Inhibition of myostatin prevents microgravity-induced loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength

PLoS One. 2020 Apr 21;15(4):e0230818. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230818. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

The microgravity conditions of prolonged spaceflight are known to result in skeletal muscle atrophy that leads to diminished functional performance. To assess if inhibition of the growth factor myostatin has potential to reverse these effects, mice were treated with a myostatin antibody while housed on the International Space Station. Grip strength of ground control mice increased 3.1% compared to baseline values over the 6 weeks of the study, whereas grip strength measured for the first time in space showed flight animals to be -7.8% decreased in strength compared to baseline values. Control mice in space exhibited, compared to ground-based controls, a smaller increase in DEXA-measured muscle mass (+3.9% vs +5.6% respectively) although the difference was not significant. All individual flight limb muscles analyzed (except for the EDL) weighed significantly less than their ground counterparts at the study end (range -4.4% to -28.4%). Treatment with myostatin antibody YN41 was able to prevent many of these space-induced muscle changes. YN41 was able to block the reduction in muscle grip strength caused by spaceflight and was able to significantly increase the weight of all muscles of flight mice (apart from the EDL). Muscles of YN41-treated flight mice weighed as much as muscles from Ground IgG mice, with the exception of the soleus, demonstrating the ability to prevent spaceflight-induced atrophy. Muscle gene expression analysis demonstrated significant effects of microgravity and myostatin inhibition on many genes. Gamt and Actc1 gene expression was modulated by microgravity and YN41 in opposing directions. Myostatin inhibition did not overcome the significant reduction of microgravity on femoral BMD nor did it increase femoral or vertebral BMD in ground control mice. In summary, myostatin inhibition may be an effective countermeasure to detrimental consequences of skeletal muscle under microgravity conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Actins / genetics
  • Animals
  • Extremities / physiology
  • Femur / physiology
  • Gene Expression / genetics
  • Guanidinoacetate N-Methyltransferase / genetics
  • Immunoglobulin G / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Muscle Strength / genetics*
  • Muscle Strength / physiology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology*
  • Muscular Atrophy / genetics*
  • Muscular Atrophy / physiopathology
  • Myostatin / genetics*
  • Space Flight / methods
  • Weightlessness

Substances

  • Actins
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Myostatin
  • Guanidinoacetate N-Methyltransferase

Grants and funding

Funding for this work was provided in part to VLF, TAB, and LSS by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space or CASIS (GA-2016-239, T/O #003). CASIS purchased mice used in the study and funded associated animal testing services. We acknowledge NASA for providing access to astronaut crew members who carried out the flight portion and all resources associated with transportation to and from, and use of, the International Space Station. Additional support was provided by NASA for the development of the anesthesia/recovery system and anesthesia protocol used in the study (NNJ10GA25A). Development and provision of the ISS Bone Densitometer was supported by CASIS and NASA contracts NNJ13GA01C and NNJ10GA35C to Techshot, Inc. Eli Lilly and Company and TechShot Inc. provided support in the form of salaries for authors [RCS, MSC, PJM, JL, DB, LZ, JH, SB, KMC, YLM, KB], but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section.