How chronic social stress weakens heart and gut stretch sensation and harms health
Blunted mechanosensation of the heart and gut as a mediator of pathogenesis conferred by chronic social subjugation
This work looks at whether long-term social stress weakens stretch-sensing in the heart and gut and contributes to high blood pressure, weight gain, and anxiety.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11252294 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use a mouse model where some animals experience repeated social defeat to mimic chronic social stress and then measure blood pressure, body weight, and anxiety-like behaviors. They study neurons in the nodose ganglion that sense stretch in the heart and gut, including levels of the mechanosensor gene Piezo2. The team uses chemogenetic tools to turn these stretch-sensing neurons on or off to see how that changes baroreflex function, meal size, and cardiovascular responses. The goal is to connect blunted interoception (reduced internal stretch sensing) to cardiometabolic and mood problems so that pathways for treatment can be identified.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have high blood pressure, unexplained weight gain, or anxiety symptoms thought to be linked to chronic social stress could be future candidates for related human studies or clinical trials.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are driven primarily by clear genetic, endocrine, structural, or non-stress-related causes may be less likely to benefit from therapies targeting mechanosensation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If confirmed, this could point to new ways to restore heart and gut stretch sensing to prevent or treat stress-related high blood pressure, overeating, and anxiety.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal work shows that activating heart/gut stretch-sensing neurons can lower blood pressure and reduce food intake, but translating these findings to humans remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Georgia State University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Krause, Eric Gerald — Georgia State University
- Study coordinator: Krause, Eric Gerald
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.