Dr Adam Lightfoot
Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences

Faculty: Faculty of Science
Email address: A.P.Lightfoot@ljmu.ac.uk
Telephone: 0151 231 2132
I am an experienced researcher and academic, with expertise in the study of mitochondrial dysfunction and redox biology in neuromuscular diseases and ageing. Specifically, I am interested in the cellular and molecular mechanisms which underpin the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function.
My main research interests are:
(i) Studying the cross-talk between endoplasmic-reticulum and mitochondria, the function and regulation of mitochondria-ER contacts (MERCs) and their role in health and disease.
(ii) Developing clinically relevant human models of skeletal muscle disease and dysfunction, via nerve-muscle-adipose co-culture systems.
(iii) Understanding the role of skeletal muscle as an endocrine organ, through the release of cytokines, chemokine, exosomes and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), such as extracellular heat shock proteins (eHSPs).
(iv) The impact of novel antioxidant compounds and small molecules on mitochondrial function and redox biology.
(v) Utilisation of in silico approaches to modelling cell biology, specifically mitochondrial function and metabolism. Additional interests in developing multi-scale models of the musculoskeletal system.
Languages
Swedish
French
Degrees
University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, PhD
University of Gothenburg, Sweden, MRes
Keele University, United Kingdom, BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences
Certifications
Higher Education Academy, Fellow
Academic appointments
Senior Lecturer, Liverpool John Moores University, 2022 - present
Senior Lecturer, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2016 - 2021
Research Fellow, University of Liverpool, 2013 - 2016
Research Associate, University of Liverpool, 2011 - 2013
Postgraduate training
PGCert Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, United Kingdom, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2017 - 2019
Journal article
Thoma A, Earl KE, Goljanek‐Whysall K, Lightfoot AP. 2022. Major histocompatibility complex I‐induced endoplasmic reticulum stress mediates the secretion of pro‐inflammatory muscle‐derived cytokines Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, 26 :6032-6041 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Zaabalawi A, Renshall L, Beards F, Lightfoot AP, Degens H, Alexander Y, Hasan R, Bilal H, Graf B, Harris LK, Azzawi M. 2022. Internal Mammary Arteries as a Model to Demonstrate Restoration of the Impaired Vasodilation in Hypertension, Using Liposomal Delivery of the CYP1B1 Inhibitor, 2,3′,4,5′-Tetramethoxystilbene Pharmaceutics, 14 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Astley C, Houacine C, Zaabalawi A, Wilkinson F, Lightfoot AP, Alexander Y, Whitehead D, Singh KK, Azzawi M. 2021. Nanostructured lipid carriers deliver resveratrol, restoring attenuated dilation in small coronary arteries, via the AMPK pathway Biomedicines, 9 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Saini J, Faroni A, Reid AJ, Mouly V, Butler-Browne G, Lightfoot AP, McPhee JS, Degens H, Al-Shanti N. 2021. Cross-talk between motor neurons and myotubes via endogenously secreted neural and muscular growth factors Physiological Reports, 9 :e14791 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Saini J, Faroni A, Reid AJ, Mamchaoui K, Mouly V, Butler-Browne G, Lightfoot AP, McPhee JS, Degens H, Al-Shanti N. 2020. A novel bioengineered functional motor unit platform to study neuromuscular interaction Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Thoma A, Lyon M, Al-Shanti N, Nye GA, Cooper RG, Lightfoot AP. 2020. Eukarion-134 attenuates endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in human skeletal muscle cells Antioxidants, 9 :1-19 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Parkes JE, Thoma A, Lightfoot AP, Day PJ, Chinoy H, Lamb JA. 2020. MicroRNA and mRNA profiling in the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies BMC Rheumatology, 4 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Thoma A, Akter-Miah T, Reade RL, Lightfoot AP. 2020. Targeting reactive oxygen species (ROS) to combat the age-related loss of muscle mass and function Biogerontology, 21 :475-484 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Zaabalawi A, Astley C, Renshall L, Beards F, Lightfoot AP, Degens H, Whitehead D, Alexander Y, Harris