Research Fellow in Muscle Cellular and Molecular Physiology
I am a cellular and molecular biologist with a background in muscle physiology. I currently investigate the decline of skeletal muscle mass with age (Sarcopenia). I have devised two cellular models of muscular ageing using adult muscle stem cells to generate ‘old’ phenotypes.
I am particularly interested in the influence of the deterioration of the IGF-I family (IGF-I, IGF-IEa, MGF, IGFBP’s) and downstream signals such as PI3K, mTOR and Akt (anabolic) together with increases in the production of systemic and local TNF-alpha (catabolic) that occurs in ageing muscle. The aim of this work is to understand the cellular, molecular and genetic causes of the deterioration in regenerative capacity in skeletal muscles with age, eventually, with the goal of treating individuals with muscle wasting. I currently use a tissue engineering approach in collaboration with Professor Mark Lewis (Loughborough University) to incorporate my cellular models into three dimensional bio-engineered structures.
Furthermore, I am interested in the effects of exercise, nutrition, genetic therapies (gene knock out) and hormonal manipulation in skeletal muscle with the overall aim to restore skeletal muscle mass in various wasting conditions and diseases. This includes the role of: Mechanical/electrical stimulation (in-vitro muscle constructs), resveratrol (grape extract and SIRTUIN activator), fish oils (EPA), glutamine and testosterone in skeletal muscle regeneration.
Other interests include; muscle cell memory, particularly of earlier life encounters from exercise or stress and role of epigenetics in this process. I currently review articles for the Journal of Cellular Physiology, Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, Cell Proliferation and Tissue Engineering.
Research Group
- Muscle Cellular and Molecular Physiology Research Group (MCMPRG)
- Institute for Sport and Physical Activity Research (ISPAR Bedford)
Qualifications
- PhD Cellular and Molecular Biology: Cellular and Molecular Regulation of Skeletal Muscle Mass: The Ageing Muscle Cell - Manchester Metropolitan University
- MSc Exercise Physiology - Manchester Metropolitan University
- BSc (Hons) 1st Class Exercise and Sport Science - Manchester Metropolitan University
Teaching Expertise
- Unit Leader for new MSc in Molecular and Cellular Exercise Physiology (from September 2012) Including Laboratory Skills in Molecular and Cellular Physiology (15 credits), Molecular and Cellular aspects of exercise-induced hypertrophy (15 credits), Molecular and Cellular aspects of endurance exercise (15 credits) Anatomy and Physiology of the Musculoskeletal system (15 credits).
- Supervision of 8-10 undergraduate/ 2 MSc dissertations.
- Molecular Physiology Lab skills unit for Yr 2 and MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology.
- Assisting teaching for MSc. Sports Performance (Nutrition) and MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology (molecular physiological techniques and their use in clinical exercise physiology)
Research Degree Supervision/Molecular Support
- Secondary Supervisor: David Hughes (PhD student), Molecular and cellular mechanisms of testosterone action in skeletal muscle
- Second Supervisor: Meishan Raal-Nunes (PhD Student), Epigenetics and fluctuating asymmetries during ageing
- Cell biology advisor: Paul Davies (PhD) student, Muscle cellular and physiological changes with age
- Cell and Molecular biology advisor: Dr. Lee Taylor’s PhD student, James Tuttle, Heat shock protein responses following damaging exercise in the heat
- Advisor: For Prof. Mark Lewis’ (Loughborough University) PhD Students, Neil Martin (Tissue engineering human skeletal muscle and improving cellular maturation using a hypertrophic stimulus) and Darren Player (Developing and utilising a bio-engineered skeletal muscle model to investigate the molecular and cellular adaptations to exercise)
Other Responsibilities
- Overseeing day to day management of the Cellular and Molecular laboratory facilities within the Sport and Exercise Science Department, including: tissue culture facilities, biochemistry, and real-time PCR systems (gene expression, genotyping, methylation analysis)
External Roles
- Visiting academic at Loughborough University within the Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Musculoskeletal Biology Research Group, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Science, Loughborough University
Publications
Book Chapters
- Hughes, D. Sculthorpe N, Sharples AP & M. Lewis. 2012. Testosterone and molecular regulation of skeletal muscle. In: Perspectives on Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) and Doping in Sport and Health. In Press: ISBN: 978-1-62081-243-3.
