<Table> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> View / Edit Human </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> View / Edit Mouse </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> View / Edit Human </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> View / Edit Mouse </Td> </Tr> <P> Myostatin (also known as growth differentiation factor 8, abbreviated GDF - 8) is a myokine, a protein produced and released by myocytes that acts on muscle cells' autocrine function to inhibit myogenesis: muscle cell growth and differentiation . In humans it is encoded by the MSTN gene . Myostatin is a secreted growth differentiation factor that is a member of the TGF beta protein family . </P> <P> Animals either lacking myostatin or treated with substances that block the activity of myostatin have significantly more muscle mass . Furthermore, individuals who have mutations in both copies of the myostatin gene have significantly more muscle mass and are stronger than normal . There is hope that studies into myostatin may have therapeutic application in treating muscle wasting diseases such as muscular dystrophy . </P>

Myostatin is part of the growth factor super family and functions to
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