The growth factor myostatin, a key regulator in skeletal muscle growth and homeostasis

[Guest guest]

(Note: this is a research update on Myostatin that we've been following. Photo

of Myostatin boy in photo files)

Int J Sports Med. 2005 Mar;26(2):83-9.

The growth factor myostatin, a key regulator in skeletal muscle growth and

homeostasis

Matsakas A, Diel P.

Department of Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine, Institute of Sports

Medicine and Cardiovascular Research, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne,

Germany.

Skeletal muscle possesses the ability to both respond and adapt to changing

environmental stimuli, leading to a set of metabolic and morphological

adaptations, which allow it to better meet the energy demands of sustained

physical activity. Great progress has been achieved over the past years by means

of innovative molecular techniques, which has led to the discovery of new growth

factors and the identification of molecular mechanisms involved in the

regulation of muscle development. These findings provide new starting points to

understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the adaptation of skeletal

muscle to exercise training.

One of these new identified growth factors is myostatin, a member of the

transforming growth factor-beta family of proteins that has been demonstrated to

play a fundamental role in the regulation of skeletal muscle growth during

embryogenesis. Blocking of the myostatin signalling transduction pathway by

specific inhibitors and genetic manipulations has been shown to result in a

dramatic increase of skeletal muscle mass. This review focuses on the importance

of myostatin in mediating skeletal muscle homeostasis in response to training as

well as during the progress of myogenic disease, like atrophy or dystrophy.

Manipulations of myostatin signalling may be useful for agriculture

applications, treatment of muscle diseases, inhibition of muscle atrophy and

last but not least as life style drugs in antiaging therapies or manipulations

of the muscle to fat ratio. Drugs with the ability to modulate myostatin

signalling may have the potential to enhance physical performance in athletes

and therefore they probably represent a new class of doping substances.

----------

Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.

Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.6.12 - Release Date: 01/14/2005