# Neuroimmune Mechanisms Involved in the Pathogenesis of Hypertension and Renal Injury

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR · 2020 · $153,900

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Hypertension is one of the most prevalent disease processes in the US and, while it undoubtedly has a
multifactorial etiology, recent studies support a prominent role for the immune system and chronic
inflammation. It is critical that we understand mechanisms that may regulate this inflammation in order to
identify new therapeutic targets.
The novel cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway and the established hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)
axis are thought to suppress inflammation upon activation. Stimulation of both of these endogenous
mechanisms may occur through the parasympathetic vagus nerve. To study whether this neuro-immune
crosstalk is important in preventing the development of chronic inflammation that can promote hypertension,
we utilize the disease model systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory
disorder characterized by a high prevalence of hypertension, which may be mediated by chronic renal
vascular and parenchymal inflammation. Studies have demonstrated that SLE patients have decreased heart
rate variability, which indicates impaired autonomic function. Specifically vagal nerve activity is depressed
and this correlates with SLE disease severity. It is not known whether this decreased vagal nerve activity
contributes to an impaired cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway and HPA axis dysregulation in SLE, nor
whether these potential relationships contribute substantially to the pathogenesis of hypertension in the
setting of SLE. The proposed studies utilize an integrative physiological approach, complemented by
neurophysiological and immunological techniques, to determine whether vagal dysfunction contributes to the
development of chronic inflammation and consequently hypertension in SLE mice.
Dr. Keisa Mathis has developed a plan along with her primary mentor, Dr. Steve Mifflin, to conduct the
studies proposed within this grant application. Dr. Mathis will add to her current laboratory expertise by
receiving training from members of her mentoring team in both neurophysiological (Drs. Mifflin and
Cunningham) and immunobiological (Drs. Harrison and LaMarca) techniques. The mentoring team will give
guidance on how to use her acquired tools to answer the important questions proposed in this grant and
future grants. Dr. Mathis will also gain valuable insight into the interpretation of her data and
manuscript/grant preparation. Taken together, this proposal is a coordinated effort to allow Dr. Mathis to
refine her skills and to expose her to a new set of skills that she can use to establish herself as a leader in the
field of hypertension.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9848007
- **Project number:** 5K01HL139859-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** KEISA WILLIAMS MATHIS
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $153,900
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-01-01 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9848007

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9848007, Neuroimmune Mechanisms Involved in the Pathogenesis of Hypertension and Renal Injury (5K01HL139859-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9848007. Licensed CC0.

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