{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "93e47aa4e87647fcacd443a90868ebe2", "timestamp": "2026-09-01T08:24:38.068Z", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/93e47aa4e87647fcacd443a90868ebe2.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/93e47aa4e87647fcacd443a90868ebe2"}}, "title": "Systemic administration of monovalent follistatin-like 3-Fc-fusion protein increases muscle mass in mice.", "authors": [{"family": "Ozawa", "given": "Takayuki", "initials": "T"}, {"family": "Morikawa", "given": "Masato", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Morishita", "given": "Yasuyuki", "initials": "Y"}, {"family": "Ogikubo", "given": "Kazuki", "initials": "K"}, {"family": "Itoh", "given": "Fumiko", "initials": "F"}, {"family": "Koinuma", "given": "Daizo", "initials": "D"}, {"family": "Nygren", "given": "Per-\u00c5ke", "initials": "P\u00c5"}, {"family": "Miyazono", "given": "Kohei", "initials": "K"}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2021-05-21", "journal": {"title": "iScience", "issn": "2589-0042", "volume": "24", "issue": "5", "pages": "102488", "issn-l": null}, "abstract": "Targeting the signaling pathway of growth differentiation factor 8 (GDF8), also known as myostatin, has been regarded as a promising strategy to increase muscle mass in the elderly and in patients. Accumulating evidence in animal models and clinical trials has indicated that a rational approach is to inhibit a limited number of transforming growth factor \u03b2 (TGF-\u03b2) family ligands, including GDF8 and activin A, without affecting other members. Here, we focused on one of the endogenous antagonists against TGF-\u03b2 family ligands, follistatin-like 3 (FSTL3), which mainly binds and neutralizes activins, GDF8, and GDF11. Although bivalent human FSTL3 Fc-fusion protein was rapidly cleared from mouse circulation similar to follistatin (FST)-Fc, monovalent FSTL3-Fc (mono-FSTL3-Fc) generated with the knobs-into-holes technology exhibited longer serum half-life. Systemic administration of mono-FSTL3-Fc in mice induced muscle fiber hypertrophy and increased muscle mass in vivo. Our results indicate that the monovalent FSTL3-based therapy overcomes the difficulties of current anti-GDF8 therapies.", "doi": "10.1016/j.isci.2021.102488", "pmid": "34113826", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC8170004"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "S2589-0042(21)00456-9"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-20T07:57:42.047Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T07:57:42.095Z"}