Muscle growth regulation
P1
Subproject Speakers
Berlin: Markus Schülke-Gerstenfeld, MD, Prof.
Paris / Versailles: Helge Amthor, MD, Prof. / Luis Garcia, PhD, Prof.
In normal individuals, several signaling molecules of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) family, most notably myostatin, restrict the size of skeletal muscle. The precise function of myostatin remains unclear. We hypothesize that myostatin optimizes function and metabolism of skeletal muscle. Most previous work exploring the function of myostatin has been performed on constitutive myostatin knockout mice, which does not permit a differentiation between the prenatal or postnatal effect of myostatin deficiency. Moreover, up to date, the role of myostatin on muscle function and metabolism has only been explored in lack-of-function models. Our aim is to determine the function of myostatin on skeletal muscle physiology and metabolism in adult wildtype mice using gain-of-function and loss-of-function models. We will therefore be able judge the effect of myostatin modulation in the context of novel biotherapies and also in the context of a potential abuse for athletic "doping" purposes. To this end, we will directly compare the effect of myostatin induced muscle hypotrophy (treatment with recombinant myostatin) with the effect of myostatin blockade induced muscle hypertrophy (treatment with AAV myostatin propeptide). We will compare the effect on force generation, exercise capacity, oxidative muscle metabolism, muscle morphometry and cellular properties.
Theses in progress
Student |
University degree |
Working title |
---|---|---|
Ioanna Polydorou | Master, Science University of Leeds, UK |
Involvement of BMP signaling in neuromuscular disorders with skeletal muscle atrophy and arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) |
Completed theses
Students |
MyoGrad PhD student from |
Thesis project |
Defence and degree |
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Gabriella Dias Florencio Leite | 2013-2017 |
RNA splicing modulation strategies as therapeutic approaches for the treatment of neuromuscular disorders |
Defence on Sept. 28, 2017 in Versailles
|
Can Ding | 2011-2015 | The influence of Notch over-stimulation on muscle stem quiescence versus proliferation, and on muscle regeneration |
Defence on Sept. 30, 2015 in Berlin
|
Mina Petkova | 2011-2016 | Generation and characterization of a DmdEGFP reporter mouse as a tool to investigate dystrophin expression |
Defence on Feb 5, 2016 in Berlin
|
Karima Relizani | 2010-2014 | The function of activin receptor type IIB signaling in adult skeletal muscle |
Defence on July 07, 2014 in Berlin
|
Amalia Stantzou | 2011-2015 | BMP-signaling controls postnatal muscle development |
Defence on Sept. 29, 2015 in Paris
|