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| Research Advances in MSTN Gene Regulation of Animal Gut Microbiome and Application Prospects for Targeted Probiotics |
| GAO Li, WANG Li-Li, WEN Tong* |
| College of Ecology and Environment, Baotou Teachers' College, Baotou 014030, China |
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Abstract Myostatin (MSTN) is a key factor widely present in higher animals, primarily involved in the regulation of muscle development and lipid metabolism. Loss-of-function mutations or downregulated expression of MSTN can consistently induce a significant "double-muscling" phenotype in various animal models. Recent studies have further revealed that in animals with MSTN gene mutations, the structure and function of their gut microbiota undergo specific remodeling, which serves as a central mediator to significantly regulate the host's energy metabolism and muscle-fat balance. As the "second genome" of the host, gut microbes have been demonstrated to profoundly influence host metabolism and physiological functions. This review focusing on the important metabolic regulator MSTN, systematically reviews research progress on the changes in gut microbiota of MSTN-mutated animals, the correlation between MSTN activity and gut microbiota in non-genetically edited animal models, the mechanisms by which MSTN inhibition mediates gut microbiota remodeling to influence host metabolism, and the potential and challenges of exploring probiotics targeting the MSTN pathway. Through this perspective, the review aimed to elucidate the interaction between host genetic traits and gut microbial communities, providing a comprehensive scientific reference and clear research directions for the efficient development and utilization of genetically edited animal resources with significant economic value (particularly in meat animal breeding and production enhancement), especially their unique and regulable microbiome resources.
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Received: 17 July 2025
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Corresponding Authors:
*wentong1029@sina.com
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