The Tobin Lab at Trent University
Projects
Inflammatory memory of muscle stem cells
We are investigating how epigenetic aging and inflammatory memory control the behaviour of muscle stem cells in the context of chronic disease. One consequence of these epigenetic changes could be priming stem cells toward pro- or anti-inflammatory phenotypes leading to faulty tissue repair.
Biological sex & cardiac cachexia
Men and women exhibit robust differences in the pathophysiology of heart failure, which has long been overlooked in pre-clinical studies. Sex also impacts skeletal muscle mass. In heart failure, skeletal muscles weaken, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. We are studying molecular mediators of these differences using a mouse model of cardiac cachexia.
Collaboration with the Emery Lab
Cytokinins are a class of hormones, originally discovered in plants, but are now recognized to have an important role in mammalian cell biology. Using cultured muscle cells and HPLC MS/MS we are investigating the role of cytokinins in muscle wasting conditions. We hope to better understand the function of endogenous cytokinins in pathways that regulate muscle catabolism, such as AMPK. See Neil Emery Lab here: https://www.emerylab.com/
Collaboration with the Frost Lab
Aging is an incredibly complex process, however it appears that many of the pathways and molecules that regulate aging are conserved across animals. One peculiar feature is that caloric restriction and nutrient stress increase longevity in various models. Using the model organism, Daphnia, we hope to better understand how nutrient stress activates pathways that regulate physiological and chronological aging. See Paul Frost Lab here: http://frostlab.ca/