Regulation of skeletal muscle mass in mice by a new TGF-p superfamily member
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The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily encompasses a large group of growth and differentiation factors playing important roles in regulating embryonic development and in
maintaining tissue homeostasis in adult animals1. Using degenerate polymerase chain reaction, we have identified a new murine TGF-β family member, growth/differentiation factor-8 (GDF-8),
which is expressed specifically in developing and adult skeletal muscle. During early stages of embryogenesis, GDF-8 expression is restricted to the myotome compartment of developing
somites. At later stages and in adult animals, GDF-8 is expressed in many different muscles throughout the body. To determine the biological function of GDF-8, we disrupted the GDF-8 gene by
gene targeting in mice. GDF-8 null animals are significantly larger than wild-type animals and show a large and widespread increase in skeletal muscle mass. Individual muscles of mutant
animals weigh 2-3 times more than those of wild-type animals, and the increase in mass appears to result from a combination of muscle cell hyperplasia and hypertrophy. These results suggest
that GDF-8 functions specifically as a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth.
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