Follistatin
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What is Follistatin?
What is Follistatin?
Follistatin was first identified in the late 1980s, when researchers discovered that it could block the activity of myostatin, a protein that regulates muscle growth. This finding sparked a great deal of interest in the scientific community, and over the next several years, researchers began to uncover more information about the protein's structure and function.
One of the key breakthroughs came in 1997, when scientists discovered that a genetic mutation in a breed of cattle called the "Belgian Blue" led to a dramatic increase in muscle mass due to a mutation in the myostatin gene. This study was significant because it helped to confirm the role of myostatin as a "brake" on muscle growth, and it also highlighted the potential of inhibiting its activity to increase muscle mass. Research into follistatin continued over the next several years, leading to the development of recombinant forms of the protein that could be used to supplement the levels in the body.
In short, follistatin is a protein that plays a critical role in regulating muscle growth and development. It acts as a natural antagonist to myostatin, a protein that limits muscle growth, by binding to and inhibiting its function. This makes follistatin a potentially powerful tool for athletes, bodybuilders, and anyone looking to increase muscle mass and strength. In this post, we'll explore the science behind follistatin and its potential benefits.
Follistatin 344
Follistatin 344 (and 315)
Follistatin, also called activin-binding protein, is found in nearly all tissues of vertebrate animals. Its primary function is to neutralize members of the TGF-β family, which play fundamental roles in everything from growth and development to energy homeostasis and immune system regulation. In particular, follistatin interacts with activin, which plays an important part in cell proliferation and cell death as well as in the immune response as it applies to wound repair1,2.
Follistatin 344 and Follistatin 315 are engineered analogues of naturally occurring follistatin. Both are created by alternative splicing of the follistatin mRNA transcript. Scientific research in non-human primates as well as in mice have indicated that both molecules are capable of improving muscle growth by antagonizing myostatin (a member of the TGF-β family).
Follistatin 344 Research Studies
The first evidence that follistatin could enhance muscle growth came from studies conducted in mice in 2001. These studies found that myostatin, a known negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth, interacted with activin type II receptors found on muscle cells. Follistatin 344 interacts with these same receptors and is a competitive antagonist to myostatin. By blocking myostatin’s ability to bind to the activin receptors on muscle cells, follistatin 344 can allow for massive increases in muscle mass3.
Scientists are speculating on a number of ways that follistatin may be put to clinical use for muscle growth in the future. Research in mice from 2009 has indicated that follistatin might be useful in the disease spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). In SMA, there is a loss of function mutation that causes death of spinal motor neurons. When these nerves die, the muscles that they connect to atrophy as well. Research shows that follistatin not only preserves muscle tissue in mice with SMA, but that it also helps to preserve spinal motor neurons by creating a positive feedback loop. In fact, the mice in the study group lived 30% longer than mice who were not given Follistatin because of enhanced muscle and nerve cell survival4.
Another way in which the muscle-building benefits of follistatin may be put to good use in the future is in the treatment of muscular dystrophy and inclusion body myositis. In both diseases, muscle wasting leaves people too frail to walk or even breathe on their own. Even modest improvements in muscle mass and function would be life-changing for those suffering from these diseases5,6.