title: METABOLIC FUNCTIONS OF MYOSTATIN AND GDF11.
abstract: Myostatin is a member of the transforming growth factor β superfamily of secreted growth factors that negatively regulates skeletal muscle size. Mice null for the myostatin gene have a dramatically increased mass of individual muscles, reduced adiposity, increased insulin sensitivity, and resistance to obesity. Myostatin inhibition in adult mice also increases muscle mass which raises the possibility that anti-myostatin therapy could be a useful approach for treating diseases such as obesity or diabetes in addition to muscle wasting diseases. In this review I will describe the present state of our understanding of the role of myostatin and the closely related growth factor growth/differentiation factor 11 on metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Genetics of Development and Disease Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland USA.
authors.forename: Alexandra C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: McPherron