Impaired pAkt regulation in muscle and immune cells
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Impaired pAkt regulation in muscle and immune cells: Targeting a shared mechanism in sarcopenia and immunosenescence.
IRAS ID
162370
Contact name
Elizabeth Sapey
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
We are studying the link between ageing, muscles and the immune system. We believe there may be a common cause between immunosenescence, sarcopenia and frailty.
Immunosenescence is the term used to describe the decreased effectiveness of the immune system as we get older. Sarcopenia is the term used to describe the loss of muscle mass as we get older.
A protein in the body called Phosphoinositide 3 Kinase (PI3K) and its related signalling cascade is important in both muscle and immune function. We know there is evidence of dysregulated PI3K activity in older adults.
We wish to study PI3K activity in immune cells and muscle cells in healthy young and older adults, older adults with frailty and sarcopenia and also during episodes of sepsis. We hope to understand whether over activity of PI3K is driving all of these changes, immunosenescence, frailty and sarcopenia. If PI3K over-activity is a common link it may become a target for new drug therapies in the future.
REC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/WM/0002
Date of REC Opinion
21 Jan 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion