Musclin peptides and methods of use thereof

Abstract

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a musclin peptide and methods of increasing muscle growth, performance, resistance to injury and/or preventing or reducing muscle atrophy and improving overall skeletal muscle, metabolic and cardiac health in an animal in need thereof by administering a musclin peptide.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A musclin peptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         2 . A musclin peptide of  claim 1 , comprising an amino acid sequence having 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         3 . A musclin peptide of  claim 1 , comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         4 . A musclin peptide of  claim 1 , comprising an amino acid sequence having 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         5 . A therapeutic composition comprising the musclin peptide of  claim 1 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         6 . The therapeutic composition of  claim 5 , further comprising a hormone. 
     
     
         7 . The therapeutic composition of  claim 6 , wherein the hormone is a growth hormone or other hormone such as atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). 
     
     
         8 . A method of increasing muscle growth, performance, resistance to injury and/or preventing or reducing muscle atrophy in an animal in need thereof, comprising administering a musclin peptide having at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, or SEQ ID NO:4 to the animal. 
     
     
         9 . A method of promoting overall exercise tolerance, physical performance and/or cardiovascular function and/or fitness in an animal in need thereof, comprising administering a musclin peptide having at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, or SEQ ID NO:4 to the animal. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the musclin peptide has 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the musclin peptide has 100% identity to SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the musclin peptide is administered subcutaneously, intramuscularly, subfascia, intravenously, intra-fat, peritoneal, inhaled, by infusion pump, transdermally, intradermally, orally, or rectally. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the musclin peptide is administered subcutaneously. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the musclin peptide is administered prior to a medical procedure or stress-inducing event. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the musclin peptide is administered after a medical procedure or stress-inducing event. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the musclin peptide is administered after the animal has fasted for more than 6 hours. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the musclin peptide is administered about an hour before or an hour after ingesting food. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the animal is a mammal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the mammal is a human, dog, cat, or horse. 
     
     
         20 . A method of increasing biogenesis of mitochondria and adaptation of muscle in an animal in need thereof, comprising administering the musclin peptide of  claim 1  to the animal. 
     
     
         21 . A coated device comprising:
 (a) a solid substrate; and   (b) a solid composite comprising the musclin peptide according to  claim 1  in an adherent layer on the solid substrate.   
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the solid substrate has a metal surface. 
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the solid substrate has a polymeric surface.