1
|
Abou Kors T, Hofmann L, Betzler A, Payer K, Bens M, Truong J, von Witzleben A, Thomas J, Kraus JM, Kalaajieh R, Huber D, Ezić J, Benckendorff J, Greve J, Schuler PJ, Ottensmeier CH, Kestler HA, Hoffmann TK, Theodoraki MN, Brunner C, Laban S. INHBA is Enriched in HPV-negative Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Promotes Cancer Progression. Cancer Res Commun 2024; 4:571-587. [PMID: 38329386 PMCID: PMC10901070 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-23-0258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) exhibit a better prognosis than those with HPV-negative OPSCC. This study investigated the distinct molecular pathways that delineate HPV-negative from HPV-positive OPSCC to identify biologically relevant therapeutic targets. Bulk mRNA from 23 HPV-negative and 39 HPV-positive OPSCC tumors (n = 62) was sequenced to uncover the transcriptomic profiles. Differential expression followed by gene set enrichment analysis was performed to outline the top enriched biological process in the HPV-negative compared with HPV-positive entity. INHBA, the highest overexpressed gene in the HPV-negative tumor, was knocked down. Functional assays (migration, proliferation, cell death, stemness) were conducted to confirm the target's oncogenic role. Correlation analyses to reveal its impact on the tumor microenvironment were performed. We revealed that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the most enriched process in HPV-negative compared with HPV-positive OPSCC, with INHBA (inhibin beta A subunit) being the top upregulated gene. INHBA knockdown downregulated the expression of EMT transcription factors and attenuated migration, proliferation, stemness, and cell death resistance of OPSCC cells. We uncovered that INHBA associates with a pro-tumor microenvironment by negatively correlating with antitumor CD8+ T and B cells while positively correlating with pro-tumor M1 macrophages. We identified three miRNAs that are putatively involved in repressing INHBA expression. Our results indicate that the upregulation of INHBA is tumor-promoting. We propose INHBA as an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of INHBA-enriched tumors in patients with HPV-negative OPSCC to ameliorate prognosis. SIGNIFICANCE Patients with HPV-negative OPSCC have a poorer prognosis due to distinct molecular pathways. This study reveals significant transcriptomic differences between HPV-negative and HPV-positive OPSCC, identifying INHBA as a key upregulated gene in HPV-negative OPSCC's oncogenic pathways. INHBA is crucial in promoting EMT, cell proliferation, and an immunosuppressive tumor environment, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for HPV-negative OPSCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tsima Abou Kors
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Linda Hofmann
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Annika Betzler
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Kathrina Payer
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Martin Bens
- Fritz Lipmann Institute, Leibniz Institute on Aging, University of Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Jens Truong
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Adrian von Witzleben
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jaya Thomas
- Cancer Sciences Unit, University of Southampton, Faculty of Medicine, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Johann M Kraus
- Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Randa Kalaajieh
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Diana Huber
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jasmin Ezić
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Jens Greve
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Patrick J Schuler
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Christian H Ottensmeier
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Liverpool Head and Neck Center, University of Liverpool, Faculty of Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Hans A Kestler
- Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Thomas K Hoffmann
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Marie-Nicole Theodoraki
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Cornelia Brunner
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Simon Laban
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cao J, Zhong Q, Huang Y, Zhu M, Wang Z, Xiong Z. Identification and validation of INHBE and P4HA1 as hub genes in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 686:149180. [PMID: 37922570 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.149180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently the most prevalent type of liver disease and a worldwide disease threatening human health. This study aims to identify the novel diagnostic biomarkers of NAFLD by comprehensive bioinformatics and machine learning, and to validate our results in hepatocyte and animal models. METHODS We used Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases on NAFLD patients for differential gene expression analyses. Intersections were taken with genes from the key modules of WGCNA and differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Machine learning algorithms like LASSO regression analysis, SVM-RFE, and RandomForest were used to screen hub genes. In addition, a nomogram model and calibration curves were built in order to forecast the probability of NAFLD occurrence. Then, the relationship between hub genes and immune cells was verified using Spearman analysis. Finally, we further verified the expression of key genes by constructing a steatosis hepatocyte model and animal model. RESULTS Key genes (INHBE and P4HA1) were identified by comprehensive bioinformatics analysis and machine learning. INHBE and P4HA1 were up-regulated and down-regulated in the steatosis hepatocyte model, respectively. Animal experiments also showed that INHBE was up-regulated in the liver of mice fed with high fat diet (HFD). CONCLUSION INHBE and P4HA1 are the hub genes of NAFLD. Our findings may contribute to a greater understanding of the occurrence and development of NAFLD and provide potential biomarkers and possible therapeutic targets for future clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiali Cao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Liyuan Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430077, China
| | - Qiangqiang Zhong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Liyuan Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430077, China
| | - Yumei Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Liyuan Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430077, China
| | - Mengpei Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Liyuan Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430077, China
| | - Ziwen Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Liyuan Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430077, China
| | - Zhifan Xiong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Liyuan Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430077, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhang H, Wang Z, Zhou Q, Cao Z, Jiang Y, Xu M, Liu J, Zhou J, Yan G, Sun H. Downregulated INHBB in endometrial tissue of recurrent implantation failure patients impeded decidualization through the ADCY1/cAMP signalling pathway. J Assist Reprod Genet 2023; 40:1135-1146. [PMID: 36913138 PMCID: PMC10239411 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-023-02762-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aims to identify the mechanism of Inhibin Subunit Beta B (INHBB), a member of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family involved in the regulation of human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) decidualization in recurrent implantation failure (RIF). METHODS RNA-seq was conducted to identify the differentially expressed genes in the endometria from control and RIF patients. RT-qPCR, WB, and immunohistochemistry were performed to analyse the expression levels of INHBB in endometrium and decidualised HESCs. RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence were used to detect changes in the decidual marker genes and cytoskeleton after knockdown INHBB. Then, RNA-seq was used to dig out the mechanism of INHBB regulating decidualization. The cAMP analogue (forskolin) and si-INHBB were used to investigate the involvement of INHBB in the cAMP signalling pathway. The correlation of INHBB