Research library

Key finding

Activin, a member of the transforming growth factor beta protein family, was originally isolated from gonadal fluids and stimulates the release of pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).

Key finding

Follistatin (FST) is a monomeric activin-binding and neutralization protein that has at least three isoforms in human tissues and fluids.

Key finding

Follistatin (FST) and FST-like-3 (FSTL3) are activin-binding and neutralization proteins that also bind myostatin.

Key finding

The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily encompasses a large group of growth and differentiation factors playing important roles in regulating embryonic development and in maintaining tissue homeostasis in adult animals.

Key finding

Myostatin (GDF-8) is a member of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily of secreted growth and differentiation factors that is essential for proper regulation of skeletal muscle mass in mice.

Key finding

FST is a novel therapeutic target to improve ovarian cancer response to chemotherapy and potentially reduce recurrence rates.

Key finding

Concentrations of circulating activins and follistatins are associated with metabolic parameters and increase after 45 minutes of exercise.

Key finding

Sarcopenia, or age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, is an important contributor to loss of physical function in older adults.

Key finding

We here present evidence that Fst is a potent regulator of insulin action in muscle, and in addition to AKT and p70S6K, we identify TBC1D1, TBC1D4, pyruvate dehydrogenase-E1α, and PAK1 as Fst targets.

Key finding

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an autosomal dominant or digenic disorder linked to derepression of the toxic DUX4 gene in muscle.

Key finding

Follistatin (FST), which was first found in the follicles of cattle and pigs, has been shown to be an essential regulator for muscle development.

Key finding

Follistatin is a member of the TGF-β super family and inhibits the action of myostatin to regulate skeletal muscle growth.

Key finding

Follistatin (FS) inhibits several members of the TGF-beta superfamily, including myostatin (Mstn), a negative regulator of muscle growth.

Key finding

Antagonists of myostatin, a blood-borne negative regulator of muscle growth produced in muscle cells, have shown considerable promise for enhancing muscle mass and strength in rodent studies and could serve as potential therapeutic agents for human muscle diseases.

Key finding

In most cases, pharmacologic strategies to treat genetic muscle disorders and certain acquired disorders, such as sporadic inclusion body myositis, have produced modest clinical benefits.

Key finding

We considered in this study the possibility of developing an indirect procedure for detecting myostatin inhibition/suppression, a practice that is prohibited as doping in sport.

Key finding

Sporadic inclusion body myositis, a variant of inflammatory myopathy, has features distinct from polymyositis/dermatomyositis.

Key finding

Follistatin is a ubiquitous secretory propeptide that functions as a potent inhibitor of the myostatin pathway, resulting in an increase in skeletal muscle mass.

Key finding

Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) is a variant of dystrophin deficiency resulting from DMD gene mutations.

Key finding

Across species, skeletal muscle mass is negatively regulated by the TGF-β cytokine myostatin (MSTN).