A hormone produced by the intestine called FGF19 is thought to play a role in increasing muscle mass in mice, according to results of a study published in the medical journal Nature Medicine. It would also be able to increase the size of human muscle cells in culture. The reduction of muscle mass, a process linked to aging, but also identified in several chronic diseases (obesity, Cancer, renal failure), as well as in a situation of immobilization (accidents, post-operative periods) or during stays in weightlessness (astronauts), really affects the quality of life.
Researchers from the CarMeN laboratory “Research in Cardiovascular, Metabolism, Diabetology and Nutrition” (Inserm / Inra / Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 / Insa Lyon) in Lyon, and from the Department of Biology at the University of Bergen (Norway) carried out experiments to understand the potential therapeutic interest of FGF19 in metabolic diseases such as Type 2 diabetesand obesity. The growth factor of fibroblasts 19 (FGF19), is a hormone secreted by the intestine known to have a role of regulator of glucose and lipids.
The FGF19 hormone effective in preserving muscle mass
Scientists have shown that mice treated with FGF19 for 7 days gain less weight and fatty tissue while they eat more than mice in the control group. They also observed that the skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength of these rodents increased with the increase in the size of the muscle fibers.
To confirm their results, the researchers used different mouse models showing decreased muscle mass, including animals treated with a glucocorticoid, a genetically obese mouse model and aged mice. For all treated groups, FGF19 treatment preserved or increased muscle mass and strength.
“This shows for the first time the interest of FGF19 to fight against muscle wasting, but potentially also in agronomy to increase the muscle mass of farm animals”, explains Hubert Vidal, Inserm research director who led with his team this experience.
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