The Function of Myostatin in the Regulation of Fat Mass in Mammals
Open accessAbstract
Myostatin (MSTN), also referred to as growth and differentiation factor-8, is a protein secreted in muscle tissues. Researchers believe that its primary function is in negatively regulating muscle because a mutation in its coding region can lead to the famous double muscle trait in cattle. Muscle and adipose tissue develop from the same mesenchymal stem cells, and researchers have found that MSTN is expressed in fat tissues and plays a key role in adipogenesis. Interestingly, MSTN can exert a dual function, either inhibiting or promoting adipogenesis, according to the situation. Due to its potential function in controlling body fat mass, MSTN has attracted the interest of researchers. In this review, we explore its function in regulating adipogenesis in mammals, including preadipocytes, multipotent stem cells and fat mass.
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Skeletal muscle and adipose tissue originate from same mesenchymal stem cells, and myostatin plays a role in controlling adipogenesis-to-myogenesis ratio by influencing stem cell differentiation toward adipocyte lineage.
“Skeletal muscle and adipose tissue originate from the same mesenchymal stem cells and it is therefore no surprise that myostatin plays a role in controlling the adipogenesis-to-myogenesis ratio by influencing stem cell differentiation toward the adipocyte lineage [65].”
From Exercise-Induced Muscle–Fat Crosstalk: Molecular Mediators and Their Pharmacological Modulation for the Maintenance of Metabolic Flexibility in Aging (2025) · cites this paper as [65]
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“Skeletal muscle and adipose tissue originate from the same mesenchymal stem cells and it is therefore no surprise that myostatin plays a role in controlling the adipogenesis-to-myogenesis ratio by influencing stem cell differentiation toward the adipocyte lineage [65].”
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- Authors
- Deng, B., Zhang, F., Wen, J., Ye, S., Wang, L., Yang, Y., Gong, P., & Jiang, S.
- Affiliations
- Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CN)
- Huazhong Agricultural University (CN)
- Wuhan University of Technology (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Jiang, Siwen
- Venue
- Nutrition & Metabolism
- Published
- 2017-03-21
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 29-29
- ISSN
- 1743-7075 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5360019
- OpenAlex
- W2601491516
- Cited by
- 98
- References
- 54
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 6
- FWCI
- 1.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Nutrition & Metabolism (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (31201766, 31472075, 31272425)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
- Keywords
- myostatin, adipogenesis, preadipocytes, multipotent stem cells, adipose tissue, muscle
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