AKIMOTO, Takayuki

Master’s Program / HEALTH AND EXERCISE SCIENCE / Muscle Biology
Doctoral Program / SPORTS MEDICINE SPECIALIZATION / Muscle Biology

SUBJECTS
PROFILE
Dr. Akimoto obtained Ph.D. degree (2000) in
Clinical Immunology from University of Tsukuba in Japan. After serving as
Research associate (2000-2004) in the Graduate School of Art and Sciences at
the University of Tokyo, he received his post-doctoral training (2003- 2005) in
Department of Cardiology at Duke University Medical Center in the US. Dr. Akimoto
moved to Waseda University in 2005 and launched his independent research. Then
he moved to the Graduate School of Medicine at the University of Tokyo as Assistant
professor (2007-2016). During this period, he spent one year at University of
Padova as Visiting professor. Dr. Akimoto joined Faculty of Sport Sciences,
Waseda University as Professor in 2016. Dr. Akimoto is known for his expertise
in animal and cell culture models of mechanical stress and his research on
skeletal muscle in health and disease. He has authored more than 100
peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.
BIOGRAPHY
Exploring molecular mechanisms of muscle to adapt mechanical environment

Not only quantity but also quality of muscle changes in response to mechanical loading and unloading


The ability to move is a special feature of living things, and is essential for their survival. At the microscopic level, cells in our body are exposed to a complex series of mechanical forces that are caused by movement. Extensive research in recent decades has revealed that mechanical cues modulate many aspects of cell function from the level of individual cells to pattern formation in whole organisms. 

For instance, skeletal muscle is frequently exposed to mechanical loading during exercise. Mechanical stress can cause changes in patterns of gene expression in muscle, influence protein synthesis and stability, and affect muscle metabolism to enable adaptations in muscle mass and contractility that reflect the recent loading history of the tissue. However, it remains unclear how mechanical stress modulates function/behavior of skeletal muscle at molecular level.

In our laboratory, we are exploring how mechanical stress controls skeletal muscle plasticity using advanced technology of biochemistry, molecular biology, fluorescent bio-imaging, revers genetics and physiology.

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