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Wijayarathna R, Hedger MP. New aspects of activin biology in epididymal function and immunopathology. Andrology 2024; 12:964-972. [PMID: 37644728 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
The activins (A and B) and their binding protein, follistatin, play crucial roles in development, immunoregulation and inflammation throughout the body. In the male reproductive tract of the mouse, activin A and B production is largely confined to the initial segment and proximal caput of the epididymis and the efferent ducts, under normal conditions, with very low expression in the corpus, cauda and vas deferens. However, activin A protein is present throughout the epididymis and vas deferens and is largely associated with the epithelium and interstitial macrophages. Conversely, the activin-binding protein follistatin is produced in the distal epididymis, with very high expression in the vas deferens. Activin activity in the distal tract is inhibited by follistatin, and the activin-follistatin balance is important for regulating coiling of the duct during epididymal development. In further experiments, as described in this report, in situ hybridisation was used to localise activin A mRNA principally to cells in the periductal zone and interstitium in the efferent ducts and proximal caput. Activin B mRNA, on the other hand, was localised to periductal cells in the efferent ducts and proximal epididymis and, most notably, to epithelial cells in the initial segment. Activin A is implicated in the regulation of mononuclear phagocyte function and immune responses in the caput and stimulates the expression of the key immunoregulatory protein, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in this region. Activin A production in the corpus and cauda increases dramatically during bacterial epididymitis in mice, promoting inflammation and fibrosis and causing damage to the epithelium and obstruction of the epididymal duct. Consequently, it appears that the activin-follistatin axis is crucial for maintaining normal epididymal structure and function, but disruption of this balance during inflammation has deleterious effects on male fertility. Follistatin has therapeutic potential in ameliorating the proinflammatory and profibrotic effects of activins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rukmali Wijayarathna
- Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Mark P Hedger
- Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, Australia
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2
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Pan YP, Kuo HC, Lin JY, Chou WC, Chang PH, Ling HH, Yeh KY. Serum Cytokines Correlate with Pretreatment Body Mass Index-adjusted Body Weight Loss Grading and Cancer Progression in Patients with Stage III Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Surgery. Nutr Cancer 2024; 76:486-498. [PMID: 38680010 DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2024.2341461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Serum Cytokines Correlate with Pretreatment Body Mass Index-Adjusted Body Weight Loss Grading and Cancer Progression in Patients with Stage III Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Surgery. Circulating cytokines have been linked to the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its associated malnutrition process. Nonetheless, given the varied disease stages and treatment modalities in previous studies, the clinical relevance of their findings is limited. We retrospectively studied 52 patients with stage III ESCC who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and curative-intent surgery. We investigated the association of clinicopathological features, pretreatment laboratory data, and pretreatment inflammatory status, as indicated by the levels of albumin, C-reactive protein, and 10 circulating cytokines, namely tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-gamma, interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β), IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17A, and IL-23, with malnutrition, as shown by body mass index-adjusted body weight loss (BMI-BWL) grading, cancer progression. Half the patients showed severe malnutrition and high BMI-BWL grades (3 and 4). Multivariate analysis revealed an independent association between the levels of three cytokines (TNF-α, ≤ 5.8 pg/ml; IL-1β, > 0.4 pg/ml; IL-6, ≤ 12.4 pg/ml) and high BMI-BWL grades and between IL-4 levels > 22.5 pg/ml and cancer progression. All 10 cytokines were closely correlated with each other. In conclusion, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were independent markers of malnutrition status and IL-4 was a prognostic factor for cancer progression in this patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ping Pan
- Department of Nutrition, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Hsuan-Chih Kuo
- Division of Hemato-oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, New Taipei Municipal TuCheng Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taiwan
| | - Jui-Ying Lin
- Department of Nutrition, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chi Chou
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taiwan
- Division of Hemato-oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kweishan, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Hung Chang
- Division of Hemato-oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kweishan, Taiwan
- Division of Hemato-oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Hang Huong Ling
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taiwan
- Division of Hemato-oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kweishan, Taiwan
| | - Kun-Yun Yeh
- Division of Hemato-oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kweishan, Taiwan
- Division of Hemato-oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
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3
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Ferrer M, Anthony TG, Ayres JS, Biffi G, Brown JC, Caan BJ, Cespedes Feliciano EM, Coll AP, Dunne RF, Goncalves MD, Grethlein J, Heymsfield SB, Hui S, Jamal-Hanjani M, Lam JM, Lewis DY, McCandlish D, Mustian KM, O'Rahilly S, Perrimon N, White EP, Janowitz T. Cachexia: A systemic consequence of progressive, unresolved disease. Cell 2023; 186:1824-1845. [PMID: 37116469 PMCID: PMC11059056 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Cachexia, a systemic wasting condition, is considered a late consequence of diseases, including cancer, organ failure, or infections, and contributes to significant morbidity and mortality. The induction process and mechanistic progression of cachexia are incompletely understood. Refocusing academic efforts away from advanced cachexia to the etiology of cachexia may enable discoveries of new therapeutic approaches. Here, we review drivers, mechanisms, organismal predispositions, evidence for multi-organ interaction, model systems, clinical research, trials, and care provision from early onset to late cachexia. Evidence is emerging that distinct inflammatory, metabolic, and neuro-modulatory drivers can initiate processes that ultimately converge on advanced cachexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Ferrer
