Abigail Mackey

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Current research

Skeletal muscle produces the forces required for movement of the human body. To perform this function, each muscle fibre is dependent on neural input to inititate contraction, and a strong attachment to the skeleton for force transmission. The overall aim of our group is to understand how these two components of physical function are affected during the ageing process, and how physical activity can help to slow some of the decline.

Muscle fibre denervation

Muscle fibres depend on neural input from a motoneurone, not only for contraction but also for survival. A loss of neural input therefore leads to a loss of muscle fibres and is a major contributor to functional decline with ageing. We study the muscle-nerve communication and how exercise maintains this to preserve physical function in old age.

Repair of injured human skeletal muscle

The point of attachment of the muscle fibre to the skeleton is the myotendinous junction. Despite a specialised morphology and molecular composition, the MTJ is also a frequent site of strain injury. We study the human MTJ in the intact and injured states to understand its molecular makeup compared to neighbouring muscle and tendon. 

Selected publications

1. Published

   Marked irregular myofiber shape is a hallmark of human skeletal muscle ageing and is reversed by heavy resistance training

   Soendenbroe, C., Karlsen, Anders, Svensson, R. B., Kjær, Michael, Andersen, J. L. & Mackey, Abigail, 2024, In: Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle. 15, 1, p. 306-318 13 p.

   Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

2. Published

   Fusion of myofibre branches is a physiological feature of healthy human skeletal muscle regeneration

   Højfeldt, Grith Stougaard, Sorenson, T., Gonzales, A., Kjær, Michael, Andersen, J. L. & Mackey, Abigail, 12 Aug 2023, In: Skeletal Muscle. 13, 1, p. 1-14 13.

   Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

3. Published

   Distinct myofibre domains of the human myotendinous junction revealed by single-nucleus RNA sequencing

   Karlsen, Anders, Yeung, Ching-Yan Chloé, Schjerling, Peter, Denz, L., Høgsbjerg, Christian, Jakobsen, J. R., Krogsgaard, Michael R., Koch, M., Schiaffino, S., Kjær, Michael & Mackey, Abigail, 2023, In: Journal of Cell Science. 136, 8, 14 p., jcs260913.

   Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review