# Reactive oxygen species drive muscle metabolism

> **NIH NIH K01** · VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INST AND ST UNIV · 2020 · $128,678

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Exercise is one of the most powerful tools to prevent muscle loss and aging-related diseases. Reactive oxygen
species (ROS) and inflammation, long-thought to contribute to tissue damage, have recently been recognized
to function as signaling molecules necessary for the benefits of exercise. My preliminary data demonstrate that
improved glucose tolerance and exercise capacity, two hallmarks of exercise-induced muscle adaptation, are
attenuated in mice deficient in NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4), an ROS-producing enzyme. My data indicate that
Nox4 drives an Nlrp3 muscle cytokine response that leads to improved muscle metabolism. In this proposal, I
will investigate the role of redox-mediated adaptation to exercise using state-of-the art techniques in
immunology and muscle physiology (e.g., Amnis/Immagestream, RNA-seq, and ex vivo muscle stimulation).
To aid me in completion of this project, I have established a strong mentoring team comprised of experts in the
fields of inflammation and immunology (Dr. Katherine Fitzgerald), muscle molecular biology and regeneration
(Dr. Charles Emerson), skeletal muscle adaptation to exercise and redox signaling (Dr. Zhen Yan) and
immunometabolism (Dr. Michael Czech), all of whom are top leaders in their respective fields and have lengthy
track records of mentoring success.
 My career goal is to lead a successful research program dedicated to the investigation of redox and
inflammatory signaling in angiogenesis and skeletal muscle adaptation. I believe that the knowledge gained by
understanding the details of ROS signaling in adaptation to exercise will lead to the development of better
therapeutic strategies to combat frailty, diabetes, obesity, and musculoskeletal diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9899208
- **Project number:** 5K01AR073332-02
- **Recipient organization:** VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INST AND ST UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** SIOBHAN M CRAIGE
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $128,678
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-03-25 → 2024-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9899208

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9899208, Reactive oxygen species drive muscle metabolism (5K01AR073332-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9899208. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*