Journal of Applied Physiology
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J Appl Physiol (March 1, 2007). doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00089.2007
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Submitted on January 19, 2007
Accepted on February 20, 2007

Protein Kinase B/ Akt: A Nexus of Growth Factor and Cytokine Signaling in Determining Muscle Mass

Robert A. Frost1* and Charles H. Lang1

1 Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: rfrost{at}psu.edu.

Although genetics fundamentally determines the boundaries of skeletal muscle size this dynamic tissue also demonstrates great plasticity in response to environmental and hormonal factors. Recent work indicates that contractile activity, nutrients, growth factors and cytokines all contribute to determining muscle mass. Muscle responds not only to endocrine hormones but also to the autocrine production of growth factors and cytokines. Skeletal muscle synthesizes anabolic growth factors such as insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and potentially inhibitory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-{alpha} and myostatin. These self-regulating inputs in turn influence muscle metabolism including the utilization of nutrients such as glucose and amino acids. These changes are principally achieved by altering the activity of the protein kinase known as protein kinase B or Akt. Akt plays a central role in integrating anabolic and catabolic responses by transducing growth factor and cytokine signals via changes in the phosphorylation of its numerous substrates. Activation of Akt stimulates muscle hypertrophy and antagonizes the loss of muscle protein. Here we review the many signals that funnel through Akt to alter muscle mass.




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