A myostatin inhibitory antibody combined with insulin, partially rescues the musculoskeletal phenotype of female insulin-deficient diabetic mice

IntroductionType 1 diabetes is associated with deficits in both skeletal muscle and bone. Inhibition of myostatin, a negative regulator of muscle mass, was explored as a druggable target to improve the musculoskeletal phenotype associated with insulin-deficient diabetes in female mice.MethodsWe inve...

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Main Authors: R. Clay Bunn, Reuben Adatorwovor, Philip D. Ray, Alexander R. Keeble, Christopher S. Fry, Sasidhar Uppuganti, Jeffry S. Nyman, John L. Fowlkes, Evangelia Kalaitzoglou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Endocrinology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1558740/full
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author R. Clay Bunn
Reuben Adatorwovor
Philip D. Ray
Alexander R. Keeble
Christopher S. Fry
Sasidhar Uppuganti
Jeffry S. Nyman
John L. Fowlkes
Evangelia Kalaitzoglou
author_facet R. Clay Bunn
Reuben Adatorwovor
Philip D. Ray
Alexander R. Keeble
Christopher S. Fry
Sasidhar Uppuganti
Jeffry S. Nyman
John L. Fowlkes
Evangelia Kalaitzoglou
author_sort R. Clay Bunn
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionType 1 diabetes is associated with deficits in both skeletal muscle and bone. Inhibition of myostatin, a negative regulator of muscle mass, was explored as a druggable target to improve the musculoskeletal phenotype associated with insulin-deficient diabetes in female mice.MethodsWe investigated whether administration of an inhibitory myostatin antibody (MyoAb) in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in female mice is protective for skeletal muscle and bone. DBA/2J female mice were injected with low-dose streptozotocin or with citrate buffer (vehicle). Subsequently, mice were implanted with insulin-containing or vehicle pellets, with groups being randomized to myostatin or control antibody for 8 weeks. At study end, body composition and in vivo contractile muscle function were assessed, systemic myostatin and glycated hemoglobin were quantified, gastrocnemii were weighed and analyzed for fiber type composition, and femur microarchitecture and biomechanical properties were analyzed.ResultsGlycated hemoglobin was significantly higher in diabetic mice compared to non-diabetic mice and diabetic mice treated with insulin. In diabetic mice, the combination of insulin and MyoAb resulted in higher lean mass, higher average gastrocnemius weight and larger muscle fiber size (Type IIB, IIX and hybrid fibers) compared to no treatment. In vivo contractile muscle function testing showed that insulin increased muscle torque in diabetic mice, however there was no effect of the MyoAb. Lastly, microarchitecture analysis of the distal femur showed improvement in some, but not all trabecular bone properties, in mice treated with insulin alone or together with MyoAb. Specifically, trabecular thickness and trabecular bone volume fraction were higher with combination treatment compared to insulin treatment alone.ConclusionsMyostatin inhibition when used in conjunction with insulin treatment improves muscle mass and trabecular bone properties in a mouse model of insulin-deficient diabetes in female mice.
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spelling doaj-art-ee8041f9bd924578a25b59044790f2572025-08-20T02:33:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Endocrinology1664-23922025-06-011610.3389/fendo.2025.15587401558740A myostatin inhibitory antibody combined with insulin, partially rescues the musculoskeletal phenotype of female insulin-deficient diabetic miceR. Clay Bunn0Reuben Adatorwovor1Philip D. Ray2Alexander R. Keeble3Christopher S. Fry4Sasidhar Uppuganti5Jeffry S. Nyman6John L. Fowlkes7Evangelia Kalaitzoglou8Department of Pediatrics and Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United StatesDepartment of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United StatesDepartment of Pediatrics and Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United StatesCenter for Muscle Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United StatesCenter for Muscle Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United StatesDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Vandebilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United StatesDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, United StatesDepartment of Pediatrics and Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United StatesDepartment of Pediatrics and Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United StatesIntroductionType 1 diabetes is associated with deficits in both skeletal muscle and bone. Inhibition of myostatin, a negative regulator of muscle mass, was explored as a druggable target to improve the musculoskeletal phenotype associated with insulin-deficient diabetes in female mice.MethodsWe investigated whether administration of an inhibitory myostatin antibody (MyoAb) in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in female mice is protective for skeletal muscle and bone. DBA/2J female mice were injected with low-dose streptozotocin or with citrate buffer (vehicle). Subsequently, mice were implanted with insulin-containing or vehicle pellets, with groups being randomized to myostatin or control antibody for 8 weeks. At study end, body composition and in vivo contractile muscle function were assessed, systemic myostatin and glycated hemoglobin were quantified, gastrocnemii were weighed and analyzed for fiber type composition, and femur microarchitecture and biomechanical properties were analyzed.ResultsGlycated hemoglobin was significantly higher in diabetic mice compared to non-diabetic mice and diabetic mice treated with insulin. In diabetic mice, the combination of insulin and MyoAb resulted in higher lean mass, higher average gastrocnemius weight and larger muscle fiber size (Type IIB, IIX and hybrid fibers) compared to no treatment. In vivo contractile muscle function testing showed that insulin increased muscle torque in diabetic mice, however there was no effect of the MyoAb. Lastly, microarchitecture analysis of the distal femur showed improvement in some, but not all trabecular bone properties, in mice treated with insulin alone or together with MyoAb. Specifically, trabecular thickness and trabecular bone volume fraction were higher with combination treatment compared to insulin treatment alone.ConclusionsMyostatin inhibition when used in conjunction with insulin treatment improves muscle mass and trabecular bone properties in a mouse model of insulin-deficient diabetes in female mice.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1558740/fulltype 1 diabetesskeletal musclebonemyostatininsulin
spellingShingle R. Clay Bunn
Reuben Adatorwovor
Philip D. Ray
Alexander R. Keeble
Christopher S. Fry
Sasidhar Uppuganti
Jeffry S. Nyman
John L. Fowlkes
Evangelia Kalaitzoglou
A myostatin inhibitory antibody combined with insulin, partially rescues the musculoskeletal phenotype of female insulin-deficient diabetic mice
Frontiers in Endocrinology
type 1 diabetes
skeletal muscle
bone
myostatin
insulin
title A myostatin inhibitory antibody combined with insulin, partially rescues the musculoskeletal phenotype of female insulin-deficient diabetic mice
title_full A myostatin inhibitory antibody combined with insulin, partially rescues the musculoskeletal phenotype of female insulin-deficient diabetic mice
title_fullStr A myostatin inhibitory antibody combined with insulin, partially rescues the musculoskeletal phenotype of female insulin-deficient diabetic mice
title_full_unstemmed A myostatin inhibitory antibody combined with insulin, partially rescues the musculoskeletal phenotype of female insulin-deficient diabetic mice
title_short A myostatin inhibitory antibody combined with insulin, partially rescues the musculoskeletal phenotype of female insulin-deficient diabetic mice
title_sort myostatin inhibitory antibody combined with insulin partially rescues the musculoskeletal phenotype of female insulin deficient diabetic mice
topic type 1 diabetes
skeletal muscle
bone
myostatin
insulin
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1558740/full
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