The primary factor leading to the onset of osteoporosis is age related bone loss; however, the potentially disastrous affects of bone loss may be minimized by increasing peak bone mass early in life. The proposed research evaluates relationships among muscle mass, bone mass, and physical activity in myostatin-deficient mice in order to better understand the mechanisms that increase bone strength during growth and maximize bone mass at adulthood. Myostatin (GDF-8) is a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth and myostatin null mice show a doubling of muscle fiber size and number compared to normal mice. Recent studies have shown that myostatin inhibitors have the potential to slow and/or prevent the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and muscle wasting disorders such as muscular dystrophy and cachexia. Preliminary results presented in this application indicate that loss of myostatin function also significantly increases bone formation, bone density, and bone strength. Myostatin inhibitors may therefore serve as a novel treatment for the prevention of osteoporosis. The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that myostatin deficiency increases bone formation and bone strength during postnatal development by increasing muscle mass. This project seeks to define the mechanisms underlying the positive effects of myostatin deficiency on bone strength with the following Specific Aims:
Specific Aim 1 will determine if increased muscle mass due to myostatin deficiency increases bone mineral density and bone strength independent of total body mass and fat mass.
Specific Aim 2 will determine if myostatin deficiency increases bone formation through a mechanotransduction pathway.
Specific Aim 3 examines the effects of myostatin deficiency and intense exercise on bone mass and strength. This research will critically evaluate the effectiveness of targeting muscle mass as a therapeutic strategy for improving bone health, and will in this way contribute significantly to the development of novel treatments for the prevention of osteoporosis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01AR049717-01A2
Application #
6827153
Study Section
Skeletal Biology Structure and Regeneration Study Section (SBSR)
Program Officer
Sharrock, William J
Project Start
2004-08-01
Project End
2008-04-30
Budget Start
2004-08-01
Budget End
2005-04-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$227,728
Indirect Cost
Name
Medical College of Georgia (MCG)
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
966668691
City
Augusta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30912
Bowser, Matthew; Herberg, Samuel; Arounleut, Phonepasong et al. (2013) Effects of the activin A-myostatin-follistatin system on aging bone and muscle progenitor cells. Exp Gerontol 48:290-7
Elkasrawy, Moataz; Immel, David; Wen, Xuejun et al. (2012) Immunolocalization of myostatin (GDF-8) following musculoskeletal injury and the effects of exogenous myostatin on muscle and bone healing. J Histochem Cytochem 60:22-30
Cray Jr, James; Kneib, Jared; Vecchione, Lisa et al. (2011) Masticatory hypermuscularity is not related to reduced cranial volume in myostatin-knockout mice. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 294:1170-7
Green, David J; Hamrick, Mark W; Richmond, Brian G (2011) The effects of hypermuscularity on shoulder morphology in myostatin-deficient mice. J Anat 218:544-57
Hamrick, Mark W (2011) A role for myokines in muscle-bone interactions. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 39:43-7
Elkasrawy, Moataz; Fulzele, Sadanand; Bowser, Matthew et al. (2011) Myostatin (GDF-8) inhibits chondrogenesis and chondrocyte proliferation in vitro by suppressing Sox-9 expression. Growth Factors 29:253-62
Hamrick, M W; McNeil, P L; Patterson, S L (2010) Role of muscle-derived growth factors in bone formation. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact 10:64-70
Hamrick, Mark W; Arounleut, Phonepasong; Kellum, Ethan et al. (2010) Recombinant myostatin (GDF-8) propeptide enhances the repair and regeneration of both muscle and bone in a model of deep penetrant musculoskeletal injury. J Trauma 69:579-83
Schmitt, Daniel; Zumwalt, Ann C; Hamrick, Mark W (2010) The relationship between bone mechanical properties and ground reaction forces in normal and hypermuscular mice. J Exp Zool A Ecol Genet Physiol 313:339-51
Elkasrawy, M N; Hamrick, M W (2010) Myostatin (GDF-8) as a key factor linking muscle mass and bone structure. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact 10:56-63

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