[The endocrine function of skeletal muscle]

Skeletal muscle has long been considered as an effector organ under the control of neural and humoral regulation. Recent studies indicated that skeletal muscle is not only an effector organ but also an endocrine organ. It is reported that the skeletal muscle can express, synthesis and secrete a lot of active factors, such as regulatory peptide, cytokine, growth factor and so on. The active factors play important roles not only in the growth, metabolism and motor function of skeletal muscle per se by paracrine/autocrine pathway but also in the function of peripheral tissues and organs by endocrine pathway. It is worthwhile to pay close attention to the significant effects of the skeletal muscle active factors on locomotor disease and some systemic diseases. This paper reviews the active factors secreted by skeletal muscles and their physiological and pathophysiological significance.