Molecular muscle physiology and pathophysiology – Lanner Lab

We study molecular mechanisms underlying muscle remodeling and contractile dysfunction. We are also involved in forming novel therapeutic interventions to treat skeletal muscle weakness.

collage of people, three women and three men

Our body consists to ~50% of skeletal muscles, which are crucial for our ability to breathe and move. Skeletal muscle is also important for energy homeostasis; its a primary site for glucose uptake and glycogen storage and a reservoir for amino acids stored as protein. Muscle dysfunction, comprising muscle weakness and altered metabolism, is a common comorbidity in many non-communicable diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, peripheral artery disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer, as well as normal ageing. Muscle dysfunction can reduce both the ability to work and the quality of life for afflicted patients and is considered to accelerate mortality.

Research projects

Our lab focuses on deciphering the molecular mechanisms that contributes to disease-induced muscle dysfunction and identifying novel therapeutic interventions to counteract muscle weakness. Altered Ca2+handling, free radical signaling, and mitochondrial function are key factors in the intramuscular interplay that contributes to impaired muscle function and hence central components in our research. 

The figure illustrates the lab’s translational approach of including patient groups (RA, T2D and breast cancer) to decipher the molecular mechanism of disease-induced muscle weakness.
The figure illustrates the lab’s translational approach of including patient groups (RA, T2D and breast cancer) to decipher the molecular mechanism of disease-induced muscle weakness. Altered Ca2+ handling, free radical signaling and mitochondrial function are key factors in the intramuscular interplay that may contribute to impaired muscle function and hence central components in our research.

In the lab, we currently elucidating the mechanisms underpinning muscle dysfunction associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D) and peripheral artery disease as well as breast cancer. We are also interested in basic muscle biology questions and currently investigating how modulators if mitochondria alter the electron transport chain and the overall capacity to generate energy. 

Methods

In our lab we have created an interdisciplinary and translational niche for making ground-breaking research on the causes of muscle function and dysfunction. This includes human patients and healthy subjects, as well as preclinical models, which are used together with functional analyses (e.g. live imaging, muscle contraction, cellular respirometry), ultrastructural analyses (e.g. electron microscopy, near super-resolution imaging), in vivo assessments (e.g. muscle strength, indirect calorimetry) and multi-omics analyses. This approach allows us to enhance our knowledge about disease-induced muscle dysfunction, as well as bridge gaps between disciplines, foster creativity and innovation.

Publications

Selected publications

Staff and contact

Group leader

All members of the group

Lanners Lab Photo: Johanna Lanner Top row from left: Emily Shorter postdoc, Alexander “Sascha” van Deventer PhD student, Johanna Lanner Associate Professor and PI, Bottom row from left: Duarte Ferriera Assistant Professor, Estela Santos Alves Postdoc, Baptiste Jude Postdoc