Myostatin — From the Mighty Mouse to cardiovascular disease and cachexia

Animal models of cardiac cachexia

“…Myostatin is a negative regulator of muscle growth. Accordingly, it was found that the administration of myostatin-blocking antibodies reversed muscle mass loss in the myostatin wild-type mice [12][13][14].…”

Pilot study of a myostatin antagonist in dogs with cardiac cachexia

“…4 A decoy ActRIIB receptor has been developed and studied in rodent models of aging, CHF, and cancer, 12,13 as well as in a phase 2 clinical trial for boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (although the phase 2 clinical trial was subsequently suspended). 14 To be used in different species, the IgG Fc region can be replaced so that the molecule is species specific.…”

“…4 Factors that decrease myostatin concentrations (e.g. exercise, myostatin mutations) result in increased muscle size, while factors that increase myostatin concentrations (e.g.…”

“…tumor necrosis factor, angiotensin II, CHF) contribute to muscle loss. 4 Because myostatin has been shown to be increased in many, but not all, induced animal models and people with CHF, 5e8 myostatin antagonism is hypothesized to be an effective method of preventing and treating cachexia. Myostatin antagonism has been studied in rodent models of cachexia, 9e11 but large clinical trials in people with cachexia, sarcopenia, or muscular dystrophy have not yet been published.…”

Cardiac cachexia: hic et nunc

“…53,54 Myostatin appears to be a key player in the integrated physiology of muscle, fat, and bone. 55 It is unclear whether myostatin directly affects fat and bone, or indirectly via muscle.…”