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA; MRC Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge, Hutchison Research Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK
| | - Tracy G Anthony
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Janelle S Ayres
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Giulia Biffi
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Justin C Brown
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA
| | - Bette J Caan
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research, Oakland, CA 94612, USA
| | | | - Anthony P Coll
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Richard F Dunne
- University of Rochester Medical Center, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Marcus D Goncalves
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Jonas Grethlein
- Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69117, Germany
| | - Steven B Heymsfield
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA
| | - Sheng Hui
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mariam Jamal-Hanjani
- Department of Medical Oncology, University College London Hospitals, London WC1E 6DD, UK; Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence and Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Jie Min Lam
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence and Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - David Y Lewis
- The Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Cancer Research UK, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK
| | - David McCandlish
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Karen M Mustian
- University of Rochester Medical Center, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Stephen O'Rahilly
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science and MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Norbert Perrimon
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Eileen P White
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; Ludwig Princeton Branch, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Tobias Janowitz
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA; Northwell Health Cancer Institute, Northwell Health, New Hyde Park, NY 11042, USA.
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4
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Wang XH, Price SR. Organ Crosstalk Contributes to Muscle Wasting in Chronic Kidney Disease. Semin Nephrol 2023; 43:151409. [PMID: 37611335 DOI: 10.1016/j.semnephrol.2023.151409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Muscle wasting (ie, atrophy) is a serious consequence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that reduces muscle strength and function. It reduces the quality of life for CKD patients and increases the risks of comorbidities and mortality. Current treatment strategies to prevent or reverse skeletal muscle loss are limited owing to the broad and systemic nature of the initiating signals and the multifaceted catabolic mechanisms that accelerate muscle protein degradation and impair protein synthesis and repair pathways. Recent evidence has shown how organs such as muscle, adipose, and kidney communicate with each other through interorgan exchange of proteins and RNAs during CKD. This crosstalk changes cell functions in the recipient organs and represents an added dimension in the complex processes that are responsible for muscle atrophy in CKD. This complexity creates challenges for the development of effective therapies to ameliorate muscle wasting and weakness in patients with CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaonan H Wang
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - S Russ Price
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC; Department of Internal Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC.
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Adipose Tissue Wasting as a Determinant of Pancreatic Cancer-Related Cachexia. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194754. [PMID: 36230682 PMCID: PMC9563866 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the deadliest cancers in the US. The poor prognosis of PC is related to diagnostic delay and the presence of unintended weight loss (cachexia) that commonly presents in PC patients even before diagnosis. However, the current understanding of how PC mediates cachexia is limited, and there are few treatments clinically available for cachexia. Based on the current literature, we demonstrate that PC-related cachexia primarily results from the wasting of adipose tissue, once thought to be merely a storage depot but now appreciated as an instrumental metabolic organ in the body. In addition, poor survival in PC patients was found to be associated with adipose tissue loss at diagnosis and during treatment. Therefore, identifying potential mediators and molecular mechanisms underlying adipose tissue loss would promise to pave the way for the development of effective interventions for PC-related cachexia Abstract Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the US, and its 5-year survival rate is approximately 10%. The low survival rates largely stem from diagnostic delay and the presence of significant adipose tissue and muscle wasting, commonly referred to as cachexia. Cachexia is present in nearly 80% of PC patients and is a key cause of poor response to treatment and about 20% of death in PC patients. However, there are few clinical interventions proven to be effective against PC-related cachexia. Different cancer types feature distinct secretome profiles and functional characteristics which would lead to cachexia development differently. Therefore, here we discuss affected tissues and potential mechanisms leading to cachexia in PC. We postulate that the most affected tissue during the development of PC-related cachexia is adipose tissue, historically and still thought to be just an inert repository for excess energy in relation to cancer-related cachexia. Adipose tissue loss is considerably greater than muscle loss in quantity and shows a correlation with poor survival in PC patients. Moreover, we suggest that PC mediates adipose atrophy by accelerating adipocyte lipid turnover and fibroblast infiltration.
