Cellular Exercise Physiology Laboratory (CEPL)
UCF Division of Kinesiology
Overview
The research objectives of the CEPL center around quantifying the biological responses to exercise and nutritional interventions. Of particular interest is the study of immune and inflammatory responses. The goal of the CEPL is to characterize post-exercise cellular events, ascertain how these responses influence and contribute to recovery and skeletal muscle adaptation, and examine how nutrition and supplementation modulate these responses. The CEPL partners directly with the Exercise Physiology Intervention and Collaboration (EPIC) Laboratory where our exercise interventions and functional/performance assessments are performed. The CEPL also performs biological analyses on behalf of the Physiology of Work & Exercise Response (POWER) Laboratory within the UCF Division of Kinesiology.
Laboratory Capabilities
Flow Cytometry
Quantitative measurement of individual cells and other particles in suspension at the rate of thousands of cells per second. Through the assessment of visible light scatter and the use of fluorochrome conjugated antibodies directed against specific cell markers, the CEPL can simultaneously assess 15 cellular parameters including:
- Cell size and granularity
- Cell viability
- Immunophenotyping
- Immune cell activation
- Cell surface antigen expression
- Intracellular protein expression
- Intracellular protein phosphorylation
Equipment: Novocyte 3000 Flow Cytometer with Novosampler and NovoExpress Software
Hematology
Quantitative and qualitative analysis of formed elements in whole blood samples including:
- Complete blood count (CBC) with 5-part differential (CBC with diff)
- Hematocrit/hemoglobin
- Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), Red cell distribution width (RDW)
- Platelets, Mean platelet volume (MPV)
Equipment: Sysmex XN-450 Hematology Analyzer
Multiplex Bead Array Assays
Simultaneous quantitative analysis of up to 50 soluble analytes in plasma, serum or cell lysates including:
- Peptides
- Proteins (cytokines, chemokines, growth Factors)
- Soluble receptors
- Antibodies
- Hormones
Equipment: Luminex MAGPIX® multiplex assay system
Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) and Enzyme-based kinetic assays
Microplate-based assay for individual detection and quantification of soluble substances such as peptides, proteins, antibodies, hormones and enzymes in plasma, serum or cell lysates.
Equipment: BioTek Synergy H1 Multimode Microplate Reader, Biotek EPOCH 2 microplate reader
High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
Analytical identification and separation of chemical and biological compounds in plasma, serum and other mediums such as caffeine, caffeine metabolites, amino acids and peptides.
Equipment: Agilent Infinity 1260 HPLC with diode array and fluorescent detectors.
Meet Our Team
Director
Adam J. Wells, Ph.D., CSCS*D, SCYM(ASCP)CM
Ph.D. Students
Trevor Dufner, M.S.
Blake Johnson, M.S.
Jessica Moon, M.S.
Collaborators
Alyssa N. Varanoske, Ph.D.
News
Selected Relevant Publications
Our laboratory makes a concerted effort to publish our findings in respected academic journals and present at regional, national, and international conferences. In addition to contributing to collective body of knowledge in a given field, presenting original data at conferences is a fun way for the lab’s students to enhance their self-confidence and network with other scientists.
- Varanoske AN, Wells AJ, Boffey D, Harat I, Frosti CL, Kozlowski GJ, Gepner Y, Hoffman JR. Effects of high-dose, short-duration β-alanine supplementation on cognitive function, mood, and circulating brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) in recreationally-active males before military operation stress. Journal of Dietary Supplements, 18(2): 147-168, 2021. DOI
- Wells AJ, Varanoske AN, Coker NA, Kozlowski G, Frosti CL, Boffey D, Harat I, Jahani S, Gepner Y Hoffman JR. The effect of β-alanine supplementation on monocyte recruitment and cognition during a 24-h simulated military operation. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 34(11): 3042-3054, 2020. DOI
- Varanoske AN, Wells AJ, Kozlowski G, Gepner Y, Frosti CL, Boffey D, Coker NA, Harat I, Hoffman JR. Effects of β-Alanine Supplementation on Physical Performance, Cognition, Endocrine Function, and Inflammation During a 24-Hour Simulated Military Operation. Physiological Reports, 6(24): e13938, 2018. DOI
- Arroyo E, Wells AJ, Gordon JA, Varanoske AN, Gepner Y, Coker NA, Church DD, Fukuda DH, Stout JR, Hoffman JR. TNF-α and STNFR Responses in Young vs. Middle-Aged Males Following Eccentric Exercise. Experimental Gerontology, 100: 28-35, 2017. DOI
- Wells AJ, Hoffman JR, Jajtner AR, Varanoske AN, Church DD, Gonzalez AM, Townsend JR, Boone CH, Baker KM, Beyer KS, Mangine GT, Oliveira LP, Fukuda DH, Stout JR. Post-resistance exercise ingestion of milk protein attenuates plasma TNFα and TNFr1 expression on monocyte subpopulations. Amino Acids, 49(8): 1415-1426, 2017. DOI
- Wells AJ, Hoffman JR, Jajtner AR, Varanoske AN, Church DD, Gonzalez AM, Townsend JR, Boone CH, Baker KM, Beyer KS, Mangine GT, Oliveira LP, Fukuda DH, Stout JR. The effect of post-resistance exercise amino acids on plasma MCP1 and CCR2 expression. Nutrients. 8(7): 409, 2016. DOI
- Wells AJ, Hoffman JR, Jajtner AR, Varanoske AN, Church DD, Gonzalez AM, Townsend JR, Boone CH, Baker KM, Beyer KS, Mangine GT, Oliveira LP, Fukuda DH, Stout JR. Monocyte Recruitment after High-Intensity and High-Volume Resistance Exercise. Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise. 48(6): 1169-1178, 2016. DOI
Contact
The UCF Cellular Exercise Physiology Laboratory is housed on the second floor of the Biological Sciences building (building 20) on UCF’s main campus. The building is located between the chemistry and physical sciences buildings. Parking is available in lot C3 in front of the physical sciences building.
You may contact us by email at cepl@ucf.edu or with the fillable form below. We look forward to hearing from you.
UCF Cellular Exercise Physiology Laboratory
Biological Sciences Building,
4110 Libra Dr.
Orlando, FL 32816
