Priscilla M. Clarkson
B.S., University of Massachusetts Amherst, 1969; M.S., University of Massachusetts Amherst, 1973; Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Amherst, 1977
Muscle, Injury, Molecular Responses, Cell Culture
Our laboratory studies muscle function and dysfunction in humans. Research is underway to examine how signaling pathways in skeletal muscle and inflammatory cells are altered in response to exercise muscle damage and adaptation. A related interest is how statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) cause myalgia and myopathy. Muscle biopsy and blood samples are analyzed using a variety of techniques, such as qRT-PCR, multiplexing, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Studies have also been done to examine genetic underpinnings of muscle size and function. Our recent research focuses on molecular alterations in skeletal muscle and neutrophil function of smokers and non-smokers in response to strenuous exercise to understand why smokers have a higher incidence of injury. Cell culture techniques are used to answer more basic questions such as how macrophages interact with skeletal muscle cells and the interactions of muscle cells and endothelial cells in response to a muscle damage stimulus.
Hyldahl RD, Xin L, Hubal MJ, Moeckel-Cole S, Chipkin S, Clarkson PM. Activation of nuclear factor kappa B following muscle eccentric contractions in humans is localized primarily to skeletal muscle-residing pericytes. FASEB J, 25 (9), 2956-2966, 2011
Hubal MJ, Devaney JM, Hoffman EP, Zambraski EJ, Gordish-Dressman H, Kearns AK, Larkin JS, Adham K, Patel RR, Clarkson PM. CCL2 and CCR2 polymorphisms are associated with markers of exercise-induced skeletal muscle damage. J Appl Physiol. 108(6):1651-8, 2010.
Reich KA, Chen YW, Thompson PD, Hoffman EP, Clarkson PM. Forty-eight hours of Unloading and 24 hours of Reloading Leads to Changes in Global Gene Expression Patterns Related to Ubiquitination and Oxidative Stress in Humans. J Appl Physiol. 109(5):1404-15, 2010
Hyldahl RD, O'Fallon KS, Schwartz LM, Clarkson PM. Knockdown of metallothionein 1 and 2 does not affect atrophy or oxidant activity in a novel in vitro model J Appl Physiol.109(5):1515-23, 2010.
Hubal MJ, Reich KA, De Biase A, Bilbie C, Clarkson PM, Hoffman EP, Thompson PD. Transcriptional Deficits in Oxidative Phosphorylation with Statin Myopathy. Muscle Nerve. 44(3):393-401, 2011
