Follistatin 315 is one of three naturally occurring isoforms of follistatin. All forms of the globular protein bind activin, a protein that has a variety of effects depending on the tissue under consideration. For instance, activin induces cell proliferation in some tissues and restricts it in others. Follistatin, which inactivates activin, therefore has the opposite effects. The actions of follistatin are not just limited to activin, however. It also binds to myostatin in muscle tissue, dramatically boosting muscle cell proliferation and growth. Research shows that follistatin is also involved in the inflammatory response, plays a role in development of the embryo, and influences fertility.
The full effects of follistatin are not entirely known. The protein was first isolated from ovarian follicular fluid and was described as an inhibitor of follicle-stimulating hormone. Research has revealed that the intact protein begins as a 344-amino-acid precursor that is modified to create follistatin 315, 300, or 288. These various isoforms have similar effects, but are found in different tissues.
Research shows that disrupting the follistatin gene in newborn mice results in death within hours as a result of failed lung development. The knockout mice also have shiny skin, a number of facial deformities, defects in the axial skeleton, and impaired ovarian development. Attempts to rescue these mice by genetically engineering them to produce human follistatin 315 has revealed that the protein plays roles in blood vessel growth, muscle development, fat deposition, regulation of inflammation, and heart muscle function.
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