The Follistatin gene, responsible for the production of the Follistatin protein, has a significant impact on muscle growth and metabolic function. Follistatin acts as an inhibitor of the myostatin pathway, allowing an increase in skeletal muscle mass and overall physical strength. This has implications for conditions characterized by muscle loss, including sarcopenia and muscular dystrophy.

Key metabolic roles of Follistatin include:

• Muscle Growth Enhancement: By inhibiting Myostatin, Follistatin encourages muscle growth, promoting increased muscle mass.

• Strengthening Physical Capacity: Greater muscle mass contributes to enhanced physical strength and endurance.

• Counteracting Muscle Deterioration: Follistatin's muscle-enhancing properties offer benefits for conditions associated with muscle loss.

• Metabolic Regulation: Follistatin assists in the reduction of inflammatory adipokines and cytokines, alleviating metabolic inflammation associated with obesity.

• Mitigating Osteoarthritis: Research suggests that Follistatin gene therapy protects against post-traumatic osteoarthritis and bone remodeling caused by joint injury.

With advancing age, and under specific disease conditions, levels of Follistatin decrease, leading to muscle weakness and loss. To reverse this, we deliver the Follistatin gene via circular DNA vector system. This approach boosts serum Follistatin levels long-term, promoting muscle growth and strength, and mitigating the effects of aging and muscle-related diseases. This Follistatin increase can also enhance metabolic function and serve as a broad therapeutic approach to injury-induced osteoarthritis and metabolic inflammation in obesity.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fragi.2022.931331

https://doi.org/10.3233/JND-150083

https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2121499119