Breakthrough in Muscle Preservation: BCL6 Protein's Role Unveiled

New research highlights the potential of the protein BCL6 in preserving muscle mass, especially when used with popular weight loss drugs. The study, by the Salk Institute, suggests therapeutic applications for older adults and patients with systemic diseases, aiming to counteract muscle loss linked to various conditions.


Devdiscourse News Desk | Updated: 26-01-2025 18:02 IST | Created: 26-01-2025 18:02 IST
Breakthrough in Muscle Preservation: BCL6 Protein's Role Unveiled
Weight Loss (Image Source: Pexels). Image Credit: ANI
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In the wake of increasing popularity of weight loss drugs like Ozempic, a new scientific inquiry has focused on how our bodies manage muscle growth. A recent study has illuminated the role of the protein BCL6 in maintaining muscle mass, proposing that enhancing this protein could aid users of GLP-1 drugs in retaining muscle while shedding fat. This groundbreaking finding could extend to helping other groups susceptible to muscle depletion, such as older adults and those with systemic diseases like sepsis or cancer.

Researchers at the Salk Institute have identified BCL6 as crucial for healthy muscle mass upkeep. Experiments on mice demonstrated that those with diminished BCL6 levels suffered considerable muscle mass and strength loss, but boosting BCL6 reversed these effects effectively. This suggests a potential strategy of combining GLP-1 medications with BCL6-enhancers to prevent undesirable muscle loss, with similar therapies possibly benefiting other at-risk populations.

Details of the findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on January 22, 2025. Ronald Evans, professor and director of the Gene Expression Laboratory at Salk, emphasized the importance of muscle maintenance for health and quality of life. The study offers insights into how muscle upkeep is coordinated with nutrition and energy levels, paving the way for therapeutic interventions for muscle loss due to weight loss, aging, or illness. The research indicates that fasting stimulates growth hormone release, reducing BCL6 in muscle cells, which regulates SOCS2. The absence of BCL6 disrupts SOCS2 control, substantially slowing IGF1 production, weakening muscles.

(With inputs from agencies.)

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