LK, Azzawi M. 2019. Tetramethoxystilbene-loaded liposomes restore reactive-oxygen-species-mediated attenuation of dilator responses in rat aortic vessels Ex vivo Molecules, 24 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Saini J, Faroni A, Al Samid MA, Reid AJ, Lightfoot AP, Mamchaoui K, Mouly V, Butler-Browne G, McPhee JS, Degens H, Al-Shanti N. 2019. Simplified in vitro engineering of neuromuscular junctions between rat embryonic motoneurons and immortalized human skeletal muscle cells Stem Cells and Cloning: Advances and Applications, 12 :1-9 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Nye GA, Sakellariou GK, Degens H, Lightfoot AP. 2017. Muscling in on mitochondrial sexual dimorphism; role of mitochondrial dimorphism in skeletal muscle health and disease Clinical Science, 131 :1919-1922 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Sakellariou GK, Lightfoot AP, Earl KE, Stofanko M, McDonagh B. 2017. Redox homeostasis and age-related deficits in neuromuscular integrity and function Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, 8 :881-906 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
McPhee JS, Lightfoot AP. 2017. Post-exercise recovery regimes: blowing hot and cold Journal of Physiology, 595 :627-628 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Sakellariou GK, Pearson T, Lightfoot AP, Nye GA, Wells N, Giakoumaki II, Griffiths RD, McArdle A, Jackson MJ. 2016. Long-Term administration of the mitochondria-Targeted antioxidant mitoquinone mesylate fails to attenuate age-related oxidative damage or rescue the loss of muscle mass and function associated with aging of skeletal muscle FASEB Journal, 30 :3771-3785 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Lightfoot AP, Cooper RG. 2016. The role of myokines in muscle health and disease Current Opinion in Rheumatology, 28 :661-666 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Sakellariou GK, Pearson T, Lightfoot AP, Nye GA, Wells N, Giakoumaki II, Vasilaki A, Griffiths RD, Jackson MJ, McArdle A. 2016. Mitochondrial ROS regulate oxidative damage and mitophagy but not age-related muscle fiber atrophy Scientific Reports, 6 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Lightfoot AP, Cooper RG. 2016. Editorial: Endurance Exercise: An Important Therapeutic Adjuvant in the Overall Treatment of Myositis? Arthritis and Rheumatology, 68 :1578-1581 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Lightfoot AP, Sakellariou GK, Nye GA, McArdle F, Jackson MJ, Griffiths RD, McArdle A. 2015. SS-31 attenuates TNF-α induced cytokine release from C2C12 myotubes Redox Biology, 6 :253-259 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Lightfoot AP, Nagaraju K, McArdle A, Cooper RG. 2015. Understanding the origin of non-immune cellmediated weakness in the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies - Potential role of ER stress pathways Current Opinion in Rheumatology, 27 :580-585 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Lightfoot AP, Cooper RG. 2015. Response to: 'In the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, reactive oxygen species are at the crossroad between immune and non-immune cell mediated mechanisms' by Meyer et al Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 74 :e63 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Lightfoot AP, McArdle A, Jackson MJ, Cooper RG. 2015. In the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), do reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to muscle weakness? Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 74 :1340-1346 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Lightfoot AP, McCormick R, Nye GA, McArdle A. 2014. Mechanisms of skeletal muscle ageing; Avenues for therapeutic intervention Current Opinion in Pharmacology, 16 :116-121 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Lightfoot A, McArdle A, Griffiths RD. 2009. Muscle in defense Critical Care Medicine, 37 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
preprint
Thoma A, Earl KE, Cooper RG, Goljanek-Whysall K, Lightfoot AP. 2022. Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) I-induced Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Stress mediates the secretion of pro-inflammatory muscle-derived cytokines Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DOI Publisher Url
Thoma A, Lyon M, Al-Shanti N, Nye G, Cooper R, Lightfoot A. 2020. Eukarion-134 attenuates endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in human skeletal muscle cells bioRxiv DOI Publisher Url
