动物模型之间中枢应激回路反应的差异。2.IBS患者黏膜神经-内分泌-免疫相互作用的性别差异及其与症状的关系。3.CRF在应激相关内脏表现中的信号通路：性别差异和雌激素β受体的调节作用。4.猫和啮齿动物模型中外周CRF信号系统在调节尿路上皮信号中的作用，重点是性别差异。为了促进这项研究，该中心有一个管理核心和两个科学核心(神经内分泌分析、神经成像)，并将利用NIH资助的现有核心和校园服务设施，包括加州大学洛杉矶分校的大脑测绘中心和GCRC。该中心为其调查人员之间的合作和协作提供了最佳环境，这些调查人员已经对实地产生了重大影响，无论是作为个人还是作为一个有凝聚力的群体。因此，该中心期待的协同作用有望对扩大对妇女健康这一高度普遍但未得到充分治疗的领域的研究产生重大影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Center for Neurovisceral Sciences & Women's Health is composed of a cohesive group of clinical investigators and basic scientists with strong independent grant-supported research programs in the interactions between the nervous system and the viscera, with special emphasis on women's health and functional pain disorders, and sex-related differences in stress neurobiology (corticotropin releasing factor [CRF] signaling system). The majority of investigators have a track record of collaborations within a currently funded SCOR. The main focus of the Center is the identification of sex-related factors that play a role in the development, clinical manifestation and treatment response of two common visceral pain syndromes, e.g., irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and interstitial cystitis (IC). Both disorders are common, occur more commonly in females, appear to show sex differences in treatment responses and cause significant morbidity and impairment in quality of life. The Center has two clinical and two basic science Projects, which closely interdigitate and overlap in terms of thematic, experimental approach and hypotheses. State of the art technology ranging from molecular biological approaches, imaging of cells and the intact brain will be used to study specific aims in these 4 Projects: 1. Differences in central stress circuit responsiveness between women with and without chronic pelvic visceral symptoms (IBS, IC), and in an animal model of chronic stress. 2. Sex differences in mucosal neuro-endocrine-immune interactions in IBS patients, and relationship to symptoms. 3. CRF signaling pathways in stress-related visceral manifestation: sex difference and modulatory role of estrogen beta receptors. 4. The role of the peripheral CRF signaling system in modulating urothelial signaling in cat and rodent models, with an emphasis on sex differences. To facilitate the research, the Center has an Administrative Core and two Scientific Cores (Neuroendocrine Assay, Neuroimaging) and will take advantage of existing NIH-funded core and service facilities on campus, including the UCLA Brain Mapping Center and the GCRC. The Center provides an optimal environment for cooperation and collaboration among its investigators, who already have had a major impact on the field both individually, and as a cohesive group. Thus, the synergy expected from the Center promises to have a large impact upon expanded research into a highly prevalent, but inadequately treated area of women's health.