Articles
- Sharples AP, Player DJ, Martin NRW, Mudera V, Stewart CE, & Lewis MP. 2012. Modelling in-vivo skeletal muscle ageing in-vitro using three dimensional bioengineered skeletal muscle constructs. Under review: Ageing Cell. Manuscript ID: ACE-12-0054.
- Saini A, Al-Shanti N, Sharples AP, Stewart CE. 2012. Sirt1 regulates skeletal myoblast survival and enhances differentiation in the presence of resveratrol. Experimental Physiology. 97(3): 400-18.
- Sharples AP, Al-Shanti N, Lewis MP, Stewart CE. 2011. Reduction of myoblast differentiation following multiple population doublings in mouse C2C12 cells: A model to investigate ageing? Journal of Cellular Biochemistry,112(12):3773-85.
- Sharples AP, and Stewart CE. 2011. Myoblast models of skeletal muscle hypertrophy and atrophy. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care. 14(3), 230-236.
- Sharples AP, Al-Shanti N, Stewart CE. 2010. C2 and C2C12 murine skeletal myoblast models of atrophic and hypertrophic potential: Relevance to disease and ageing? Journal of Cellular Physiology, 225(1), 240-250.
- Player, DJ, Martin NRW, Sharples AP, Passey S, Mudera V, and Lewis MP. (2012) Modelling Contrasting Regimes of Skeletal Muscle Loading Using Bio-Engineered Skeletal Muscle: Metabolic and Transcriptional Responses. Under Review: American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology. Manuscript ID: C-00066-2012.
- Tolfrey K, Doggett A, Boyd C, Pinner S, Sharples A, Barrett L. 2008. Postprandial triacylglycerol
- in adolescent boys: a case for moderate exercise. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 40(6): 1049-1056.
Conference Proceedings
- Sharples AP, Player DJ, Martin NRW, Passey S, Stewart CE, & Lewis MP. 2011. Artificially Aged Skeletal Myoblasts Display Reduced Regeneration in Bio-engineered Skeletal Muscle. Proc Physiol Soc, 23, PC327.
- Sharples AP, Player DJ, Martin NRW, Passey S, Stewart CE, & Lewis MP. 2011. Replicative ageing of myoblasts in 3-D tissue engineered collagen constructs. European Cells and Materials, Vol. 22. Suppl. 3, page 39.
- Player DJ, Martin NRW, Castle PC, Sharples AP, Passey S, Mudera V, Lewis MP. 2011. A Putative Model of Endurance Exercise Using Bio-Engineered Skeletal Muscle. Proc Physiol Soc, 23, PC333.
- Player DJ, Martin NRW, Castle PC, Passey S, Sharples AP, Mudera V, Lewis MP. 2011. Mechanical stimulation of 3D Bio-Engineered Skeletal Muscle. European Cells and Materials, Vol. 22. Suppl. 3, 2011 (page 38).
- Sharples AP, Al-Shanti N, Stewart CE. 2010. Atrophy or hypertrophy: Differential responses of C2 and C2C12 mouse skeletal myoblasts in the absence or presence of tumour necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-α). Endocrine Abstracts, 21, 127.
Conference Proceedings
- Sharples AP, Player DJ, Martin NRW, Passey S, Stewart CE, & Lewis MP. 2011. Artificially Aged Skeletal Myoblasts Display Reduced Regeneration in Bio-engineered Skeletal Muscle. Proc Physiol Soc, 23, PC327
- Sharples AP, Player DJ, Martin NRW, Passey S, Stewart CE, & Lewis MP. 2011. Replicative ageing of myoblasts in 3D tissue engineered collagen constructs. European Cells and Materials, Vol. 22.Suppl. 3, (page 39)
- Player DJ, Martin NRW, Castle PC, Sharples AP, Passey S, Mudera V, Lewis MP. 2011. A Putative Model of Endurance Exercise Using Bio-Engineered Skeletal Muscle. Proc Physiol Soc, 23, PC333
- Player DJ, Martin NRW, Castle PC, Passey S, Sharples AP, Mudera V, Lewis MP. 2011. Mechanical stimulation of 3D Bio-Engineered Skeletal Muscle. European Cells and Materials, Vol. 22. Suppl. 3, 2011 (page 38)
Contact Details
E: adam.sharples@beds.ac.uk
