Larsen Group - Mitochondrial Physiology

The Larsen group focus primarily on human integrative physiology in health and disease. Our main interest is on mitochondrial physiology and how this is affected with disease and by exercise training. We are looking at the whole body down to the mitochondria.

Steen Larsen Forskerprofil

 

 

 

 

We are focusing on the understanding of how mitochondrial function is affected by different intervention, such as exercise or diet supplementation. We are also interested in understanding how different drugs are affecting metabolism and mitochondrial function. Furthermore, we are also looking into how ageing affects the mitochondria. This research is conducted in human subjects, where we are going from whole body physiology to mitochondria physiology.

The specific goals of our research program are to:

  • Understand how physical activity affects metabolism and mitochondrial function and metabolism (substrate oxidation), to better understand the discrepancy between subjects in regard to a training adaptation. This will potentially lead to more personalized training programs.
  • Understand how different weight loss drugs affects metabolism and mitochondrial function.
  • Understand how different diet supplementations affect metabolism and mitochondrial function.

 

 

Whole body phenotyping:

  • Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA scan)
  • Basal metabolic rate (BMR)
  • Maximal oxygen uptake (bike or treadmill)

Mitochondrial analysis

  • High resolution respirometry and fluorometry (oroboros.at)
    • Respiration, H2O2 emission, mitochondrial membrane potential, calcium cycling
  • Enzyme activity
  • Protein content

The mitochondrial analysis are done in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue and liver samples from humans, but we are also running these analysis in different animal models where other tissues are investigated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • How weight loss drugs affects mitochondrial function
  • Exercise intervention in patients with type 2 diabetes
  • The effect of Coenzyme Q10 supplementation on different aging markers
  • Is exercise and statins a good combination

 

 

  • Collaboration with Nordic Bioscience, where we have a PhD student funded by the Innovation Fund Denmark (innovationsfonden.dk)
  • Collaboration with Novo Nordisk, where we have a PhD student partly funded by the Danish Diabetes Endocrine Academy (ddeacademy.dk)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Team Danmark
  • Innovations Fonden
  • Nordea Fonden
  • DDEA

Publications

CV - Steen Larsen
Steen Larsen

Group Leader

Steen Larsen
Associate Professor

Phone +45211 51924 
stelar@sund.ku.dk

ORCID: 0000-0002-5170-4337

Steen Larsen on X

Group members

Name Title Phone E-mail
Anne-Sofie Lindblad Nissen Master Student   E-mail
Emma Bundgård Fals Master Student   E-mail
Frederik Kristoffer Winther Furbo Master Student   E-mail
Malte Schmücker PhD Fellow   E-mail
Michelle Andersen Visiting Student +4535337903 E-mail
Steen Larsen Associate Professor +4521151924 E-mail
Tue Rømer PhD Fellow +4535335565 E-mail