Fall 2024: Lymphatics in neuromuscular disease

Affiliations:

STEM Research Leadership

Project Leader:

Bhuvaneshwaran Subramanian
bhuvanesh@tamu.edu

Medical Physiology

Faculty Mentor:

Mariappan Muthuchamy, Ph.D.

Meeting Times:

TBA

Team Size:

3

Open Spots:

0

Special Opportunities:

Hands-on experience in laboratory techniques, Opportunity to learn animal handling and maintenance, Hands-on experience to perform Light and Fluorescence microscopy, Opportunity to attend conferences and Sincere candidates will get authorship on resulting publications based on their contribution.

Team Needs:

Punctuality, Interest to learn new research techniques, Motivation to learn animal handling, Ability to dedicate 6-9 hours per week, Motivation to read scientific articles

Description:

Lymphatic system plays a crucial role in regulating and resolving inflammation-associated pathological processes, we hypothesize that lymphatic dysfunction would be an important factor in aggravating the pathogenesis of neuromuscular disease, especially during the early onset of disease progression and persist throughout the disease. In neuromuscular diseases, disruptions in muscle function can lead to impaired lymphatic drainage. For example, muscle weakness or paralysis can hinder the pumping action needed to propel lymphatic fluid through the vessels, resulting in lymphedema or swelling due to fluid accumulation. Loss of mobility in the patients with neuromuscular disease can contribute to reduced lymph flow. which could increase the risk of infections and other complications. To test our hypothesis we perform various functional and molecular biology techniques that allows us to investigate the molecular mechanisms. understanding the crosstalk between neuromuscular diseases and lymphatics is essential to develop a comprehensive therapeutic strategy to address the complex manifestations of these disease conditions.