Roles of phosphatase and tensin homolog in skeletal muscle.

The phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), originally identified as a tumor suppressor, is an important regulator of the PI3K-Akt pathway. PTEN plays crucial roles in various cellular processes, including cell survival, cell growth, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and cell metabolism. In metabolic tissues, PTEN expression affects insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis. In skeletal muscle, the deletion of PTEN regulates muscle development and protects the mutant mice from insulin resistance and diabetes. Notably, the regulatory role of PTEN in skeletal muscle stem cells has been recently reported. In this review, we mainly discuss the role of PTEN in regulating the development, glucose metabolism, stem cell fate decision, and regeneration of skeletal muscle.