Associate Professor
Ph.D., 1998; Tufts University, Boston, MA
ORCID #0000-0001-5310-1209
Academic Department(s)
Biochemistry
Research Area
Neuroscience
Research Interest
Our laboratory is currently working on two projects. The first one studies the role of a natural neuroprotective compound known as 4R cembranoid during LPS-induced neuroinflammation in mice. We are interested in finding the mechanism by which 4R treatment neuroprotects during LPS-induced inflammation. One of our candidates is the acetylcholine nicotinic alpha 7 receptor. Previous work has demonstrated that activation of the alpha 7 receptor reduces the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in vivo. The second project focuses on obesity-induced inflammation and the role of the alpha 7 nicotinic receptors. Previous studies have shown a negative correlation between body weight gain and the alpha 7 receptor expression in human adipocytes. We put mice on a high-fat diet for 10 weeks and noticed that the a7-knock out mice gained more weight than the wild type mice. A plausible mechanism for this effect is that insulin resistance is causing a decrease in receptor expression and an increase in body weight.
Availability for Students
Yes
Publications
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/1FA5Ag6nojNAx/bibliography/52463781/public/?sort=date&direction=ascending
Contact Information
Universidad Central del Caribe
P.O. Box 60327
Bayamón, PR 00960-6032
Tel.: (787) 798-3001 x 2036
e-mail: wanda.velez@uccaribe.edu