Myostatin

By Todd Lee M.D.

Myostatin is a protein which is released by muscle tissue to prevent muscle from getting too big. It is the bane of all bodybuilders or is it? The heart, for instance, is a muscle and we don't want that growing uncontrolled now do we?

Myostatin Is part of a larger family called the TGF-beta family and it binds to the activin 2 B receptor.  This binding inhibits muscle cell development and separately decreases muscle protein synthesis.  There are numerous studies conducted on Myostatin since its discovery in 1997.  It was determined that there are 2 copies of the MSTN gene and if one is disabled there is increase fat free mass of a animal. If 2 copies are disabled even greater muscle mass is achieved but there may be other side effects.  Deletion of the receptors for the Myostatin protein was less effective. Using monoclonal antibodies to bind the free form Myostatin was the best balance of benefit vs consequences yielding 60% increase in muscle mass.

There have been many methods attempted to block Myostatins effects on muscle but not on other tissues and the most promising is Follistatin (FS-344).  

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