title: [Role of myostatin in wasting syndrome associated with chronic diseases].
abstract: Muscle wasting is a common process of numerous chronic diseases. Sarcopenia is associated with poor prognosis independently of the outcome of the disease. To date, the mechanisms by which sarcopenia induces these alterations are unknown, but the complexity of muscular metabolism anticipates that many factors can be involved. Myostatin, a new family member of transforming growth factor beta, was initially described from the observation of significant muscular growing in knock out mice for myostatin. Numerous experimental and clinical studies have provided insights in the physiologic knowledge of this protein and its implication in muscle wasting conditions. In recent years different substances have been described that counteract myostatin through numerous physiopathological mecanisms and, therefore, they might be novel therapeutic strategies against the wasting syndrome associated with chronic diseases. In spite of that, more studies are needed to improve the knowledge of all processes involved in muscle wasting in order to prevent its devastating consequences.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología. Departamento de Medicina. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol. Badalona. Barcelona. España. e.zamora@telefonica.net
authors.forename: Elisabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zamora
authors.forename: Amparo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galán
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Simó
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D055435:Myostatin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019282:Wasting Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D055435:Myostatin