For the most part, we take our muscles for granted. Some of us, however, are not so lucky. Many cancer patients suffer from the muscle-destroying effects of cachexia. Their muscles literally waste away, irrespective of nutritional intake. It’s therefore exciting that researchers at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute (Boston, MA) have identified a new protein responsible for muscle growth and power. This discovery could not only help our understanding of muscle development, but lead to new treatment avenues.
This particular protein, called PGC-1 alpha-4, is normally activated by resistance exercise (such as weight lifting). The result? Increased muscle size and strength. So, how does it work? Well, PGC-1 alpha-4 simultaneously tells your body to accelerate muscle growth and silence muscle-growth inhibitors. Essentially, it’s giving the green light for body-building, and removing any speed bumps that would otherwise slow it down.
When mice suffering from cancer were given an artificial boost of this protein, they were substantially less likely to suffer the debilitating effects of cachexia (10% vs. 29%, respectively). In addition to one day helping cancer patients, this discovery could also be applied to treating muscle loss from muscular dystrophy or from being bedridden. For now, it seems that the only way to bulk up in a healthy manner is to lift some weights – perhaps lugging around holiday gifts counts?
