Muscle atrophy; more than one string to MuRF1's bow?

摘要

The unintended loss of skeletal muscle mass is common in a number of disease states (e.g. cancer, AIDS, sepsis or following bedrest) and can have debilitating consequences for the patient, often leading to a reduced quality of life and a protracted recovery period. Furthermore, muscle acts as an important reservoir of proteins, which are relied upon during periods of disease to provide substrates for hepatic gluconeogenesis and acute phase protein production. Therefore, in the clinical setting it is important to adopt measures that will maintain muscle mass, aiding the recovery process and improving overall outcome. In a bid to prevent or reverse the loss of muscle mass observed in cachectic-inducing conditions it is first necessary to understand the mechanisms responsible for the loss of muscle protein content.