and ADCY expression was analysed by Pearson's correlation analysis. RESULTS Our results showed significantly reduced expression of INHBB in endometrial stromal cells of women with RIF. In addition, INHBB was increased in the endometrium of the secretory phase and significantly induced in in-vitro decidualization of HESCs. Notably, with RNA-seq and siRNA-mediated knockdown approaches, we demonstrated that the INHBB-ADCY1-mediated cAMP signalling pathway regulates the reduction of decidualization. We found a positive association between the expression of INHBB and ADCY1 in endometria with RIF (R2 = 0.3785, P = 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS The decline of INHBB in HESCs suppressed ADCY1-induced cAMP production and cAMP-mediated signalling, which attenuated decidualization in RIF patients, indicating that INHBB is an essential component in the decidualization process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhilong Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Quan Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhiwen Cao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yue Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Manlin Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jingyu Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jidong Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guijun Yan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
- Center for Molecular Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Haixiang Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Staudacher JJ, Arnold A, Kühl AA, Pötzsch M, Daum S, Winterfeld M, Berg E, Hummel M, Rau B, Stein U, Treese C. Prognostic impact of activin subunit inhibin beta A in gastric and esophageal adenocarcinomas. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:953. [PMID: 36064338 PMCID: PMC9446826 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-10016-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Adenocarcinomas of the esophagus (AEG) and stomach (AS) are among the most common cancers worldwide. Novel markers for risk stratification and guiding treatment are strongly needed. Activin is a multi-functional cytokine with context specific pro- and anti-tumorigenic effects. We aimed to investigate the prognostic role of activin tumor protein expression in AEG/ASs. METHODS Tissue from a retrospective cohort of 277 patients with AEG/AS treated primarily by surgery at the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin was collected and analyzed by immunohistochemistry using a specific antibody to the activin homodimer inhibin beta A. Additionally, we evaluated T-cell infiltration and PD1 expression as well as expression of PD-L1 by immunohistochemistry as possible confounding factors. Clinico-pathologic data were collected and correlated with activin protein expression. RESULTS Out of 277 tumor samples, 72 (26.0%) exhibited high activin subunit inhibin beta A protein expression. Higher expression was correlated with lower Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stage and longer overall survival. Interestingly, activin subunit expression correlated with CD4+ T-cell infiltration, and the correlation with higher overall survival was exclusively seen in tumors with high CD4+ T-cell infiltration, pointing towards a role of activin in the tumor immune response in AEG/ASs. CONCLUSION In our cohort of AEG/AS, higher activin subunit levels were correlated with longer overall survival, an effect exclusively seen in tumors with high CD4+ cell infiltration. Further mechanistic research is warranted discerning the exact effect of this context specific cytokine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J J Staudacher
- Medical Department, Division of Gastroenterology, Infectious Diseases and Rheumatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany.
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Alexander Arnold
- Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - A A Kühl
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, iPATH.Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - M Pötzsch
- Medical Department, Division of Gastroenterology, Infectious Diseases and Rheumatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - S Daum
- Medical Department, Division of Gastroenterology, Infectious Diseases and Rheumatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - M Winterfeld
- Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - E Berg
- Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - M Hummel
- Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - B Rau
- Department of Surgery, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - U Stein
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin and Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - C Treese
- Medical Department, Division of Gastroenterology, Infectious Diseases and Rheumatology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ryanto GRT, Ikeda K, Miyagawa K, Tu L, Guignabert C, Humbert M, Fujiyama T, Yanagisawa M, Hirata KI, Emoto N. An endothelial activin A-bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2 link is overdriven in pulmonary hypertension. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1720. [PMID: 33741934 PMCID: PMC7979873 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21961-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a progressive fatal disease that is characterized by pathological pulmonary artery remodeling, in which endothelial cell dysfunction is critically involved. We herein describe a previously unknown role of endothelial angiocrine in pulmonary hypertension. By searching for genes highly expressed in lung microvascular endothelial cells, we identify inhibin-β-A as an angiocrine factor produced by pulmonary capillaries. We find that excess production of inhibin-β-A by endothelial cells impairs the endothelial function in an autocrine manner by functioning as activin-A. Mechanistically, activin-A induces bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2 internalization and targeting to lysosomes for degradation, resulting in the signal deficiency in endothelial cells. Of note, endothelial cells isolated from the lung of patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension show higher inhibin-β-A expression and produce more activin-A compared to endothelial cells isolated from the lung of normal control subjects. When endothelial activin-A-bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2 link is overdriven in mice, hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension was exacerbated, whereas conditional knockout of inhibin-β-A in endothelial cells prevents the progression of pulmonary hypertension. These data collectively indicate a critical role for the dysregulated endothelial activin-A-bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2 link in the progression of pulmonary hypertension, and thus endothelial inhibin-β-A/activin-A might be a potential pharmacotherapeutic target for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gusty R T Ryanto
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmaceutical Science, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, Higashinada, Kobe, Japan
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Chuo, Kobe, Japan
| | - Koji Ikeda
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmaceutical Science, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, Higashinada, Kobe, Japan.
- Department of Epidemiology for Longevity and Regional Health, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kamigyou, Kyoto, Japan.
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kamigyou, Kyoto, Japan.
| | - Kazuya Miyagawa
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmaceutical Science, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, Higashinada, Kobe, Japan
| | - Ly Tu
- INSERM UMR_S 999, Le Plessis-Robinson, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Sud, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Christophe Guignabert
- INSERM UMR_S 999, Le Plessis-Robinson, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Sud, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Marc Humbert
- INSERM UMR_S 999, Le Plessis-Robinson, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Sud, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- AP-HP, Service de Pneumologie, Centre de Référence de l'Hypertension Pulmonaire Sévère, DHU Thorax Innovation, Hôpital Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Tomoyuki Fujiyama
