22 Dec Musculin: A Muscle Produced Peptide That Promotes Physical Endurance
Dr. Subbotina
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Ekaterina Subbotina, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Iowa City, IA 52242
Medical Research: What is the background for this study?
Dr. Subbotina: Exercises represent the most natural and effective way to maintain physical and metabolic well-being. Lack of physical activity can contribute to many preventable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and obesity.
It is known that moderate exercise is beneficial for health but the mechanism of this effect is only partially understood. It becomes more and more evident that skeletal muscles function as an organ that produces and secretes biologically active molecules called myokines. Studies of the biological role and mechanism of action of myokines are important for understanding of muscle function under sedentary and exercise conditions.
Medical Research: What are the main findings?
Dr. Subbotina: The main finding of our study is that the myokine, musclin, is an exercise-responsive factor that promotes physical endurance. This peptide is structurally similar to well-known heart secreted hormones, called ANP and BNP, and binds the same set of receptors. We demonstrated that calcium entering muscle cells during contraction triggers a biochemical cascade that leads to increased production and secretion of musclin into the blood steam. Disruption of the gene for musclin (called Ostn) in mice resulted in reduced exercise capacity. Also, the oxidative capacity, a measure of exercise ability familiar to distance runners as their “VDOT”, was diminished in exercising knockout mice due to impaired number and function of mitochondria – the “powerhouse of the cell.”
Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Dr. Subbotina: Musclin injections enhanced endurance suggesting a potential therapeutic role for musclin, however further studies required. We are not suggesting replacement of exercise or of training with injections, but rather that targeting of musclin may be useful under circumstances when the physical capacity of a patient is compromised but activity is necessary to their health.
Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Subbotina: Our study opens new perspectives on musclin with respect to tissue remodeling and body adaptation to physical activity. Further definition of the effect of musclin on other tissues such as fat tissue and cardiac muscle is needed. Also further studies of the pharmacology of musclin are required to determine the extent of beneficial versus potentially toxic effects. We, in the Zingman laboratory, are continuing to study these issues.
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Citation:
Ekaterina Subbotina, Ana Sierra, Zhiyong Zhu, Zhan Gao, Siva Rama Krishna Koganti, Santiago Reyes, Elizabeth Stepniak, Susan A. Walsh, Michael R. Acevedo, Carmen M. Perez-Terzic, Denice M. Hodgson-Zingman, Leonid V. Zingman. Musclin is an activity-stimulated myokine that enhances physical endurance.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2015; 201514250 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1514250112
Ekaterina Subbotina, Ph.D. (2015). Musculin: A Muscle Produced Peptide That Promotes Physical Endurance MedicalResearch.com
Last Updated on December 22, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD