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Mechanisms of muscle growth and atrophy in mammals and Drosophila
Author(s) -
Piccirillo Rosanna,
Demontis Fabio,
Perrimon Norbert,
Goldberg Alfred L.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.24036
Subject(s) - biology , wasting , muscle atrophy , atrophy , drosophila (subgenus) , drosophila melanogaster , disease , skeletal muscle , muscle mass , pathogenesis , muscle disease , vertebrate , microbiology and biotechnology , anatomy , neuroscience , physiology , endocrinology , genetics , pathology , immunology , gene , medicine
Background: The loss of skeletal muscle mass (atrophy) that accompanies disuse and systemic diseases is highly debilitating. Although the pathogenesis of this condition has been primarily studied in mammals, Drosophila is emerging as an attractive system to investigate some of the mechanisms involved in muscle growth and atrophy. Results: In this review, we highlight the outstanding unsolved questions that may benefit from a combination of studies in both flies and mammals. In particular, we discuss how different environmental stimuli and signaling pathways influence muscle mass and strength and how a variety of disease states can cause muscle wasting. Conclusions: Studies in Drosophila and mammals should help identify molecular targets for the treatment of muscle wasting in humans. Developmental Dynamics 243:201–215, 2014 . © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.