- International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine (WPI-IIIS), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Masashi Yanagisawa
- International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine (WPI-IIIS), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Hirata
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Chuo, Kobe, Japan
| | - Noriaki Emoto
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmaceutical Science, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, Higashinada, Kobe, Japan
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Chuo, Kobe, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Tang S, Liang XF, He S, Alam MS, Luo H, Kuang Y. Activin A affects feeding by promoting the inner diameter and muscle development of the pharynx and oesophagus in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae. J Fish Biol 2020; 97:1624-1631. [PMID: 32785965 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Activin A belongs to the superfamily of transforming growth factor-β and plays an important role in hormone regulation and tissue development. However, few research studies have been conducted on the effect of activin A on feeding organs in fish. In this study, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae were treated with 1 ng ml-1 activin A for 8 days continuously. The haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining section results revealed that the transverse inner diameter of the pharynx and oesophagus significantly increased on the third and eighth days after treatment compared with the control group (P < 0.05). On the eighth day, the cross-sectional area of the pharyngeal muscle increased by 8638 μm2 compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The RNA in situ hybridization results also showed that the expression of skeletal muscle-specific genes (myog and myod) was significantly increased in pharyngeal muscle on the eighth day. Furthermore, the qRT-PCR results showed the expression of gh gene was significantly increased on the eighth day (P < 0.05). At the same time, more larvae in activin A group were able to feed larger brine shrimp (Artemia) than in the control group on the eighth day. In conclusion, activin A could affect feeding by promoting the inner diameter and muscle development of the pharynx and oesophagus in zebrafish larvae. This study is the first to report that the development of the pharynx and oesophagus can directly affect food intake in fish larvae, which provides a theoretical basis for the study of food intake of fish at an early stage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shulin Tang
- College of Fisheries, Chinese Perch Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Innovation Base for Chinese Perch Breeding, Key Lab of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China
| | - Xu-Fang Liang
- College of Fisheries, Chinese Perch Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Innovation Base for Chinese Perch Breeding, Key Lab of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China
| | - Shan He
- College of Fisheries, Chinese Perch Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Innovation Base for Chinese Perch Breeding, Key Lab of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China
| | - Muhammad Shoaib Alam
- College of Fisheries, Chinese Perch Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Innovation Base for Chinese Perch Breeding, Key Lab of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China
| | - Haocan Luo
- College of Fisheries, Chinese Perch Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Innovation Base for Chinese Perch Breeding, Key Lab of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China
| | - Yulan Kuang
- College of Fisheries, Chinese Perch Research Center, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Innovation Base for Chinese Perch Breeding, Key Lab of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhou G, Gui X, Chen R, Fu X, Ji X, Ding H. Elevated serum Activin A in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with skeletal muscle wasting. Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2019; 74:e981. [PMID: 31271588 PMCID: PMC6585865 DOI: 10.6061/clinics/2019/e981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Muscle wasting contributes to the reduced quality of life and increased mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Muscle atrophy in mice with cachexia was caused by Activin A binding to ActRIIB. The role of circulating Activin A leading to muscle atrophy in COPD remains elusive. METHODS In the present study, we evaluated the relationship between serum levels of Activin A and skeletal muscle wasting in COPD patients. The expression levels of serum Activin A were measured in 78 stable COPD patients and in 60 healthy controls via ELISA, which was also used to determine the expression of circulating TNF-α levels. Total skeletal muscle mass (SMM) was calculated according to a validated formula by age and anthropometric measurements. The fat-free mass index (FFMI) was determined as the fat-free mass (FFM) corrected for body surface area. RESULTS Compared to the healthy controls, COPD patients had upregulated Activin A expression. The elevated levels of Activin A were correlated with TNF-α expression, while total SMM and FFMI were significantly decreased in COPD patients. Furthermore, serum Activin A expression in COPD patients was negatively associated with both FFMI and BMI. CONCLUSION The above results showed an association between increased circulating Activin A in COPD patients and the presence of muscle atrophy. Given our previous knowledge, we speculate that Activin A contributes to skeletal muscle wasting in COPD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guanghui Zhou
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Yixing People Hospital, Affiliated Jiangsu University, 214200, China
- Corresponding authors. E-mails: /
| | - Xianhua Gui
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 210008, China
- Corresponding authors. E-mails: /
| | - Ruhua Chen
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Yixing People Hospital, Affiliated Jiangsu University, 214200, China
- Corresponding authors. E-mails: /
| | - Xingli Fu
- Jiangsu University Health Science Center, Yizheng Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212001, China
| | - Xiuhai Ji
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Taicang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Suzhou, 215400, China
- Corresponding authors. E-mails: /
| | - Hui Ding
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Yixing People Hospital, Affiliated Jiangsu University, 214200, China
- Corresponding authors. E-mails: /
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Xu P, Van Slambrouck C, Berti-Mattera L, Hall AK. Activin induces tactile allodynia and increases calcitonin gene-related peptide after peripheral inflammation. J Neurosci 2005; 25:9227-35. [PMID: 16207882 PMCID: PMC6725762 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3051-05.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a sensory neuropeptide important in inflammatory pain that conveys pain information centrally and dilates blood vessels peripherally. Previous studies indicate that activin A increases CGRP-immunoreactive (IR) sensory neurons in vitro, and following wound, activin A protein increases in the skin and more neurons have detectable CGRP expression in the innervating dorsal root ganglion (DRG). These data suggest some adult sensory neurons respond to activin A or other target-derived factors with increased neuropeptide expression. This study was undertaken to test whether activin contributes to inflammatory pain and increased CGRP and to learn which neurons retained plasticity. After adjuvant-induced inflammation, activin mRNA, but not NGF or glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, increased in the skin. To examine which DRG neurons increased CGRP immunoreactivity, retrograde tracer-labeled cutaneous neurons were characterized after inflammation. The proportion and size of tracer-labeled DRG neurons with detectable CGRP increased after inflammation. One-third of CGRP-IR neurons that appear after inflammation also had isolectin B4 binding, suggesting that some mechanoreceptors became CGRP-IR. In contrast, the increased proportion of CGRP-IR neurons did not appear to come from RT97-IR neurons. To learn whether central projections were altered after inflammation, CGRP immunoreactivity in the protein kinase Cgamma-IR lamina IIi was quantified and found to increase. Injection of activin A protein alone caused robust tactile allodynia and increased CGRP in the DRG. Together, these data support the hypothesis that inflammation and skin changes involving activin A cause some sensory neurons to increase CGRP expression and pain responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pin Xu
