TY - JOUR T1 - Muscle regrowth in COPD patients induced by anabolic steroids is amplified by systemic glucocorticoids (GC): A potentiating interaction between GC and IGF-1? JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 38 IS - Suppl 55 SP - p3485 AU - Nicholas A.M. Pansters AU - Ramon C.J. Langen AU - Annemie M.W.J. Schols Y1 - 2011/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p3485.abstract N2 - Muscle wasting is associated with poor prognosis in COPD. Anabolic steroids can induce muscle regrowth and stimulate muscle insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling, while high dose systemic glucocorticoids (GC) can induce muscle atrophy. The current study aimed to gain insight into the combined effect of GC and anabolic stimulation on muscle. Post-hoc analysis of a previously published clinical trial (Creutzberg, et al. Chest 2003; 124:1733–1742) investigating nandrolone decanoate (ND) efficacy on male COPD patients revealed that gain in fat-free mass (assessed by deuterium dilution), was highest in ND/GC 2.27±0.42 kg (mean±SEM; p<0.05) vs ND/no-GC 1.10±0.84kg (NS) compared to their respective controls placebo/GC and placebo/no-GC. Muscle function determined by peak workload similarly increased most in the ND/GC group 22.25±5.11W (p<0.05) vs ND/no-GC 8.54±4.06W (NS) compared to their respective controls. During muscle regrowth activated satellite cells (myoblasts), differentiate and fuse with myofibers, which is stimulated by IGF-I. In cultured C2C12 myoblasts. GC strongly impaired (>2-fold) and IGF-I stimulated (>2.5-fold) multiple parameters of muscle differentiation, like Creatine Kinase activity, muscle contractile protein content and myoblast fusion. However when combined, a synergistic stimulation (>3-fold) of myogenic differentiation parameters was observed, which is in line with our clinical data. Unraveling the potentiating interaction between GC and IGF-I may provide new leads to enhance efficacy of intervention strategies to prevent/or restore muscle wasting in COPD. ER -