Can a nutraceutical formulation targeted at the autophagy-lysosomal system improve recovery/regeneration and exercise adaptations in skeletal muscle?

Summary

This project is an exciting new collaboration between Manchester Metropolitan University and Iovate Health Sciences Inc. which aims to study the effects of a novel nutraceutical formulation on skeletal muscle recovery and exercise adaptation through the activation of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway.

Lysosomes are organelles situated within all eukaryotic cells which regulate autophagy, the cell’s recycling process. This organelle has recently received a lot more attention due to its newly identified roles in cellular anabolism, mitochondrial quality control and glucose homeostasis. These new roles for the lysosome identify it as an intriguing target for interventions aimed at improving skeletal muscle adaptations particularly in the context of exercise and recovery. Currently, there are no commercially available supplements with evidence of direct effects on the autophagy-lysosomal system in human skeletal muscle, however, several ‘nutraceuticals’ that activate this system have been identified in cell and animal studies. This PhD studentship will test the efficacy of a novel formulation of these nutraceuticals to increase lysosomal/autophagic capacity in human skeletal muscle and whether this can aid recovery from a damaging bout of exercise and/or improve chronic adaptations to endurance exercise training.

Aims and objectives

This PhD studentship has three main objectives:

1. Determine if a nutraceutical formulation targeted at the autophagy-lysosomal system induces measurable changes in lysosomal content and lysosome/autophagy activity in human skeletal muscle

2. Investigate if a nutraceutical formulation targeted at the autophagy-lysosomal system can improve skeletal muscle recovery after damaging exercise

3. Determine if a nutraceutical formulation targeted at the autophagy-lysosomal system can elicit superior adaptations to a period of endurance exercise training

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