MITSUHARU OKUTSU
Assistant Secretary General

Country/Territory/Region: Japan
Institution: Nagoya City University
Area of Expertise: Molecular physiology, Muscle physiology and biology, Exercise and immunology, Exercise physiology
Email: okutsu@nsc.nagoya-cu.ac.jp

I received my Ph.D. degree working on immune cells redistribution after physical stress (i.e. exercise). Inflammatory cytokines and stress hormones increase after stress, and these cytokines and hormones increase leukocyte trafficking by regulating the expression of chemokine receptors on the surface of immune cells. This is one of the mechanisms for immune cell redistribution after stress. Interestingly, inflammatory cytokines and stress hormones regulate not only immune cell distribution but also skeletal muscle mass. We have recently shown that oxidative skeletal muscles are more resistant than glycolytic muscles to cachexia caused by chronic heart failure resulted in higher level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and greater expression of atrogin-1 and MuRF1 in glycolytic muscle than in oxidative muscle. Currently, I am focusing on the molecular mechanism for the protection of cachexia-induced skeletal muscle atrophy. My research goal is to improve understanding of the relationships of cachectic factors and skeletal muscle atrophy.