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.
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.
Authors: Xiaolan Zhou; Jin Lin Wang; John Lu; Yanping Song; Keith S Kwak; Qingsheng Jiao; Robert Rosenfeld; Qing Chen; Thomas Boone; W Scott Simonet; David L Lacey; Alfred L Goldberg; H Q Han Journal: Cell Date: 2010-08-20 Impact factor: 41.582
Authors: Gillian P Ritson; Sara K Custer; Brian D Freibaum; Jake B Guinto; Dyanna Geffel; Jennifer Moore; Waixing Tang; Matthew J Winton; Manuela Neumann; John Q Trojanowski; Virginia M-Y Lee; Mark S Forman; J Paul Taylor Journal: J Neurosci Date: 2010-06-02 Impact factor: 6.167
Authors: Jorge L Ruas; James P White; Rajesh R Rao; Sandra Kleiner; Kevin T Brannan; Brooke C Harrison; Nicholas P Greene; Jun Wu; Jennifer L Estall; Brian A Irving; Ian R Lanza; Kyle A Rasbach; Mitsuharu Okutsu; K Sreekumaran Nair; Zhen Yan; Leslie A Leinwand; Bruce M Spiegelman Journal: Cell Date: 2012-12-07 Impact factor: 41.582
Authors: Gregory K Potts; Rachel M McNally; Rocky Blanco; Jae-Sung You; Alexander S Hebert; Michael S Westphall; Joshua J Coon; Troy A Hornberger Journal: J Physiol Date: 2017-07-04 Impact factor: 5.182
Authors: Frank W Booth; Christian K Roberts; John P Thyfault; Gregory N Ruegsegger; Ryan G Toedebusch Journal: Physiol Rev Date: 2017-10-01 Impact factor: 37.312