Engineered virus creates bigger, stronger muscles

A new article in PNAS describes the generation of super-muscled mice through genetic engineering. Genes that act to inhibit the protein myostatin - a well-known inhibitor of muscle growth - were introduced into the mice using synthetic viruses. By inhibiting the inhibitor, the researchers were able to induce an increase in both muscle size and strength that lasted for up to two years (a mouse's lifespan is only about three years, so that's pretty impressive). The treatment bulked up muscle both in normal mice and in a mouse model of a common muscle disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The authors write in their conclusion:

The striking ability of [one of the inhibitors] to provide gross and functional long-term improvement to dystrophic muscles in aged animals warrants its consideration for clinical development to treat musculoskeletal diseases, including older [muscular dystrophy] patients.

This is a very early but potentially promising result for patients with muscular dystrophy, a particularly nasty disease. Of course, sprint athletes keen for a potentially undetectable boost to their muscle power will also be watching with interest...

Subscribe to Genetic Future.