Translational muscle research group

Our research

Our research interest is to understand how genetic variation influences skeletal muscle function and whole-body metabolism. We use translational approaches and regularly conduct focused intervention studies in humans, including skeletal muscle biopsies. From the biopsies, muscle stem cells (satellite cells) are isolated and later used for preclinical measurements. In our projects, we combine physiological measurements like VO_2MAX, muscular strength, and glucose tolerance with preclinical readouts, e.g. RNA and ChIP sequencing, fibre typing, gene knockdown, and exon skipping. It is our hope that this research will lead to new understanding of skeletal muscle function with implications primarily for human health, but also provide answers to fundamental evolutionary questions.

A long-term goal is to tailor the most beneficial exercise program to counteract genetic predisposition to metabolic diseases and type 2 diabetes. To pursue these research questions, we have established long-term close collaborations both nationally (Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre, Östersund, Sweden) and internationally (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany, the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Boston, US and Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan).

Aims

• Elucidate the role of the RAB3GAP2 gene in recovery from exercise

• Determine how different modalities of exercise influence skeletal muscle splicing

• Develop, test, and implement a new method for skeletal muscle fiber typing

Impact

During the last 100 years, we have gradually lost a significant proportion of our daily physical activity. As less fit, weaker, and fatter, we have become more prone to diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. WHO-Europe reports that 6 out of 10 adults do not reach the recommended 150 min of physical activity per week and estimates that this leads to ~1.000.000 deaths per year, responsible for ~40% of diabetes cases.

Our recent work has opened exciting opportunities to address this problem, ranging from truly individualized training advice based on genetic information to possible pharmacological interventions for improving health outcomes by exercise. This kind of knowledge will have a profound influence not only on leisure-time physical activity but also on mobilizing recovering patients.

How our research contributes to CoPARLU

We contribute with expertise and resources in molecular genetics and muscle biology. Our exercise studies include muscle biopsies and skeletal muscle satellite cells. In addition, we have experience, trained staff, and equipment for conducting physical performance testing, e.g. Wingate, VO2max, and lactate threshold tests.