Role Of AMPK Signaling In Metabolic Control During Exercise
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$566,288.00
Summary
It is well recognized that sedentary life styles are associated with increased incidence of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The medical, social and financial costs of these diseases are growing rapidly and represent a major health care challenge. Exercise is beneficial for maintaining health in patients at risk of developing these diseases and for this reason we are interested in understanding how exercise capacity is regulated.
The role of intracellular calcium in fibre-type specific gene expression in skeletal muscle. Muscles contain different fibre types whose composition can be changed by activity. The aim of this proposal is to identify the intracellular mechanisms which control fibre type. Our hypothesis is that different patterns of intracellular calcium determine the pattern of gene expression which determines fibre type. Understanding how gene expression is regulated is a central issue in biology.
Is The Role Of IL6 In Metabolism Dependent On Its Cellular Origin?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$714,061.00
Summary
Interleukin-6 is a protein secreted from many cells in the body. For over 10 years, a great deal of research has been undertaken to determine if this protein is "good" or "bad" for patients suffering from type 2 diabetes. We have evidence that IL-6 is both good and bad depending upon which cell produces it. We intend to fully explore this notion. This is most important to clarify the confusion amongst the field and because drugs that target the IL-6 receptor complex are in clinical development f ....Interleukin-6 is a protein secreted from many cells in the body. For over 10 years, a great deal of research has been undertaken to determine if this protein is "good" or "bad" for patients suffering from type 2 diabetes. We have evidence that IL-6 is both good and bad depending upon which cell produces it. We intend to fully explore this notion. This is most important to clarify the confusion amongst the field and because drugs that target the IL-6 receptor complex are in clinical development for type 2 diabetes.Read moreRead less
Investigation Of The Roles Of Calcium-dependent Proteases In Muscle Damage And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,160.00
Summary
Muscle strength is important to the health and well-being of everyone. Skeletal muscle weakening occurs as a result of certain disease states, aging and prolonged inactivity due to illness-injury-surgery. This can result in the loss of normal activity and mobility and an increased incidence of falls and accidents, which impact considerably on health care costs. There is a family of proteins called calpains that have been linked to a number of factors affecting muscle function, however it is not ....Muscle strength is important to the health and well-being of everyone. Skeletal muscle weakening occurs as a result of certain disease states, aging and prolonged inactivity due to illness-injury-surgery. This can result in the loss of normal activity and mobility and an increased incidence of falls and accidents, which impact considerably on health care costs. There is a family of proteins called calpains that have been linked to a number of factors affecting muscle function, however it is not known how they are involved. Calpains are proteases, ie. they destroy other proteins, and they are regulated by the concentration of calcium inside a cell. The calcium concentration increases dramatically inside a muscle cell when it contracts. Inside a muscle cell it is important that there is tight regulation of the calpains to avoid them being activated inappropriately during normal use and causing muscle damage. In certain disease states, such as types of muscular dystrophy, it is known that the calcium concentration within resting muscle fibres is increased compared with healthy muscle fibres. We propose that as a consequence of this, the calpains will be less regulated and will cause damage to the muscle, which contributes to the muscle weakness seen in these diseases. Whilst calpains have been implicated with symptoms associated with muscle dystrophies, the role they play is certainly unclear. The objectives of our research proposal are to understand what factors influence i) where the calpains are located and ii) when and how much they are activated, within muscle fibres. We will compare this in healthy muscle and muscle from mdx mice, an animal model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.Read moreRead less