| abstract |
A novel method of increasing muscle mass by immunization against growth differentiation factor 8 (GDF-8, myostatin) is provided. Preferably the immunization is by administration of a GDF-8 analog that can cause antibody production against isoform GDF-8. Particularly preferred as immunogens are homozygous GDF-8 modified by introducing a single or somewhat adventitious, immunodominant and orthogonal T-cell epitope while substantially maintaining the tertiary structure of isoform GDF-8. Also provided are methods and means useful for vaccination, as well as nucleic acid vaccination and live vaccine against GDF-8. Such methods and means include nucleic acid fragments, vectors, transformed cells, polypeptides and pharmacological combinations, as well as methods for identifying useful immunogenic GDF-8 analogs, and methods for preparing analogs and pharmacological combinations. |