Follistatin as a potent regulator of bone metabolism.

Follistatin is a monomeric glycoprotein, distributed in a wide range of tissues. Recent work has demonstrated that this protein is a pluripotential molecule that has no structural similarity but is functionally associated with members of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß superfamily, which indicates its wide range of action. Members of the TGF-ß superfamily, especially activins and bone morphogenetic proteins are involved in bone metabolism. They play an important role in bone physiology, influencing bone growth, turnover, bone formation and cartilage induction. As follistatin is considered to be the antagonist of the TGF-ß superfamily members, it plays an important role in bone metabolism and development.