Dr Lee Butcher

Job Title:            Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Room No:          D2.06B
Telephone No:  + 44 (0) 29 2020 1171
Email Address:  lbutcher@cardiffmet.ac.uk

 

Research

My current research involves exploring the transcriptional regulation of megakaryopoiesis using cell culture model systems. I am also interested in the effects of lifestyle choices on biomarkers of cellular ageing, in particular telomere length. Some of my past work has also involved investigating the role of physical activity in modulating molecular signalling events associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. 

Publications

  • Ahluwalia, M., Butcher, L., Donovan, H., Killick-Cole, C., Jones, P.M and Erusalimsky, J.D. (2015). The gene expression signature of anagrelide provides an insight into the mechanism of its platelet lowering activity and uncovers potential new regulators of megakaryopoiesis. J. Thromb. Haemost. 30 (6), 1103-1112

  • Davies, N.A., Watkeys, L., Butcher, L., Potter, S., Hughes, M.G., Moir, H., Morris, K., Thomas, A.W and Webb, R. (2015). The roles of oxidative stress, oxidised lipoproteins and AMPK in exercise-associated PPARγ signalling within human monocytic cells. J. Free. Radical. Res. 49 (1), 45-56.

  • McDonnell, B.J., Butcher, L., Cockcroft, J.R., McEniery, C.M., Wilkinson, I.B., Erusalimsky, J.D and Yasmin. (2014). The age dependent association between aortic pulse wave velocity and telomere length. J. Am. Soc. Hypertens. 8 (4S), e1

  • Jackowska, M., Hamer, M., Carvalho, L. A., Erusalimsky, J.D., Butcher, L. and Steptoe, A. (2012). Short sleep duration is associated with shorter telomere length in healthy men: findings from the Whitehall II cohort study. PLoS ONE. 7 (10), e47292

  • Brydon, L., Lin, J., Butcher, L., Hamer, M., Erusalimsky, J.D., Blackburn, E.H. and Steptoe, A. (2012) Hostility and cellular aging in men from the Whitehall II cohort. Biol. Psychiatry. 71 (9), 767-773

  • Thomas, A.W., Davies, N.A., Moir, H., Watkeys, L., Ruffino, J.S., Isa, S.A., Butcher, L.R., Hughes, M.G., Morris, K. and Webb, R. (2012) Exercise-associated generation of PPARγ ligands activates PPARγ signalling events and upregulates genes related to lipid metabolism. J. Appl. Physiol. 112, 806-815

  • Steptoe, A., Hamer, M., Butcher, L., Lin, J., Brydon, L., Kivimaki, M., Marmot, M., Blackburn, E. and Erusalimsky, J.D. (2011) Educational attainment but not current socioeconomic status is associated with leukocyte telomere length. Brain Behav. Immun. 25, 1292-1298

  • Yakeu, G., Butcher, L., Webb, R., Roberts, A., Thomas, A.W., Backx, K., James, P.E. and Morris, K. (2010) Low-intensity exercise enhances expression of markers of alternative activation in circulating leukocytes: roles of PPARγ and Th2 Cytokines. Atherosclerosis. 212, 668-673

  • Ahluwalia, M., Donovan, H., Singh, N., Butcher, L. and Erusalimsky, J.D. (2010) Anagrelide represses GATA-1 and FOG-1 expression without interfering with thrombopoietin receptor signal transduction. J. Thromb. Haemost. 8, 2252-2261

  • Moir, H., Hughes, M.G., Potter, S., Sims, C., Butcher, L.R., Davies, N.A., Verheggen, J., Jones, K.P., Thomas, A.W. and Webb, R. (2010) Exercise-induced Immunosuppression: The Roles of Reactive Oxygen Species and 5'AMP-activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) Dephosphorylation within Immune Cells. J. Appl. Physiol. 108, 1284-1292

  • Butcher, L., Backx, K., Webb, R., Thomas, A., Roberts, A. and Morris, K. (2009) Low-intensity exercise regulates PPAR-γ activity: a molecular rationale for diabetes prevention? J. Diabetes. 1, A71-72

  • Butcher, L.R., Thomas, A., Backx, K., Roberts, A., Webb, R. and Morris, K. (2008) Walking, PPARs And Their Regulated Genes. Med. Sci. Sports. Exerc. 40, S58

  • Butcher, L.R., Thomas, A., Backx, K., Roberts, A., Webb, R. and Morris, K. (2008) Low-intensity exercise exerts beneficial effects on plasma lipids via PPARγ. Med. Sci. Sports. Exerc. 40, 1263-1270

  • Moir, H., Butcher, L., Jones, K.P., Hughes, M.G., Neale, H., Jia, H., Al-Ismaily, Z. and Webb, R. (2008) AMPK Inactivation in Mononuclear Cells: A Potential Intracellular Mechanism For Exercise-Induced Immunosuppression. Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 33, 75-85