Research Areas
- Neurobiology of fear and stress: the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying fear conditioning and extinction.
- Sex differences in stress responses.
- Role of microglia and purinergic signaling in stress-induced behavioral changes.
- Molecular targets for potential therapeutic interventions in psychiatric disorders.
Scientific Achievements
- Dr. Porter has led pioneering research to understand the neurobiology of fear extinction and stress-induced behavioral changes.
- His lab has identified molecular targets (e.g., P2X7R, FKBP5, EphB2, mGluR5, CSF1R) for potential therapeutic interventions in psychiatric disorders.
- He has provided leadership for a research core and training program to support student development and faculty research capacity.
- He has mentored over 60 students across academic levels, many of whom have obtained advanced degrees and faculty positions.
Funding
RCMI Funding:
- NIH/NIMHD U54MD007579
Other funding obtained with RCMI support:
- NIGMS R16GM159165: Investigating molecular mechanisms of stress interference with fear extinction in female rats.
- Puerto Rico STRT Catalyzer Grant: Studying prefrontal proteins regulating stress susceptibility in female rats.
- Collaborator on NIH/NCI R01CA276224: Studying biobehavioral factors in ovarian tumor immune response.
Scientific Advance
Purinergic P2X7 receptor-mediated inflammation precedes PTSD-related behaviors in rats
Published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 2023. PMCID: PMC10106407
Published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 2023. PMCID: PMC10106407
In a study published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity (2023), researchers demonstrated that single prolonged stress in rats induces impaired fear extinction and cue-induced avoidance. Notably, these behavioral symptoms were preceded by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines—such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IFN-γ—in peripheral blood, and increased expression of P2X7 receptors, IL-1β, and TNF-α in hippocampal microglia. Blocking P2X7 receptors with the antagonist A-438079 effectively prevented the development of these PTSD-like behaviors and reduced inflammation. These findings suggest that stress-induced activation of P2X7 receptors via ATP release plays a critical role in driving neuroinflammation and the onset of impaired fear extinction. This work highlights P2X7Rs as a promising therapeutic target for stress-related disorders like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in which impaired fear extinction is a key hallmark.
NIMHHD U54 MD007579, PR-INBRE IDeA P20GM103475, R15 MH116345, PHSU RISE Program R25-GM082406 and T32 GM144896.
