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Myostatin

Meaning

Myostatin, also known as Growth Differentiation Factor 8 (GDF-8), is a protein belonging to the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily that functions as a potent negative regulator of muscle growth. It is primarily produced and secreted by skeletal muscle cells, where it acts in an autocrine and paracrine fashion to limit the size of muscle fibers. Clinically, inhibiting myostatin is a promising therapeutic target for treating muscle-wasting conditions, such as sarcopenia and muscular dystrophy, by allowing unchecked muscle hypertrophy. The balance between myostatin and anabolic factors like IGF-1 largely dictates an individual’s muscularity.