Fetal growth restriction in pigs is linked to dysregulation of a gene, known as beta-Klotho (KLB).
Researchers from the Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh used pigs as a naturally occurring disease model, to understand the mechanisms of impaired muscle growth in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). IUGR is a condition that leads to poor growth of a fetus during pregnancy in humans and animals, risking the onset of muscle loss, and metabolic disease in later life.
'Fetal growth restriction is an important cause of newborn disease and death in humans and domestic animals, particularly in pigs. Our results help understand this condition, informing the next steps towards improving life-long welfare in affected individuals.' stated co-author of this study, Dr Xavier Donadeu.
The study, published in the Journal of Physiology, involved RNA sequencing performed on fetal skeletal muscle from pairs of male pigs one with IUGR and one normal-weight from four litters. The study revealed upregulation of KLB in the IUGR group. The KLB gene works with a hormone, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), to inhibit a protein that is needed for normal cell growth, survival, and metabolism.
The KLB gene was found to bring about the effects of IUGR on muscle development, and the study authors found that the gene was linked to a reduction in muscle cell activity and growth.
The authors, however, acknowledged in their paper that the translation of these findings from pigs to humans must be undertaken with caution. 'It must be noted that our conclusions using human fetal cells are based on a relatively small number of biological replicates, and so further studies are warranted to confirm these findings and provide additional mechanistic insight on the effects of IUGR on early human muscle development.'