- Department of Neuroscience, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ohsawa Y, Zhang G, Kametaka S, Shibata M, Koike M, Waguri S, Uchiyama Y. Purification, cDNA cloning, and secretory properties of FLRG protein from PC12 cells and the distribution of FLRG mRNA and protein in rat tissues. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004; 66:367-81. [PMID: 14692692 DOI: 10.1679/aohc.66.367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
A 35 kD protein was isolated and purified from conditioned media of Bcl-2 cDNA-transfected PC12 cells and its cDNA cloned. A database analysis showed that the 35 kD protein is a rat homologue of the human FLRG protein. The biochemical as well as morphological properties of the rat FLRG protein in PC12 cells were examined and its distribution in rat tissues determined. The levels of FLRG mRNA expressed were low during the fetal period, compared with those of follistatin mRNA. The distribution of FLRG and follistatin mRNAs differed from each other after birth; the expression levels of FLRG mRNA were abundant in the adrenal gland and testis, whereas those of follistatin mRNA and activin A were markedly high in the ovary. The presence of FLRG mRNA and/or protein was confirmed in spermatocytes at various differentiating stages andin endocrine cells of both the adrenal cortex and medulla. When overexpressed in PC12 cells, the FLRG protein was found to be stored in secretory granules of the cells and largely secreted by a regulated pathway, while activin A enhancedthe constitutive secretion of the FLRG protein from wild-typpe PC12 cells, indicating that the FLRG protein possesses dualproperties in secretory pathways. The different distribution between FLRG and follistatin mRNA suggests that, like follistatin in the ovary, the FLRG protein may be involved in the maintenance of spermatogenesis in the testis and the growth and function of adrenal tissue cells, probably by regulating the functions of its binding partners such as the TGF-beta ( superfamily members.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiyuki Ohsawa
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Osaka University Graduated School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Abstract
Ventral prostate development occurs by branching morphogenesis and is an androgen-dependent process modulated by growth factors. Many growth factors have been implicated in branching morphogenesis including activins (dimers of beta(A) and beta(B) subunits); activin A inhibited branching of lung and kidney in vitro. Our aim was to examine the role of activins on prostatic development in vitro and their localization in vivo. Organ culture of day 0 rat ventral prostates for 6 days with activin A (+/- testosterone) inhibited prostatic branching and growth without increasing apoptosis. The activin-binding protein follistatin increased branching in vitro in the absence (but not presence) of testosterone, suggesting endogenous activins may reduce prostatic branching morphogenesis. In vivo, inhibin alpha subunit was not expressed until puberty, therefore inhibins (dimers of alpha and beta subunits) are not involved in prostatic development. Activin beta(A) was immunolocalized to developing prostatic epithelium and mesenchymal aggregates at ductal tips. Activin beta(B) immunoreactivity was weak during development, but was upregulated in prostatic epithelium during puberty. Activin receptors were expressed throughout the prostatic epithelium. Follistatin mRNA and protein were expressed throughout the prostatic epithelium. The in vitro evidence that activin and follistatin have opposing effects on ductal branching suggests a role for activin as a negative regulator of prostatic ductal branching morphogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B Cancilla
- Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Tanaka A, Hasegawa Y, Hakamata Y, Kamiakito T, Kuriki K, Yoshida H, Fukayama M. Purification of activins from androgen-independent Shionogi carcinoma cells demonstrates enhanced expression of activin betaB-subunit under androgen-depleted cell conditions in vitro and in vivo. J Cell Physiol 2001; 188:194-200. [PMID: 11424086 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.1109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Here, we report characterization of growth factors secreted from androgen-independent mouse mammary Shionogi carcinoma cells. Previous isolation of fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8) from androgen-dependent Shionogi carcinoma SC-3 cells prompted us to characterize growth factors secreted from the androgen-independent cells. After several purification procedures, mitogens for NIH3T3 cells from the androgen-independent cells were identified as activins on the grounds that activin betaA- and betaB-subunits are detected in the active fractions by Western blotting and that the growth-promoting effects by the active fractions are specifically inhibited in the presence of follistatin. In addition, exogenous activins, but not inhibin, stimulated the growth of NIH3T3 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, transcripts of activin betaB-subunit were predominantly found in the androgen-independent cells while its betaA-subunit was universally expressed in both androgen-dependent and -independent Shionogi carcinoma cells. In concordant with this in vitro finding, transcripts of activin betaB-subunit were enhanced in murine prostates after castration. Therefore, expression of activin betaB-subunit, but not its betaA-subunit, is likely to be related with androgen-depleted cell conditions in prostates, and possibly in androgen-related cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Tanaka
- Department of Pathology, Jichi Medical School, Minamikawachi, Kawachi, Tochigi, Japan.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Fu Y, Niu D, Ruan H, Yu XP, Chen G, He GQ, Yang PX. [Expression of inhibin alpha and inhibin/activin beta A subunits in the developing follicles of the duck]. Yi Chuan Xue Bao 2001; 28:502-9. [PMID: 11431982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
Abstract
The very sensitive quantitative competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to investigate the expression of mRNA for the inhibin alpha and inhibin/activin beta A subunit in the developing ovarian follicles of the duck. The results indicated all follicles showed the expression of mRNA for the inhibin alpha and inhibin/activin beta A. The inhibin alpha subunit mRNA is expressed more abundantly than the beta A subunit in the large preovulatory follicles. Competitive RT-PCR revealed that the expression of inhibin alpha subunit is the highest in small yellow follicles (SYF), the mean relative content for the F1, F2, F3, F4/5 and LWF (large white follicle) was 0.26 +/- 0.05, 0.28 +/- 0.07, 0.57 +/- 0.12, 0.98 +/- 0.09 and 0.026 +/- 0.006, respectively, compared to a mean relative content of 1.00 for the SYF. The highest level of inhibin/activin beta A mRNA was found in the F1 follicle, the mean relative content for the F2, F3, F4/5, SYF and LWF was 0.218 +/- 0.09, 0.111 +/- 0.03, 0.058 +/- 0.011, 0.053 +/- 0.013 and 0.005 +/- 0.002, respectively, compared to a mean relative content of 1.00 for the F1 follicle. Our data suggest that the expression of the alpha subunit is reduced with follicular development whereas beta A subunit expression is dramatically enhanced, which indicates the expression of inhibin alpha and inhibin/activin beta A subunit is differentially regulated during follicular development. In addition, the highest level of beta A mRNA in F1 follicle indicates the production of dimeric inhibin and/or activin primarily occurred in the largest F1 follicle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Y Fu
