# Stress perception and cardiovascular immunology

> **NIH NIH P01** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2024 · $765,342

## Abstract

SUMMARY FOR PROJECT 1
Psychosocial stress has a major impact on cardiovascular health. Over the last 5 years of this PPG, we have
identified tissue, cellular, and molecular pathways that connect nervous, immune, and vascular systems during
stress. In this renewal, we will focus on identifying specific nodes of communication that link brain regions with
the vessel wall during the progression of cardiovascular disease. We will broaden our studies to explore how
neuroimmune and neurovascular connections are altered in the context of different stress perceptions.
Specifically, we will first seek to identify brain circuits and peripheral pathways linking psychosocial stress with
cardiovascular disease and then elucidate how resilience vs susceptibility to social defeat stress shapes
communication between brain and periphery in cardiovascular disease and its resolution. We will build on
preliminary data showing that acute stress elicits a profound spatial reorganization of four major leukocyte
classes, characterized by a mass migration of lymphoid and myeloid cells known to be important in
cardiovascular disease and noting that there is important difference in atherosclerosis progression between
resilient and susceptible mice. We hypothesize that distinct brain regions dynamically regulate monocyte,
neutrophil, and lymphocyte function and spatial distribution, influencing the development, progression, and
complications of atherosclerosis and that one or more of these pathways is critical during social defeat stress.
We will use sophisticated approaches and models, including optogenetics and chemogenetics. Together, we
will elucidate the communication network linking the brain with the vasculature and atherosclerosis during
resilience and susceptibility to social stress.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10891366
- **Project number:** 5P01HL131478-07
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** Filip K Swirski
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $765,342
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-03-17 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10891366

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10891366, Stress perception and cardiovascular immunology (5P01HL131478-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10891366. Licensed CC0.

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