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Huang Q, Wu M, Wu X, Zhang Y, Xia Y. Muscle-to-tumor crosstalk: The effect of exercise-induced myokine on cancer progression. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188761. [PMID: 35850277 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Physical exercise has gradually become a focus in cancer treatment due to its pronounced role in reducing cancer risk, enhancing therapeutic efficacy, and improving prognosis. In recent decades, skeletal muscles have been considered endocrine organs, exerting their biological functions via the endocrine, autocrine, and paracrine systems by secreting various types of myokines. The amount of myokines secreted varies depending on the intensity, type, and duration of exercise. Recent studies have shown that muscle-derived myokines are highly involved the effects of exercise on cancer. Multiple myokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), oncostatin M (OSM), secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), and irisin, directly mediate cancer progression by influencing the proliferation, apoptosis, stemness, drug resistance, metabolic reprogramming, and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) of cancer cells. In addition, IL-6, interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-15 (IL-15), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and irisin can improve obesity-induced inflammation by stimulating lipolysis of adipose tissues, promoting glucose uptake, and accelerating the browning of white fat. Furthermore, some myokines could regulate the tumor microenvironment, such as angiogenesis and the immune microenvironment. Cancer cachexia occurs in up to 80% of cancer patients and is responsible for 22%-30% of patient deaths. It is characterized by systemic inflammation and decreased muscle mass. Exercise-induced myokine production is important in regulating cancer cachexia. This review summarizes the roles and underlying mechanisms of myokines, such as IL-6, myostatin, IL-15, irisin, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and musclin, in cancer cachexia. Through comprehensive analysis, we conclude that myokines are potential targets for inhibiting cancer progression and the associated cachexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianrui Huang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Mengling Wu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xuyi Wu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan Province/Rehabilitation Medicine Research Institute, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yiwen Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Yong Xia
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan Province/Rehabilitation Medicine Research Institute, Chengdu 610041, China.
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7
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Talbert EE, Guttridge DC. Emerging signaling mediators in the anorexia-cachexia syndrome of cancer. Trends Cancer 2022; 8:397-403. [PMID: 35190301 PMCID: PMC9035074 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2022.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The cachexia syndrome in cancer is characterized by weight loss resulting from the combination of anorexia and atrophy of adipose and skeletal muscle. For decades, inflammatory circulatory factors have been identified to regulate wasting, but inhibitors of these factors have not yielded the same clinical benefit as in animal models. Therefore, additional mediators of cachexia likely regulate this syndrome, and such factors might be more suitable for targeted intervention. We highlight several anorexia-cachexia signaling mediators, including activin A, myostatin, GDF15, and lipocalin-2. We discuss current evidence that these factors associate with cachexia in cancer patients, and summarize translational efforts including essential early-phase clinical trials. We conclude with thoughts on targeted and personalized approaches for future anti-cachexia treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin E Talbert
- Department of Health and Human Physiology, and the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Denis C Guttridge
- Department of Pediatrics, Darby Children's Research Institute, and the Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
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8
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Loumaye A, Lause P, Zhong X, Zimmers TA, Bindels LB, Thissen JP. Activin A Causes Muscle Atrophy through MEF2C-Dependent Impaired Myogenesis. Cells 2022; 11:cells11071119. [PMID: 35406681 PMCID: PMC8997966 DOI: 10.3390/cells11071119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Activin A (ActA) is considered to play a major role in cancer-induced cachexia (CC). Indeed, circulating ActA levels are elevated and predict survival in patients with CC. However, the mechanisms by which ActA mediates CC development and in particular skeletal muscle (SM) atrophy in humans are not yet fully understood. In this work, we aimed to investigate the effects of ActA on human SM and in mouse models of CC. We used a model of human muscle cells in culture to explore how ActA acts towards human SM. In this model, recombinant ActA induced myotube atrophy associated with the decline of MyHC-β/slow, the main myosin isoform in human muscle cells studied. Moreover, ActA inhibited the expression and activity of MEF2C, the transcription factor regulating MYH7, the gene which codes for MyHC-β/slow. This decrease in MEF2C was involved in the decline of MyHC-β/slow expression, since inhibition of MEF2C by a siRNA leads to the decrease in MyHC-β/slow expression. The relevance of this ActA/MEF2C pathway in vivo was supported by the parallel decline of MEF2C expression and SM mass, which are both blunted by ActA inhibition, in animal models of CC. In this work, we showed that ActA is a potent negative regulator of SM mass by inhibiting MyHC-β/slow synthesis through downregulation of MEF2C. This observation highlights a novel interaction between ActA signaling and MEF2C transcriptional activity which contributes to SM atrophy in CC models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Loumaye
- Pole of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Nutrition, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (P.L.); (J.-P.T.)