- Animal Science College of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Salmenkivi K, Arola J, Voutilainen R, Ilvesmäki V, Haglund C, Kahri AI, Heikkilä P, Liu J. Inhibin/activin betaB-subunit expression in pheochromocytomas favors benign diagnosis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2001; 86:2231-5. [PMID: 11344232 DOI: 10.1210/jcem.86.5.7446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Malignancy of pheochromocytomas is difficult to estimate on the basis of histopathological features. Good prognostic markers are not available. In our search for new markers to differentiate malignant pheochromocytomas from benign ones we tested the value of inhibin/activin subunit expression. Inhibins are heterodimeric glycoproteins consisting of an alpha-subunit and either a betaA- or a betaB-subunit. Activins are composed of beta-subunits only. Immunohistochemically inhibin/activin betaB-subunit was strongly positive in the normal adrenal medulla, but the cortex was negative. A striking difference was found in inhibin/activin betaB expression between benign and malignant pheochromocytomas. The majority of benign adrenal tumors (27 of 30) showed strong or moderate immunoreactivity, whereas all seven malignant tumors were negative or only weakly positive for inhibin/activin betaB-subunit. The percentage of positively staining cells varied greatly in extraadrenal pheochromocytomas and in those benign tumors that showed over 5 mitoses/10 high power fields, necrosis, or capsular or vascular invasion, here called borderline tumors. Inhibin/activin betaB messenger ribonucleic acid was also found in pheochromocytomas. However, no significant differences in messenger ribonucleic acid levels were found in various types of tumors. Weak immunohistochemical positivity for inhibin/activin betaA-subunit was detected in the adrenal cortex, but the medulla and most of the pheochromocytomas were negative. Our data show that inhibin/activin betaB-subunit is expressed in normal adrenal medullary cells. Strong staining is found in most benign adrenal pheochromocytomas, whereas malignant tumors are almost negative. This suggests that loss of inhibin/activin betaB-subunit expression in pheochromocytomas may be used as an indicator of malignant potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Salmenkivi
- Department of Pathology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Finland.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Norman RJ, Milner CR, Groome NP, Robertson DM. Circulating follistatin concentrations are higher and activin concentrations are lower in polycystic ovarian syndrome. Hum Reprod 2001; 16:668-72. [PMID: 11278215 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/16.4.668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Familial polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) has been proposed to be linked to a site near the follistatin gene. We studied the concentrations of circulating follistatin, activin A and inhibin B in well-characterized subjects with PCOS (n = 108) and controls without PCOS (n = 20). Mean (+/- SEM) concentrations of follistatin were higher (P < 0.05) in PCOS (0.27 +/- 0.03 ng/ml) than controls (0.15 +/- 0.02 ng/ml) and activin A were lower (P < 0.05) in PCOS (0.20 +/- 0.01ng/ml) than controls (0.24 +/- 0.02 ng/ml). Inhibin B concentrations were not different between the two groups: PCOS (0.06 +/- 0.01ng/ml), and controls (0.06 +/- 0.01ng/ml). It is proposed that higher concentrations of follistatin with lower concentrations of activin A may relate to follicular development not proceeding beyond 8-10 mm and may be partly responsible for the lack of pre-ovular follicle development in PCOS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R J Norman
- Reproductive Medicine Unit, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University of Adelaide, 28 Woodville Road, Woodville, South Australia 5011, Australia.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Mellor SL, Cranfield M, Ries R, Pedersen J, Cancilla B, de Kretser D, Groome NP, Mason AJ, Risbridger GP. Localization of activin beta(A)-, beta(B)-, and beta(C)-subunits in humanprostate and evidence for formation of new activin heterodimers of beta(C)-subunit. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000; 85:4851-8. [PMID: 11134153 DOI: 10.1210/jcem.85.12.7052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Activin ligands are formed by dimerization of activin ss(A)- and/or ss(B)-subunits to produce activins A, AB, or B. These ligands are members of the transforming growth factor-ss superfamily and act as growth and differentiation factors in many cells and tissues. New additions to this family include activin ss(C)-, ss(D)-, and ss(E)-subunits. The aim of this investigation was to examine the localization of and dimerization among activin subunits; the results demonstrate that activin ss(C) can form dimers with activin ss(A) and ss(B) in vitro, but not with the inhibin alpha-subunit. Using a specific antibody, activin ss(C) protein was localized to human liver and prostate and colocalized with ss(A)- and ss(B)-subunits to specific cell types in benign and malignant prostate tissues. Activin C did not alter DNA synthesis of the prostate tumor cell line, LNCaP, or the liver tumor cell line, HepG2, in vitro when added alone or with activin A. Therefore, the capacity to form novel activin heterodimers (but not inhibin C) resides in the human liver and prostate. Activin A, AB, and B have diverse actions in many tissues, including liver and prostate, but there is no known biological activity for activin C. Thus, the evidence of formation of activin AC or BC heterodimers may have significant implications in the regulation of levels and/or biological activity of other activins in these tissues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S L Mellor
- Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Brown CW, Houston-Hawkins DE, Woodruff TK, Matzuk MM. Insertion of Inhbb into the Inhba locus rescues the Inhba-null phenotype and reveals new activin functions. Nat Genet 2000; 25:453-7. [PMID: 10932194 DOI: 10.1038/78161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The activins (dimers of betaA or betaB subunits, encoded by the genes Inhba and Inhbb, respectively) are TGF-beta superfamily members that have roles in reproduction and development. Whereas mice homozygous for the Inhba-null allele demonstrate disruption of whisker, palate and tooth development, leading to neonatal lethality, homozygous Inhbb-null mice are viable, fertile and have eye defects. To determine if these phenotypes were due to spatiotemporal expression differences of the ligands or disruption of specific ligand-receptor interactions, we replaced the region of Inhba encoding the mature protein with Inhbb, creating the allele Inhbatm2Zuk (hereafter designated InhbaBK). Although the craniofacial phenotypes of the Inhba-null mutation were rescued by the InhbaBK allele, somatic, testicular, genital and hair growth were grossly affected and influenced by the dosage and bioactivity of the allele. Thus, functional compensation within the TGF-beta superfamily can occur if the replacement gene is expressed appropriately. The novel phenotypes in these mice further illustrate the usefulness of insertion strategies for defining protein function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C W Brown
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Hiendleder S, Dodds KG, Wassmuth R. Linkage mapping of the ovine alpha-inhibin (INHA) beta(A)-inhibin/activin (INHBA) and beta(B)-inhibin/activin (INHBB) genes. J Hered 2000; 91:343-5. [PMID: 10912684 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/91.4.343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A full-sib mapping population was typed for Taql Southern blot RFLPs at the ovine alpha-inhibin (INHA), beta(A)-inhibin/activin (INHBA), and beta(B)-inhibin/activin (INHBB) loci. The most likely positions were found by genetic linkage analysis. INHA was placed on ovine chromosome 2q, between microsatellite markers BM6444 and INRA135, while INHBB was located 39 cM proximal to INHA between markers BMS1126 and BMS2626. The INHBA gene, a comparative mapping anchor locus, mapped to chromosome 4, between microsatellites OARCP26 and BMS719. These data confirm and refine previous chromosomal assignments by in situ hybridization, provide comparative mapping information, and identify microsatellite markers suitable for QTL association studies with inhibin/activin genes in ruminants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Hiendleder
