Study Reveals BCL6 Role in Combating Muscle Loss

There has been a recent surge in popularity for weight loss drugs like Ozempic, which are collectively referred to as GLP-1. This has sparked renewed scientific interest in understanding how our body regulates muscle growth. In a recent study, scientists have linked the protein BCL6 to the maintenance of muscle mass and further suggested that BCL6-boosting treatments can help GLP-1 users maintain muscle mass while losing fat.

Similar treatments may also be used to treat other populations prone to muscle loss, such as older adults and patients with systemic illnesses such as sepsis or cancer. A new study from the Salk Institute has shown that a protein called BCL6 is important for maintaining healthy muscles. Experiments showed that mice with low levels of BCL6 had significantly reduced muscle mass and strength, but increasing BCL6 successfully reversed those losses.

The results suggest that combining GLP-1 drugs with BCL6-enhancing medication may help combat unwanted muscle loss. Similar therapies may also be used to treat other populations prone to muscle loss, such as older adults and patients with systemic diseases such as sepsis or cancer.

The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on January 22, 2025. "Muscle is the most abundant tissue in the human body, so its maintenance is critical to our health and quality of life.

"Our study shows how our body coordinates the maintenance of all of these muscles with our nutrition and energy levels, and with this new insight, we can develop therapeutic interventions for patients who lose muscle mass as a side effect of weight loss, age or disease," says Ronald Evans, Ph.D., a professor and director of the Gene Expression Laboratory at Salk. "

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not a substitute for any medicine or treatment. Always consult your doctor for more information.