PLoS ONE, 2018 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0194440 · Published: March 26, 2018
This study investigates whether blocking sclerostin, a protein that inhibits bone formation, can prevent muscle loss after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. It compares the effects of a sclerostin antibody (Scl-Ab) to those of testosterone (TE), which is known to have muscle-building effects. The researchers found that Scl-Ab did not prevent muscle loss in the soleus muscle after SCI. This may be because the soleus muscle has low levels of the proteins that Scl-Ab needs to work. In comparison, TE partially prevented muscle loss. The study suggests that the effectiveness of TE in preventing muscle loss may depend on the type of muscle and its sensitivity to androgens (male hormones) because of the presence of androgen receptors. This work highlights that the anabolic actions of Scl-Ab occur relatively independently of muscle strain.
Targeting sclerostin inhibition alone may not be effective for preventing muscle atrophy after SCI, suggesting the need for combined approaches.
Considering androgen receptor expression in specific muscles may optimize testosterone therapy for muscle preservation after SCI.
Future studies should investigate the combination of sclerostin inhibition with mechanical loading to enhance muscle anabolic responses.