A follistatin‐based molecule increases muscle and bone mass without affecting the red blood cell count in mice

Inhibitors of the activin receptor signaling pathway (IASPs) have become candidate therapeutics for sarcopenia and bone remodeling disorders because of their ability to increase muscle and bone mass. However, IASPs utilizing activin type IIA and IIB receptors are also potent stimulators of erythropoiesis, a feature that may restrict their usage to anemic patients because of increased risk of venous thromboembolism. Based on the endogenous TGF‐β superfamily antagonist follistatin (FST), a molecule in the IASP class, FST ΔHBS ‐mFc, was generated and tested in both ovariectomized and naive BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. In ovariectomized mice, FST ΔHBS ‐Fc therapy dose‐dependently increased cancellous bone mass up to 42% and improved bone microstructural indices. For the highest dosage of FST ΔHBS ‐mFc (30 mg/kg, 2 times/wk), the increase in cancellous bone mass was similar to that observed with parathyroid hormone therapy (1–34,80 µg/kg, 5 times/wk). Musculus quadriceps femoris mass dose‐dependently increased up to 21% in ovariectomized mice. In both ovariectomized and naive mice, FST ΔHBS ‐mFc therapy did not influence red blood cell count or hematocrit or hemoglobin levels. If the results are reproduced, a human FST ΔHBS ‐mFc version could be applicable in patients with musculoskeletal conditions irrespective of hematocrit status.—Lodberg, A., van der Eerden, B. C. J., Boers‐Sijmons, B., Thomsen, J. S., Brüel, A., van Leeuwen, J. P. T. M., Eijken, M. A follistatin‐based molecule increases muscle and bone mass without affecting the red blood cell count in mice. FASEB J. 33, 6001–6010 (2019). www.fasebj.org