Role of Ca²⁺ signaling in skeletal muscle hypertrophy and atrophy

Abstract

Skeletal muscle maintains an adequate volume that is commensurate with its surrounding environment. Although intracellular signaling molecules and pathways underlying the regulation of protein synthesis/degradation and subsequent muscle hypertrophy/atrophy are well studied, upstream regulators are largely unknown. In this review, we summarize the recent advances relating to the role of Ca²⁺ signaling as an upstream regulator of intracellular signaling pathways that regulate muscle plasticity, suggesting a new therapeutic target to control muscle mass.