Kunihiro Sakuma

Toyohashi University of Technology Japan

Associate professor Kunihiro Sakuma, Ph.D., currently works at the Research Center for Physical Fitness, Sports and Health in Toyohashi University of Technology. He is a physiologist working in the field of skeletal muscle. He was awarded sports science diploma in 1995 by the University of Tsukuba and started scientific work at the Department of Physiology, Aichi Human Service Center, focusing on the molecular mechanism of congenital muscular dystrophy and normal muscle regeneration. His interest later was turned to the molecular mechanism and the attenuating strategy of sarcopenia (age-related muscle atrophy). Preventing sarcopenia is important for maintaining a high quality of life in the aged population. His opinion is to attenuate sarcopenia by improving autophagic defect using nutrient- and pharmaceutical-based treatments.

1books edited

2chapters authored

Latest work with IntechOpen by Kunihiro Sakuma

In order to complete tissue regeneration, various cells such as neuronal, skeletal, smooth, endothelial, and immune (e.g., macrophage) interact smoothly with each other. This book, Muscle Cells and Tissues, offers a wide range of topics such as stem cells, cell culture, biomaterials, epigenetics, therapeutics, and the creation of tissues and organs. Novel applications for cell and tissue engineering including cell therapy, tissue models, and disease pathology modeling are discussed. The book also deals with the functional role of autophagy in modulating muscle homeostasis and molecular mechanism regulating skeletal muscle mass. The chapters can be interesting for graduate students, postdocs, teachers, physicians, and for executives in biotech and pharmaceutical companies, as well as researchers in the fields of molecular biology and regenerative medicine.

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Muscle Cell and Tissue

Edited by Kunihiro Sakuma

Chapters authored

Molecular Mechanisms Controlling Skeletal Muscle Mass

By Kunihiro Sakuma and Akihiko Yamaguchi

The interplay between multiple signaling pathways regulates the maintenance of skeletal muscle. Under physiological conditions, a network of interconnected signals serves to coordinate hypertrophic and atrophic inputs, culminating in a delicate balance between muscle protein synthesis and proteolysis. Loss of skeletal muscle mass, termed “atrophy,” is a diagnostic feature of cachexia such as cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Recent studies have further defined the pathways leading to gain and loss of skeletal muscle as well as the signaling events that induce post-injury regeneration. In this review, we summarize the relevant recent literature demonstrating these previously undiscovered mediators governing anabolism and catabolism of skeletal muscle.

Part of the book: Muscle Cell and Tissue

Introductory Chapter: Current Status of Research Field in Muscle Tissue

By Kunihiro Sakuma

Part of the book: Muscle Cell and Tissue

Kunihiro Sakuma

Latest work with IntechOpen by Kunihiro Sakuma

Muscle Cell and Tissue

Chapters authored

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