Submitted on October 11, 2007
Accepted on November 20, 2007
Mini-Review: Transforming Growth Factor-
and Myostatin Signaling in Skeletal Muscle
Helen D. Kollias1 and John C. McDermott2*
1 Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
2 Biology, York University, Toronto, Canada
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jmcderm{at}yorku.ca.
The superfamily of transforming growth factor 
(TGF-) cytokines has been shown to have profound effects on cellular proliferation, differentiation and growth. Recently, there have been major advances in our understanding of the signaling pathway(s) conveying TGF-signals to the nucleus to ultimately control gene expression. One tissue that is potently influenced by TGF-superfamily signaling is skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscle ontogeny and post-natal physiology have proven to be exquisitely sensitive to the TGF- superfamily cytokine milieu in various animal systems from mice to humans. Recently, major strides have been made in understanding the role of TGF- and its closely related family member, myostatin, in these processes. In this overview, we will review recent advances in our understanding of the TGF- and myostatin signaling pathways and, in particular, focus on the implications of this signaling pathway for skeletal muscle development, physiology, and pathology.
