Scientists have identified a novel method to increase muscle strength through androgen hormones while potentially avoiding their dangerous side effects. An international research team has demonstrated that the receptor GPR133 can be activated by the potent androgen 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT), offering new therapeutic possibilities for muscle-related conditions.
The Power of Androgens
Leipzig University researchers discover alternative activation method that avoids typical steroid side effects.Androgens, the hormones responsible for male sexual characteristics, play crucial roles in physical development. 5α-DHT, the most powerful androgen, drives bone mineralization and muscle growth during puberty while maintaining musculoskeletal function throughout life. However, traditional androgen therapies carry significant risks including potential cancer development.
Breakthrough Receptor Discovery
“We’ve found that GPR133 responds to 5α-DHT activation, which can enhance skeletal muscle contractile force,” explained Professor Ines Liebscher, signal transduction expert at Leipzig University and study co-leader. “Using our newly developed activator AP503, we can specifically trigger this beneficial effect.”
Avoiding Dangerous Side Effects
The research demonstrates that AP503 increases muscle strength without causing prostate tissue changes typically seen with testosterone treatments. Mouse studies showed conventional androgens induced precancerous prostate changes within two weeks – effects notably absent with AP503 treatment.
Molecular Blueprint for Future Therapies
Using structural biology techniques, the team mapped the precise interactions between 5α-DHT, AP503 and GPR133. This molecular understanding allows for targeted optimization of the activator, paving the way for developing new muscle-strengthening drugs with improved safety profiles.
International Collaboration Yields Promising Results
The study represents years of productive partnership between Leipzig University’s Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry and Professor Jin-Peng Sun’s team at Shandong University, China. While current findings come from animal models, researchers are pursuing follow-up studies to explore AP503’s clinical potential and GPR133’s broader biological functions.
Next Steps Toward Human Applications
Research teams are now investigating AP503’s effects in disease models and GPR133’s organism-wide roles. Further studies will determine whether these promising results can translate to human treatments, potentially revolutionizing androgen-based therapies.
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