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Uchida S, Doi Y, Kudo H, Furukawa H, Nakamura T, Fujimoto S. Transient expression of activin betaA mRNA on osteoprogenitor cells in rat bone regeneration after drill-hole injury. Bone 2000; 27:81-90. [PMID: 10865213 DOI: 10.1016/s8756-3282(00)00293-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the expression of activin betaA on osteoprogenitor cells in the regenerating bone and bone marrow of the rat femur after drill-hole injury, by immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. The periosteum and endosteum adjacent to the wound region showed marked thickening at day 3 and abundant osteoprogenitor cells, which were immunoreactive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen and showed positive reactions for alkaline phosphatase activity, and existed in the inner layer of the periosteum as well as in the endosteum. During the same period, these osteoprogenitor cells began to exhibit activin betaA immunoreactivity and mRNA expression. However, the latter expression gradually reduced the intensity as the cells started to express osteocalcin mRNA during their differentiation to osteoblasts participating in the periosteal and medullary bone formation from day 5. Immunoreactivity for activin type IB and II receptors was also found on activin betaA-immunoreactive cells between days 3 and 7. The above findings suggest that proliferating osteoprogenitor cells, before their transformation to osteoblasts, transiently produce and release activin A, which may play crucial roles in bone and bone marrow regeneration in a receptor-mediated, autocrine and paracrine fashion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Uchida
- Department of 1Orthopedic Surgery, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Kitakyushu, Japan.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Anti-inhibin alpha and inhibin/activin betaA subunit and anti-CD99 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have recently been demonstrated to be able to label ovarian granulosa cells; thus, they may be of value in the diagnosis of granulosa cell tumors. The present study aimed to determine what combination of these mAbs may be useful for the differential diagnosis of sex cord-stromal tumors of ovary. DESIGN Immunohistochemical analyses with anti-inhibin alpha and inhibin/activin betaA subunit antibody and anti-CD99 mAb were performed on 42 ovarian tumors, including sex cord-stromal tumors (29), ovarian epithelial cancers (10), and Krukenberg tumors (3). RESULTS All sex cord-stromal tumors were positive for inhibin alpha subunit, and 17 cases (58.6%) of sex cord-stromal tumors were immunoreactive for inhibin/activin betaA subunit. Epithelial tumors and Krukenberg tumors were all negative for inhibin/activin betaA subunit except mucinous carcinoma, which showed strong cytoplasmic immunoreactivity. All sex cord-stromal tumors except one granulosa cell tumor showed membranous staining for CD99. A case of serous carcinoma and a case of mucinous carcinoma were positive for CD99, and the remaining epithelial tumors and Krukenberg tumor were all negative for CD99. CONCLUSIONS The results of immunohistochemical analysis, together with literature review, suggest that inhibin alpha subunit may be a useful diagnostic marker for sex cord-stromal tumor of the ovary. In addition, anti-CD99 antibody may be useful for the differential diagnosis between ovarian tumors. Inhibin/activin betaA subunit has a limited usefulness in the differential diagnosis of ovarian tumor because of its wider immunoreactivity for both sex cord-stromal tumors and mucinous carcinomas. The differential diagnosis of sex cord-stromal tumors of the ovary would be better made with a combined use of both anti-inhibin alpha subunit and anti-CD99 mAbs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Y L Choi
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Samsung Medical Center, Kangnam-ku, Seoul, Korea
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Tanimoto Y, Tanimoto K, Sugiyama F, Horiguchi H, Murakami K, Yagami K, Fukamizu A. Male sterility in transgenic mice expressing activin betaA subunit gene in testis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1999; 259:699-705. [PMID: 10364482 DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.1999.0833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Activins and inhibins, which are endocrine regulators of anterior pituitary function, have also been reported to participate in the paracrine and autocrine regulation of reproductive function. To determine the in vivo effects of overexpressed activin/inhibin, we generated transgenic mice carrying the human activin/inhibin betaA subunit mini gene under the regulatory control of the mouse methallothionein promoter. In one of the transgenic line analyzed, the betaA subunit gene was preferentially expressed in the testis. Ectopic and allochronic expression of the betaA gene started at 3 weeks after birth and transgenic male mice became sterile in the ensuing several weeks. Histological analysis revealed testicular degeneration in these mice. The results from this transgenic line strongly support the in vivo activity of activin/inhibin in male reproductive functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Y Tanimoto
- Institute of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Abstract
Inhibin/activin alphaC/alphaN and betaA subunits were localized immunohistochemically in the human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle using an affinity-purified sheep polyclonal antibody raised against the alphaC/alphaN subunit and an affinity-purified rabbit polyclonal antibody raised against the betaA subunit. The betaB subunit was below the level of detection in all human endometrial samples tested. Immunoreactive inhibin alphaC/alphaN subunit was localized in the luminal epithelium, glandular epithelium, stromal tissues and vascular endothelium with no significant variation across the normal menstrual cycle. Immunoreactive betaA subunit, common to inhibin A and activins AA and AB was localized in the luminal and glandular epithelium and in migratory cells while the endometrial stromal cells, decidua, vascular smooth muscle and endothelium were devoid of immunoreactivity. A significant variation of immunoreactive betaA subunit was observed in glandular and luminal epithelium across the normal menstrual cycle. In proliferative endometrium, only a very low level of betaA immunostaining was seen in luminal and glandular epithelium, while the luminal epithelial staining increased significantly in the early secretory phase and remained relatively constant over the rest of the menstrual cycle. A progressive increase in betaA immunoreactivity was observed also in the glandular epithelium during the secretory phase reaching a maximum in the late secretory phases, and decreasing at menstruation. Co-localization studies on serial sections suggested that the migratory cells expressing strong betaA immunoreactivity were macrophages and neutrophils but not eosinophils or mast cells. Thus, cells within the human endometrium are capable of expressing inhibin/activin molecules in vivo. The variation in the pattern of secretion of the betaA subunit across the menstrual cycle suggests that activin peptides may have a physiological role in endometrial function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P H Leung
- Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Ferguson CA, Tucker AS, Christensen L, Lau AL, Matzuk MM, Sharpe PT. Activin is an essential early mesenchymal signal in tooth development that is required for patterning of the murine dentition. Genes Dev 1998; 12:2636-49. [PMID: 9716414 PMCID: PMC317086 DOI: 10.1101/gad.12.16.2636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/1998] [Accepted: 05/28/1998] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Development of the mammalian tooth has been intensively studied as a model system for epithelial/mesenchymal interactions during organogenesis, and progress has been made in identifying key molecules involved in this signaling. We show that activin betaA is expressed in presumptive tooth-germ mesenchyme and is thus a candidate for a signaling molecule in tooth development. Analysis of tooth development in activin betaA mutant embryos shows that incisor and mandibular molar teeth fail to develop beyond the bud stage. Activin betaA is thus an essential component of tooth development. Development of maxillary molars, however, is unaffected in the mutants. Using tissue recombination experiments we show that activin is required in the mesenchyme prior to bud formation and that although activin signaling from mesenchyme to epithelium takes place, mutant epithelium retains its ability to support tooth development. Implantation of beads soaked in activin A, into developing mandibles, is able to completely rescue tooth development from E11.5, but not E12.5 or E13.5, confirming that activin is an early, essential mesenchyme signal required before tooth bud formation. Normal development of maxillary molars in the absence of activin shows a position specific role for this pathway in development of dentition. Functional redundancy with activin B or other TGFbeta family members that bind to activin receptors cannot explain development of maxillary molars in the mutants since the activin-signaling pathway appears not to be active in these tooth germs. The early requirement for activin signaling in the mesenchyme in incisor and mandibular molar tooth germs must be carried-out in maxillary molar mesenchyme by other independent signaling pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C A Ferguson
