Dear Colleagues,

Loss of muscle mass is a common adaptation to many diseases (e.g., diabetes, cancer, heart failure, respiratory failure, renal failure, and sepsis) due to an imbalance of protein synthesis and protein degradation. Compelling data have demonstrated that increased proteolysis is the main factor explaining muscle wasting. The ubiquitin–proteasome and lysosome–autophagy proteolytic systems are responsible for majority of this adaptation, and most efforts have been concentrated on deciphering the mechanisms by which proteolysis modifies protein homeostasis during catabolic situations. However, muscle atrophy is highly coordinated and implies the regulation of several metabolic pathways, which suggests our efforts should not merely be restricted to proteolysis. In the past 20 years, numerous studies have allowed for the depiction of a theoretical framework that, although still incomplete, provides a basis for the development of tentative therapeutic strategies.

Indeed, muscle loss contributes to frailty syndrome and is associated with an impaired quality of life and increased risk of death irrespective of the causal disease. Furthermore, muscle atrophy also induces decreased efficiency of treatments. Fighting against muscle loss is thus a major goal for ameliorating patient health. This Special Issue will gather recent insights into the mechanisms driving muscle atrophy and new potential therapeutic approaches.

Dr. Daniel Taillandier
Prof. Damien Freyssenet
Guest Editors

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• muscle atrophy
• human diseases
• proteolysis
• protein synthesis
• ubiquitin proteasome system
• autophagy
• therapeutic strategies