Susan Tsivitse Arthur, PhD

Research Interest:

Effect of physiological stimuli on signaling pathways that regulate myogenesis.

Research Statement:

Sarcopenia is the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function with age. Impaired skeletal muscle regeneration is one component of sarcopenia. Notch and Wnt signaling are suggested to be dysfunctional during regeneration of aged skeletal muscle. It is of interest to determine the effect of models of biological muscle injury (physiological stimuli) on Notch and Wnt signaling during aged skeletal muscle repair. Dr. Arthur’s research agenda consists of examining the influence of Notch and Wnt signaling during repair of aged skeletal muscle that was exposed to physiological stimuli (exercise, muscle lengthening, hypertrophy). In addition, Dr. Arthur is investigating the interaction of Notch and Wnt signaling with muscle proteins that may be important for myogenesis (Msx1 Foxk1). In a collaboration with Appalachian State (Kevin Zwetsloot and Andy Shanely) Dr. Arthur and their team are studing the effect of the naturally-produced phytoecdysteroids from Ajuga turkestanica as a countermeasure against sarcopenia. Dr. Arthur is collaborating with colleagues at UNC Charlotte, Drs. Reuben Howden, Scott Gordon and Yvette Huet as well as neighboring research institutions and universities: Nury Steurwald (Carolina Medical Center), Andy Shanely and Kevin Zwetsloot (Appalachian State University including North Carolina Research Center). And international collaborations with Drs. Peter Magnusson, Abigail Mackey and Michael Kjaer (University of Copenhagen, Center of Healthy Aging).