title: Connecting Myokines and Metabolism.
abstract: Skeletal muscle is the largest organ of the body in non-obese individuals and is now considered to be an endocrine organ. Hormones (myokines) secreted by skeletal muscle mediate communications between muscle and liver, adipose tissue, brain, and other organs. Myokines affect muscle mass and myofiber switching, and have profound effects on glucose and lipid metabolism and inflammation, thus contributing to energy homeostasis and the pathogenesis of obesity, diabetes, and other diseases. In this review, we summarize recent findings on the biology of myokines and provide an assessment of their potential as therapeutic targets.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, and the Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. ahima@mail.med.upenn.edu.
authors.forename: Rexford S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ahima
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeong Kyu
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Park
keywords: Diabetes; Exercise; Metabolism; Muscle, skeletal; Myokine; Obesity