- Department of Craniofacial Development, Guy's Hospital, London Bridge, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Abstract
The formation of cardiac cushion tissue, which ultimately contributes to formation of the valves and septa, is dependent on the regional activation of cardiac endothelial cells to undergo an epithelial-mesenchymal transition. This endothelial transition was correlated with activin betaA mRNA expression by Northern and in situ hybridization in both a temporal and spatial manner in developing mouse embryos. Activin betaA was the only subunit of the inhibin family detected during the initial phase of endothelial cell transition; activin betaB was detected at later stages, and inhibin alpha was not detectable in the heart. An in vitro assay that has been used to study mesenchymal cell formation in chick was modified for use with mammalian embryos. Conditioned media from embryonic mouse cardiocyte cultures was shown to substitute for the endogenous inductive signal in these assays. The presence of activin betaA was demonstrated by Western blot analysis of the cardiocyte conditioned media (CCM). Modified antisense oligonucleotides to activin betaA inhibited the endothelial-mesenchymal transition in the assay system, which was not affected by control oligonucleotides. Adapting the avian culture system for use with mice enabled the use of tissue from mice with a null allele for activin betaA. CCM produced from embryos homozygous for the mutant betaA allele did not contain activin betaA and was used in in vitro assays. CCM lacking activin betaA produced fewer mesenchymal cells from cardiac endothelial monolayers than CCM with activin betaA. Localized expression of activin betaA in the embryonic heart indicates a possible role in the endothelial-mesenchymal transition. Bioassays in which activin betaA expression is blocked or activin betaA is absent from the media indicate that activin betaA promotes the formation of mesenchymal cells in the endothelial cushions, which are required for normal septation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C S Moore
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
|
25
|
Yoshida E, Tanimoto K, Murakami K, Fukamizu A. Isolation and characterization of 5'-regulatory region of mouse activin beta A subunit gene. Biochem Mol Biol Int 1998; 44:325-32. [PMID: 9530515 DOI: 10.1080/15216549800201342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We isolated genomic clones that contain the 5'-flanking region of the mouse activin beta A subunit gene. The nucleotide sequence determination of the 5'-flanking region of the gene and the comparison of that with the reported mouse cDNA structure identified the putative 5' regulatory region, a novel first exon and a part of the first intron of the gene within this region. The putative 5' regulatory region of the mouse activin beta A subunit gene directed the expression of CAT gene in transfected HT1080 cells. Successive deletions of this region demonstrated a 400-bp region that exerts a strong positive effect on promoter activity of the mouse activin beta A subunit gene.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E Yoshida
- Institute of Applied Biochemistry, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Thomas TZ, Chapman SM, Hong W, Gurusingfhe C, Mellor SL, Fletcher R, Pedersen J, Risbridger GP. Inhibins, activins, and follistatins: expression of mRNAs and cellular localization in tissues from men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Prostate 1998; 34:34-43. [PMID: 9428386 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0045(19980101)34:1<34::aid-pros5>3.0.co;2-k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) superfamily of growth factors includes activins and inhibins, which have been shown to be present in the rat ventral prostate, and human prostate tumor cell lines, although their localization in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) tissue is currently unknown. METHODS BPH tissues were obtained at surgery, and the mRNA expression for the inhibin alpha, beta A, beta B subunits, the putative activin beta C subunit, the activin type II receptor (ActRII), and the activin binding protein, follistatin, was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Southern blot analysis. Antibodies specific for alpha, beta A, beta B, activin A, and follistatin were used to determine the localization of these proteins in BPH tissue specimens. RESULTS Southern blot analysis confirmed that mRNA for ActRII, beta C subunit, and follistatin was present in all biopsy samples assayed. However, alpha, beta A, and beta B subunit mRNA expression was variable between patient samples. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the predominant localization of beta A, beta B, and activin A proteins to the epithelium of BPH tissues. No immunoreactivity for the inhibin alpha subunit was detected; follistatin immunoreactivity was localized to the fibroblastic stroma. CONCLUSIONS The compartmentalization of activin subunit proteins to the epithelium, and of follistatin to the stroma, suggests that a paracrine interaction occurs between the activin ligands and follistatin-binding proteins in BPH tissue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Z Thomas
- Institute of Reproduction and Development, Monash Medical Center, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Abstract
The role of activin in the mammalian brain is of increasing interest as evidence accumulates to suggest a number of different neural functions. Here, we report that activin betaA mRNA is transiently induced in dentate gyrus neurons after unilateral mechanical brain injury by saline injection. Expression is dependent on NMDA receptor activation since pretreatment with MK801 (5 mg/kg, i.p.) largely attenuates the signal. Induction also requires de novo protein synthesis, as cycloheximide (10 mg/kg, i.p.) pretreatment abolishes the expression of activin betaA mRNA 1 h after injury. These results show that activin betaA mRNA expression is regulated by excitatory activity induced by focal brain injury and suggests a possible neuroplastic role in the recovery from such injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Lai
- Research Centre for Developmental Medicine and Biology, The University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Yamanouchi K, Hirasawa K, Hasegawa T, Ikeda A, Chang KT, Matsuyama S, Nishihara M, Miyazawa K, Sawasaki T, Tojo H, Tachi C, Takahashi M. Equine inhibin/activin beta A-subunit mRNA is expressed in the endometrial gland, but not in the trophoblast, during pregnancy. Mol Reprod Dev 1997; 47:363-9. [PMID: 9211420 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1098-2795(199708)47:4<363::aid-mrd2>3.0.co;2-i] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The expression of both inhibin alpha- and inhibin/activin beta A-subunit mRNA was examined in equine uteroplacental tissues collected during pregnancy (days 90 to 300). Northern blot analysis revealed that 5 transcripts (7.0, 4.1, 3.4, 2.6, 1.5 kb) of beta A-subunit were present, and the most abundantly expressed transcript was the 1.5 kb one. Relatively high levels of the 1.5 kb transcript were seen in the second trimester of pregnancy compared to what was found in the third trimester. To identify the tissue localization of beta A-subunit mRNA, in situ hybridization was performed, and the positive signal was observed exclusively in the endometrial glands, but not in the fetal placental tissue (trophoblast) at days 150, 210, and 300 of pregnancy. On the other hand, inhibin alpha-subunit transcript could not be detected at any stage of pregnancy examined either by Northern blot analysis or in situ hybridization. Although the factor(s) regulating the gene expression of beta A-subunit in this equine tissue is currently unknown, these results suggest that activin, but not inhibin, is predominantly produced in the endometrial glands of the pregnant mare, and thus produced activin may play a paracrine or endocrine role during pregnancy in this species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Yamanouchi
