title: Myostatin: a modulator of skeletal-muscle stem cells.
abstract: Myostatin, or GDF-8 (growth and differentiation factor-8), was first identified through sequence identity with members of the BMP (bone morphogenetic protein)/TGF-beta (transforming growth factor-beta) superfamily. The skeletal-muscle-specific expression pattern of myostatin suggested a role in muscle development. Mice with a targeted deletion of the myostatin gene exhibit a hypermuscular phenotype. In addition, inactivating mutations in the myostatin gene have been identified in 'double muscled' cattle breeds, such as the Belgian Blue and Piedmontese, as well as in a hypermuscular child. These findings define myostatin as a negative regulator of skeletal-muscle development. Myostatin binds with high affinity to the receptor serine threonine kinase ActRIIB (activin type IIB receptor), which initiates signalling through a smad2/3-dependent pathway. In an effort to validate myostatin as a therapeutic target in a post-embryonic setting, a neutralizing antibody was developed by screening for inhibition of myostatin binding to ActRIIB. Administration of this antimyostatin antibody to adult mice resulted in a significant increase in both muscle mass and functional strength. Importantly, similar results were obtained in a murine model of muscular dystrophy, the mdx mouse. Unlike the myostatin-deficient animals, which exhibit both muscle hypertrophy and hyperplasia, the antibody-treated mice demonstrate increased musculature through a hypertrophic mechanism. These results validate myostatin inhibition as a therapeutic approach to muscle wasting diseases such as muscular dystrophy, sarcopenic frailty of the elderly and amylotrophic lateral sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Wyeth Research, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA. walshfs@wyeth.com
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Celeste
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D020966:Muscular Disorders, Atrophic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055435:Myostatin; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C525911:MSTN protein, human; C525912:Mstn protein, mouse; D055435:Myostatin; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta