Myostatin, insulin-like growth factor-1, and leukemia inhibitory factor mRNAs are upregulated in chronic human disuse muscle atrophy

Human disuse muscle atrophy frequently accompanies orthopedic injury, arthritis, or bed rest, and recovery is often incomplete despite current rehabilitation programs. We have studied the vastus lateralis muscle in 12 patients with chronic disuse atrophy associated with chronic osteoarthritis of the hip both preoperatively and after total hip arthroplasty. Semiquantitative reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) demonstrated an increase in the level of expression of myostatin, insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) mRNAs compared to healthy control muscle. In all patients there was a significant correlation preoperatively between increasing myostatin mRNA expression and reduction in type 2A and 2B fiber area. In the 8 female patients there was a significant correlation between increased myostatin mRNA expression and the atrophy factor calculated for 2A and 2B fiber types preoperatively. We hypothesize that a complex interaction occurs between muscle growth regulating factors in the genesis of muscle wasting. Our results indicate that myostatin is a muscle‐wasting factor contributing to type 2B and 2A atrophy. Other muscle growth factors, such as IGF‐1 and LIF, may be upregulated in a counterregulatory fashion or may be involved in the fiber type switching seen in disuse muscle wasting. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 24: 893–899, 2001