Lightfoot A, Morgan R, Parkes J, Thoma A, Iwanejko L, Cooper R. 2018. 17-(Allylamino)-17demethoxygeldanamycin reduces Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in C2C12 myotubes bioRxiv DOI Publisher Url
Editorial/letter to the editor
Mahmoud AM, Wilkinson FL, Sandhu MA, Lightfoot AP. 2021. The Interplay of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Potential of Antioxidants Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2021 DOI Publisher Url
Mahmoud AM, Wilkinson FL, Lightfoot AP, Dos Santos JM, Sandhu MA. 2021. The Role of Natural and Synthetic Antioxidants in Modulating Oxidative Stress in Drug-Induced Injury and Metabolic Disorders 2020 Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2021 DOI Publisher Url
Chapters
Thoma A, Lightfoot AP. 2018. Nf-kb and inflammatory cytokine signalling: Role in skeletal muscle atrophy Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 1088 :267-279 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Editorial boards:
BMC Research Notes, Editorial Board Member. 2022
Frontiers in Physiology, Editorial Board Member. 2022
Peer J, Editorial Board Member. 2022
Oxidative Medicine & Cellular Longevity, Associate Editor. 2017
External PGR Supervision - completed students:
Manchester Metropolitan University, MRes, Investigating the role of interferon gamma in mediating mitochondrial dysfunction in sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM). 2022
Manchester Metropolitan University, PhD, Investigating the non-immune cell mediated mechanisms of skeletal muscle weakness in myositis; developing an investigative platform to study human disease. 2021
Manchester Metropolitan University, PhD, An investigation regarding cellular, synaptic and glial processing in the inferior colliculi. 2020
Manchester Metropolitan University, PhD, Restoration of blood vessel function, using nanotechnolog. 2020
Manchester Metropolitan University, PhD, Osmotic and metabolic effects of hyperglycaemia on glycolysis, mitochondrial function and fibrosis-related microRNA expression in immortalised human proximal tubule cells. 2019
University of Liverpool, PhD, Establishment of a functional musculoskeletal test system in mice to determine the effects of possible interventions on age-related musculoskeletal dysfunction. 2017
University of Liverpool, PhD, Skeletal muscle fatigue: Investigating the role of cytokines, ROS and mitochondrial function.. 2016
External PGR examinations performed:
Oxford Brookes University, PhD, The Change in the Concentration Levels of Extracellular Vesicles and of Cytokines in the circulatory blood system in Response to different exercise protocols. 2021
Abertay University, Dundee, PhD, STUDY OF BIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA IMPLICATED IN NEUROMUSCULAR AGEING. 2019
Teaching qualification:
PGCert In Learning & Teaching in Higher Education. 2019
Research Grants Awarded:
Royal Society, Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Myositis, Grant value (£): 20,000. 2019
The Physiological Society, Redox biology in myositis, Grant value (£): 10,000. 2019
Manchester Metropolitan University, PhD Studentship funding, Grant value (£): 75,000. 2017
European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR), Travel grant, Grant value (£): 500. 2016
The Physiological Society, Vacation Studentship, Grant value (£): 1,200. 2016
Myositis UK, Non-immune mechanisms of muscle weakness in myositis, Prof RG Cooper, Grant value (£): 30,000. 2015
BBSRC DTP, PhD Studentship, Grant value (£): 65,000. 2014
University of Liverpool, Institute Research Grant, Grant value (£): 4000. 2014
The Physiological Society, Vacation Studentship, Grant value (£): 1,200. 2012
Mersey Kidney Research, Defective mitochondrial function in chronic kidney disease, Grant value (£): 113,747. 2011
NC3Rs, Pump priming grant - microdialysis and cytokine measures from muscle, Grant value (£): 3000. 2009
The Myositis Association, Investigating the skeletal muscle secretome in myositis, Prof RG Cooper, Grant value (£): 31000.
University of Liverpool, PhD Studentship, Grant value (£): 69,171.
Fellowships:
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Advance HE. 2019
External collaboration:
Manchester Metropolitan University, Dr Nina Dempsey.
University of Hertfordshire, Dr Kate Earl.
University of Liverpool, Dr Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan.
University of Liverpool, Professor Anne McArdle.
University of Sheffield, Dr Anastasia Thoma.