Skeletal muscles – the muscles attached to bones by tendons – form the basis of all animal mobility. One of our lab's primary interests is developing and regenerating the skeletal muscles. Specifically, we investigate the molecular signaling that regulates the stem cells responsible for forming muscles during development and repairing muscles after injury. In addition, we are interested in other cells that interact with these muscle stem cells to improve their function. For example, the muscle's fat cells (adipocytes) have two key roles. Firstly, from a biological perspective, adipocytes regulate muscle stem cell function and contribute to overall muscle health. Secondly, from an agricultural perspective, adipocytes are instrumental to the quality traits of skeletal muscle-derived meat. As a result of the applications of our research to both human health and the animal production industry, our research has been funded by the NIH, USDA, and industry sponsors.

Satellite Cell Biology and Muscle Regeneration

We use mouse models and human cells to study signaling mechanisms and metabolic pathways that regulate the regenerative function of muscle stem cells called satellite cells (PMID: 17540178; 22493066; 28094257; 33068545). Recent single-cell RNA-seq studies in the lab have led to the discovery of a subset of satellite cells with immune cell properties (PMID: 32248062; News Release ). Ongoing studies aim to dissect the origin and function of these immunoblasts (i.e., immune gene-expressing myoblasts). Additional lab interests are understanding the role of lipid droplets and fatty acid metabolism in satellite cell biology (PMID: 35045287; 37063787; 37334900; 37883229).

Plasticity and Regulation of White, Beige and Brown Adipocytes

Following our discovery of the common origin of brown fat and skeletal muscle (PMID: 18719582), we have been exploring the lineage origin, cell fate regulation, and function of various fat cells (PMID: 22037676; 23047894; 23740968; 23781029). Ongoing studies combine our discovery with a biomaterial approach to promote the browning of white adipocytes to combat obesity and type 2 diabetes (PMID: 28624262; 31668904). Additional research aims to identify novel molecular regulators of adipocyte biology (PMID: 25038826; 33304767; 34669999; 35362877; 37816711).

Sarcoma (cancer) Stem Cells and Metabolism

We are the first group to report a key role of Notch signaling activation in tumorigenesis of adipocytes, resulting in dedifferentiated liposarcoma (PMID: 27573812). Others in mice and humans confirm this result (PMID: 29515034; 36464833). Current efforts in the lab focus on how Notch signaling regulates cancer stem cell status and metabolism in liposarcoma and other sarcomas (PMID: 25805408; 32866607; 37433985).

Angiogenic potential of skeletal muscle derived extracellular vesicles differs between oxidative and glycolytic muscle tissue Kargl CK, Jia Z, Shera DA, Sullivan BP, Burton LC, Nie Y, Jubal MJ, Shannahan JH, Kuang S, Gavin TP. 2023. The angiogenic potential of skeletal muscle-derived extracellular vesicles differs between oxidative and glycolytic muscle tissue. Sci Rep. 13(1):18943.

Cellular and transcriptional dynamics during brown adipose tissue regeneration under acute injury You W, Xu Z, Chen W, Yang X, Liu S, Wang L, Tu Y, Zhou Y, Valencak TG, Wang Y, Kuang S, Shan T. 2023. Cellular and transcriptional dynamics during brown adipose tissue regeneration under acute injury. Research.

PRMT5 mediates FoxO1 methylation and subcellular localization to regulate lipophagy in myogenic progenitors Kim KH, Oprescu SN, Snyder MM, Kim A, Jia Z, Yue F, Kuang S. PRMT5 mediates FoxO1 methylation and subcellular localization to regulate lipophagy in myogenic progenitors. Cell Rep. 42(11):113329.

FAM210A is essential for cold-induced mitochondrial cristae remodeling in brown adipocytes Qiu J, Yue F, Zhu P, Chen J, Xu F, Zhang L, Kim KH, Snyder MM, Luo N, Xu H, Huang F, Tao WA, Kuang S. 2023. FAM210A is essential for cold-induced mitochondrial cristae remodeling in brown adipocytes. Nat Commun. 14(1):6344.

Atypical peripheral actin band formation via overactivation of RhoA and Non-muscle myosin II in Mitofusin 2 deficient cells Wang Y, Troughton LD, Xu F, Chatterjee A, Zhao H, Cifuentes LP, Wagner RB, Chen J, Kuang S, Suter DM, Yuang C, Chan D, Huang F, Oakes PW, Deng Q. Atypical peripheral actin band formation via overactivation of RhoA and Non-muscle myosin II in Mitofusin 2 deficient cells. eLife.

