P1: The function of Myostatin on muscle physiology and oxidative metabolism of skeletal muscle
Berlin: Markus Schülke-Gerstenfeld, MD, Prof.
Paris: Helge Amthor, MD, PhD, MCU-PH
In normal individuals, several signaling molecules of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) family, most notably myostatin, restrict the size of skeletal muscle. The precise function of myostatin remains unclear. We hypothesize that myostatin optimizes function and metabolism of skeletal muscle. Most previous work exploring the function of myostatin has been performed on constitutive myostatin knockout mice, which does not permit a differentiation between the prenatal or postnatal effect of myostatin deficiency. Moreover, up to date, the role of myostatin on muscle function and metabolism has only been explored in lack-of-function models. Our aim is to determine the function of myostatin on skeletal muscle physiology and metabolism in adult wildtype mice using gain-of-function and loss-of-function models. We will therefore be able judge the effect of myostatin modulation in the context of novel biotherapies and also in the context of a potential abuse for athletic "doping" purposes. To this end, we will directly compare the effect of myostatin induced muscle hypotrophy (treatment with recombinant myostatin) with the effect of myostatin blockade induced muscle hypertrophy (treatment with AAV myostatin propeptide). We will compare the effect on force generation, exercise capacity, oxidative muscle metabolism, muscle morphometry and cellular properties.
Can Gut Ding (MD/PhD)
Master, Neurology
Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, P.R. China
Working Title
Culture and expansion of mouse and human myogenic stem cells while preserving their regenerative capacity to contribute to muscle repair in muscle dystrophy
Mina Petkova (PhD)
Diploma, Biology
Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
Working Title
Understanding the genesis of revertant muscle fibers in dystrophinopathies
Karima Relizani (PhD)
Master, Structural and Molecular Biology
University of Strasbourg, France
Working Title
The function of activin receptor IIb signalling in adult skeletal muscle
Amalia Stantzou (PhD)
Master, Molecular and Cellular Biology
University Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris 6, France
Working Title
The regulation of murine and human muscle precursors by BMP‐signalling