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Veterinary Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Tanimoto K, Yoshida E, Mita S, Nibu Y, Murakami K, Fukamizu A. Human activin betaA gene. Identification of novel 5' exon, functional promoter, and enhancers. J Biol Chem 1996; 271:32760-9. [PMID: 8955111 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.271.51.32760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
On the basis of cDNA cloning, primer extension, and transfection experiments, we identified a novel 5' exon of the human activin betaA subunit gene, and found its enhancer and promoter regions as well as multiple transcription start sites. A series of deletion and mutation analyses of the enhancer sequences defined the 45-base pair core region (DR-1 core) containing two short elements with similarity to AP-1 (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate response element; TRE) and CREB/ATF (cyclic AMP response element; CRE) binding sites, both of which were necessary for full enhancer activity. Gel shift and antibody supershift assays using DR-1 core region revealed the formation of two specific DNA-protein complexes, one of which could be partially dissociated by a competing oligonucleotide containing a single copy of the consensus TRE, but the other of which contained neither CREB/ATF nor AP-1 as major components. Although 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and cAMP induced the activin enhancer/promoter-driven CAT activity, such drug induction was obscured when either the TRE- or CRE-like elements were mutated in the native promoter context. Our results demonstrate that the promoter and enhancer regions identified here are essential for maintaining the efficient promoter activity of the human activin betaA subunit gene.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Tanimoto
- Institute of Applied Biochemistry, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305, Japan.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Phocas I, Sarandakou A, Sikiotis K, Rizos D, Kalambokis D, Zourlas PA. A comparative study of serum alpha-beta A immunoreactive inhibin and tumor-associated antigens CA125 and CEA in ovarian cancer. Anticancer Res 1996; 16:3827-31. [PMID: 9042265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
alpha-i.r Inhibin, has been recently proposed as a useful tumor marker for mucinous ovarian carcinomas (Ca), as the widely used tumor marker for ovarian malignancies, CA125 is efficient only in nonmucinous ovarian Ca, and, together with CEA, fails to detect minimal disease and show long half-life in serum after successful surgery. Moreover, conflicting evidence has been reported as to whether inhibin in ovarian malignancies is the biologically active dimer alpha-beta A inhibin or the inactive free alpha-subunits and inhibin precursors. Serum alpha-beta A i.r inhibin. CA125 and CEA were measured preoperatively and 8 days postoperatively in 39 postmenopausal patients with ovarian cancer (13 mucinous, 15 serous and 11 different other ovarian Ca) in comparison with 20 age-matched healthy women (Controls), 18 patients with benign ovarian tumors and 10 patients with nonovarian gynecological malignancies. Serum alpha-beta A i.r inhibin values were very low in controls (0.121 U/ml; 0.060-0.250) while they were greatly elevated in both benign (67% sensitivity) and malignant ovarian tumors (100% sensitivity in mucinous Ca, 80% in serous and 90.9% in other ovarian Ca, taken as cut-off level the maximum value in Controls, 0.250 U/ml). In contrast, in non-ovarian malignancies no increased values of alpha-beta A inhibin were found (0% sensitivity). Our results on the sensitivity of CA125 and CEA are in agreement with previous studies. After successful surgery the very high concentrations of alpha-beta A i.r. inhibin were reduced very rapidly (8 days) to normal postmenopausal values in contrast to those of CA125 and CEA, that remained elevated. Serum alpha-beta A i.r inhibin seems to be very useful in monitoring after treatment the patients with any type of ovarian malignancy and specifically those with mucinous ovarian cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I Phocas
- 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Athens University, Areteion University Hospital, Greece
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Mason AJ, Farnworth PG, Sullivan J. Characterization and determination of the biological activities of noncleavable high molecular weight forms of inhibin A and activin A. Mol Endocrinol 1996; 10:1055-65. [PMID: 8885240 DOI: 10.1210/mend.10.9.8885240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Recombinant expression of human alpha- and beta A-inhibin subunit cDNAs in mammalian 293 cells results in the secretion of 20-53K free alpha-subunit-derived products, 30-105K alpha beta A-inhibin dimers, and 24-110K beta A-activin dimers. The present study verifies that the wide variation in the size of these products is due to incomplete cleavage of the proteolytic processing sites and the differential glycosylation of the N-linked glycosylation site at amino acid number 302 in the alpha C-subunit. The identity of each of these products was established by mutagenesis of proteolytic processing sites and N-linked glycosylation sites, combined with the analysis of transfection products by immunoprecipitation and one- and two-dimensional SDS-PAGE (SDS/SDS-beta-ME). Transient expression of processing site mutants of the alpha- and beta A-subunits in 293 cells was used to generate microgram quantities of noncleavable 55K and 65K inhibin dimers, and noncleavable 110K activin A dimers. The 55K and 65K inhibin A forms were purified and found to be fully biologically active in a rat pituitary cell bioassay. The 110K high molecular weight (HMW) form of human activin A failed to show any FSH-releasing activity in the pituitary assay. Since radioactively labeled 55K and 65K inhibin A and 110K activin A remained intact after incubation with rat pituitary cells for 72 h, there appears to be no conversion of these dimers to lower molecular weight forms by proteolytic cleavage at additional sites. These results show for the first time that 55K and 65K inhibit A are intrinsically biologically active and do not require cleavage to the 32K form for activation. In contrast, cleavage of the 110K activin A precursor to the 24K form would appear to be necessary for activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A J Mason
- Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Yoshida S, Yamanouchi K, Hasegawa T, Ikeda A, Suzuki M, Chang KT, Matsuyama S, Nishihara M, Takahashi M. Molecular cloning of cDNA for equine ovarian inhibin/activin beta A subunit. J Vet Med Sci 1995; 57:469-73. [PMID: 7548399 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.57.469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
cDNAs encoding equine inhibin/activin beta A subunit were isolated from an equine follicle cDNA library and characterized. Using primers based on the rat inhibin/activin beta A subunit cDNA sequence, a RT-PCR was performed to generate the probe for screening. Four positive clones were isolated. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence of these clones revealed that two pairs of identical clones were present, Eq-beta A-1 (0.9 kb) and Eq-beta A-2 (1.5 kb). Eq-beta A-2 clone contained a complete open reading frame encoding 426 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of equine inhibin/activin beta A subunit showed high similarity (> 90%) to those of five other mammalian species. Northern blot analysis revealed that placenta from mare on day 180 of pregnancy contained a 1.5 kb inhibin/activin beta A subunit mRNA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Yoshida
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Veterinary Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|