Sox11 is enriched in myogenic progenitors but dispensable for development and regeneration of the skeletal muscle Oprescu SN, Baumann, N, Chen X, Zhao Y, Yue F, Wang H. Kuang S. Sox11 is enriched in myogenic progenitors but dispensable for development and regeneration of the skeletal muscle. Skelet Muscle.

The Rise of Meat Substitute Consumption and its Impact on the U.S. Soybean Industry Ma Y, Wang HH, Hua Y, Kuang S. 2023. The Rise of Meat Substitute Consumption and its Impact on the U.S. Soybean Industry. Purdue Agricultural Economics Report. PAER-2023-25.

PRMT5 links lipid metabolism to contractile function of skeletal muscles Kim KH, Jia Z, Snyder MM, Chen J, Qiu J, Oprescu SN, Chen X, Yue F, Roseguini BT, Imbalzano AN, Hu C, Kuang S. 2023. PRMT5 links lipid metabolism to contractile function of skeletal muscles. Embo Rep. e57306.

Notch signaling regulates a metabolic switch through inhibiting PGC-1α and mitochondrial biogenesis in dedifferentiated liposarcoma Tien PC, Chen X, Elzey BD, Pollock RE, Kuang S. Notch signaling regulates a metabolic switch through inhibiting PGC-1α and mitochondrial biogenesis in dedifferentiated liposarcoma. Oncogene.

A single-cell atlas of bovine skeletal muscle reveals mechanisms underlying fatty infiltration in Wagyu muscle Wang L, Gao P, Li C, Q Liu, Yao Z, Li Y, Zhang X, Sun J, Simintiras C, Welborn M, McMillin K, Oprescu S, Kuang S, Fu X. 2023. A single-cell atlas of bovine skeletal muscle reveals mechanisms underlying fatty infiltration in Wagyu muscle. J Cachexia, Sarcopenia Muscle.

Targeted lipid profiling of adipose and skeletal muscle tissues Chen X, CR Ferreira, Kuang S. 2023. Targeted lipid profiling of adipose and skeletal muscle tissues. Methods Mol Biol. 2640:351-368

Multimodal high-resolution nano-DESI MSI and immunofluorescence imaging reveal molecular signatures of skeletal muscle fiber types Unsihuay D, Hu H, Qiu J, Latorre-Palomino A, Yang M, Yue F, Yin R, Kuang S, Laskin J. 2023. Multimodal high-resolution nano-DESI MSI and immunofluorescence imaging reveal molecular signatures of individual skeletal muscle myofibers. Chemical Science, 14: 4070

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1-α overexpression improves angiogenic signalling potential of skeletal muscle-derived extracellular vesicles Kargal CK, Sullivan BP, Middleton D, York A, Burton L, Brault JJ, Kuang S, Gavin TP. 2023. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1-α overexpression improves angiogenic signaling potential of skeletal muscle-derived extracellular vesicles. Exp Physiol. 108:240-52.

Hepatic Acat2 overexpression promotes systemic cholesterol metabolism and adipose lipid metabolism in mice Ma Z, Huang Z, Zhang C, Liu X, Zhang J, Shu H, Ma Y, Liu Z, Feng Y, Chen X, Kuang S, Zhang Y, Jia Z. 2023. Hepatic Acat2 overexpression promotes systemic cholesterol metabolism and adipose lipid metabolism in mice. Diabetologia. 66:390-405.

Contact shihuan.kuang@duke.edu if you want to pursue undergraduate research projects, graduate studies (M.Sc. or Ph.D.), or post-doctoral training in the Kuang Lab. We are looking for students who have a strong motivation for independent research, have read our recent lab papers, and are interested in our research. Note that we offer flexible research opportunities for accepted students. Finally, here are a few specific notes:

Undergraduate Students

• Can receive course credit for research
• At least two semesters of research are required to complete training and finish a research project
• Will be mentored by experienced graduate students / post-doctoral fellows

Graduate Students

• Undergraduate training in cell and development biology preferred
• Prior experience with mouse models is a bonus

Post-Doctoral Fellows

• Ph.D. or equivalent degree received in past three years preferred
• Prior training in muscle or adipose cell biology preferred
• Prior publications required