Systemic administration of follistatin288 increases muscle mass and reduces fat accumulation in mice.
The present study describes the physiological response associated with daily subcutaneous injection of mice with recombinant follistatin288. This systemic administration of follistatin288 increases the follistatin levels in serum, indicating that the protein enters the circulation. The data suggest that a dose-dependent increase in body lean mass also occurs, together with an increase in muscle mass, possibly as a result of an increase in the size of the muscle fibers. After thirteen weeks of treatment, metabolic changes were observed; additionally, the switching of muscle fiber types was also apparent through myosin heavy chain remodeling, implying that changes are occurring at the molecular level. Furthermore, an increase in the muscle mass was associated with a significant decrease in the body fat mass. Overall, this study raises the possibility for the use of follistatin288 as an agent to treat muscle wasting diseases and/or to restrict fat accumulation by systemic administration of the protein.
1] Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition Department of Medicine Boston University School of Medicine 670 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118 [2].
Samudra S
SS
Gangopadhyay
D050154:Adiposity / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D001481:Basal Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D004210:Dissection; D038681:Follistatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D024510:Muscle Development / Q000187:drug effects; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000187:drug effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
D038681:Follistatin; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C479339:follistatin, 288-amino acid isoform