Determining the effectiveness of novel nutraceutical compounds to support skeletal muscle proteostasis during ageing and disuse.
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation Science
Abstract
Throughout the lifespan, skeletal muscle mass is regulated through dynamic changes in protein metabolism in response to physical activity and nutritional status. Short-term periods of unavoidable musculoskeletal disuse (i.e. during injury/illness) are often accompanied by significant declines in muscle mass due to a dysregulation between myofibrillar protein synthesis (MPS) and degradation (MPB) rates. In otherwise healthy individuals, these acute decrements to skeletal muscle mass are primarily attributed to a blunted response of MPS to exercise and nutrition (termed 'anabolic resistance'), with basal MPS remaining depressed throughout the disuse episode. Therefore, in theory, by manipulating potent anabolic stimuli (i.e. physical activity or nutritional status), it is possible to attenuate the negative response of skeletal muscle protein metabolism to periods of short-term disuse. This PhD project will use a cell-to-human model that aims to determine the effectiveness of three novel nutraceutical compounds (leucine, phosphatidic acid and epicatechin) to attenuate skeletal muscle disuse atrophy and analyse the biological mechanisms that underpin the response of skeletal muscle protein metabolism to the ingestion of these compounds. Consequently, this work could provide novel and feasible interventions to attenuate skeletal muscle atrophy during acute periods of unavoidable physical inactivity throughout the lifespan, thus prolonging an individual's health span.
People |
ORCID iD |
Leigh Breen (Primary Supervisor) | |
Sophie Edwards (Student) |
Studentship Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BB/M01116X/1 | 30/09/2015 | 31/03/2024 | |||
1898477 | Studentship | BB/M01116X/1 | 01/10/2017 | 29/09/2021 | Sophie Edwards |
Description | The amino acid leucine was unable to prevent the loss of leg strength and muscle mass that is assosiated with 7 days of muscle disuse, by means of a leg cast. Interestingly, we also found that following muscle disuse, mitochondrial protein synthesis was decreased in the immobilised limb compared to the control limb. This is a novel finding and as a result, we are now investigating the role of nutritional interventions that target mitochondrial pathways as a means to offset muscle loss during disuse. |
Exploitation Route | It may help determine the role of mitochondria to offset muscle disuse atrophy. |
Sectors | Healthcare |
Description | Are markers of skeletal muscle mitochondrial content and autophagy-mediated proteolysis altered in chronic kidney disease patients? |
Organisation | University of Leicester |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | To conduct western blot analysis and data quantification. |
Collaborator Contribution | Provided samples from CKD patients and expertise for the completion of a mini-project during the training year of the MIBTP program. |
Impact | Poster-presentation at the MIBTP symposium 2018. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Coco flavanols and muscle disuse atrophy |
Organisation | University of Birmingham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | To undertake the in vitro to in vivo research, from study design to completion. |
Collaborator Contribution | To aid with study design and data collection. The collaboration will also provide the supplementation. |
Impact | This collaboration is ongoing. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Title | ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03762278 |
Description | Please see ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03762278 for further information. |
Type | Preventative Intervention - Nutrition and Chemoprevention |
Year Development Stage Completed | 2020 |
Development Status | Closed |
Impact | n/a |
Description | European Congress of Sport and Exercise Sciences Annual Conference 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Roughly 100 people attended my presentation at ECSS, which sparked questions afterwards. The feedback from the presentation was very positive. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |