The impact of obesogenic diets on skeletal muscle stem cell function

The regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle stem cells, also called satellite cells, is essential for muscle homeostasis and to maintain healthy muscles throughout the lifespan. Recent studies have reported that obesity impacts on the regenerative capacity of satellite cells. However, the underlying causes of this defect remain controversial. The project consists in investigating how different obesogenic diet models affect satellite cell function and in determining whether primary cilium dysfunction is implicated in the loss of regenerative capacity in satellite cells.

This project will use the power of mouse genetic models to analyse the impact that different obesogenic diets have on satellite cell activity. These analyses will be combined with a well-established ex-vivo culture system of skeletal muscle fibres, imaging and genome-wide transcriptomics approaches to investigate the mechanism by which physiological and metabolic changes impact skeletal muscle stem cells, muscle regeneration, and aging.