February 2024

ENDOCRINOLOGY

NEW STUDY UNCOVERS BCL6 GENE’S CRUCIAL ROLE IN MUSCLE MASS MAINTENANCE

Featuring: Grant D. Barish, MD

​Researchers at Northwestern Medicine have made a groundbreaking discovery, revealing an unexplored connection between the BCL6 gene and the establishment and upkeep of skeletal muscle mass and strength in mice. While the BCL6 gene was previously known for its involvement in immune cell function and the body’s inflammatory response, its role in metabolic tissue—specifically skeletal muscle—had remained a mystery until now.

Lead author Grant D. Barish, MD, the Martha Leland Sherwin Professor of Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, spearheaded this investigation. The study, recently published in the journal Nature Metabolism, employed various strategies to explore the gene’s function. By deleting the BCL6 gene during fetal development, the researchers observed a significant impact on pre-formed muscle tissue. Additionally, turning off the gene in adult mice led to rapid muscle mass loss. Even post-development, the BCL6 gene continued to play a crucial role in sustaining muscle.

The findings suggest that the BCL6 gene acts as a pivotal switch, controlling muscle mass by influencing both protein synthesis and degradation. This dual function—regulating transcription and impacting translation—highlights its significance in maintaining the delicate balance necessary for healthy muscle function.
Understanding the BCL6 gene’s role in muscle maintenance could have implications for conditions related to muscle wasting, such as sarcopenia and other muscle-related disorders. Further research may unlock new therapeutic avenues for enhancing muscle health and strength.

*This article was originally published in the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine News Center on February 13, 2024.
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Grant D. Barish, MD, is the Martha Leland Sherwin Professor of Medicine in the Endocrinology division. He is an affiliate of the Center for Diabetes and Metabolism and the Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics.

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