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +32-2-764-6001
| | - Pascale Lause
- Pole of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Nutrition, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (P.L.); (J.-P.T.)
| | - Xiaoling Zhong
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University Simon and Bren Comprehensive Cancer Center, Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (X.Z.); (T.A.Z.)
- Research Service, Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Teresa A. Zimmers
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University Simon and Bren Comprehensive Cancer Center, Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (X.Z.); (T.A.Z.)
- Research Service, Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Laure B. Bindels
- Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Jean-Paul Thissen
- Pole of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Nutrition, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (P.L.); (J.-P.T.)
- Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
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9
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Rodgers BD, Ward CW. Myostatin/Activin Receptor Ligands in Muscle and the Development Status of Attenuating Drugs. Endocr Rev 2022; 43:329-365. [PMID: 34520530 PMCID: PMC8905337 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnab030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Muscle wasting disease indications are among the most debilitating and often deadly noncommunicable disease states. As a comorbidity, muscle wasting is associated with different neuromuscular diseases and myopathies, cancer, heart failure, chronic pulmonary and renal diseases, peripheral neuropathies, inflammatory disorders, and, of course, musculoskeletal injuries. Current treatment strategies are relatively ineffective and can at best only limit the rate of muscle degeneration. This includes nutritional supplementation and appetite stimulants as well as immunosuppressants capable of exacerbating muscle loss. Arguably, the most promising treatments in development attempt to disrupt myostatin and activin receptor signaling because these circulating factors are potent inhibitors of muscle growth and regulators of muscle progenitor cell differentiation. Indeed, several studies demonstrated the clinical potential of "inhibiting the inhibitors," increasing muscle cell protein synthesis, decreasing degradation, enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis, and preserving muscle function. Such changes can prevent muscle wasting in various disease animal models yet many drugs targeting this pathway failed during clinical trials, some from serious treatment-related adverse events and off-target interactions. More often, however, failures resulted from the inability to improve muscle function despite preserving muscle mass. Drugs still in development include antibodies and gene therapeutics, all with different targets and thus, safety, efficacy, and proposed use profiles. Each is unique in design and, if successful, could revolutionize the treatment of both acute and chronic muscle wasting. They could also be used in combination with other developing therapeutics for related muscle pathologies or even metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christopher W Ward
- Department of Orthopedics and Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology (BioMET), University of Maryland School of Medicine , Baltimore, MD, USA
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10
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Wang XH, Mitch WE, Price SR. Pathophysiological mechanisms leading to muscle loss in chronic kidney disease. Nat Rev Nephrol 2022; 18:138-152. [PMID: 34750550 DOI: 10.1038/s41581-021-00498-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Loss of muscle proteins is a deleterious consequence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that causes a decrease in muscle strength and function, and can lead to a reduction in quality of life and increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The effectiveness of current treatment strategies in preventing or reversing muscle protein losses is limited. The limitations largely stem from the systemic nature of diseases such as CKD, which stimulate skeletal muscle protein degradation pathways while simultaneously activating mechanisms that impair muscle protein synthesis and repair. Stimuli that initiate muscle protein loss include metabolic acidosis, insulin and IGF1 resistance, changes in hormones, cytokines, inflammatory processes and decreased appetite. A growing body of evidence suggests that signalling molecules secreted from muscle can enter the circulation and subsequently interact with recipient organs, including the kidneys, while conversely, pathological events in the kidney can adversely influence protein metabolism in skeletal muscle, demonstrating the existence of crosstalk between kidney and muscle. Together, these signals, whether direct or indirect, induce changes in the levels of regulatory and effector proteins via alterations in mRNAs, microRNAs and chromatin epigenetic responses. Advances in our understanding of the signals and processes that mediate muscle loss in CKD and other muscle wasting conditions will support the future development of therapeutic strategies to reduce muscle loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaonan H Wang
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - William E Mitch
- Nephrology Division, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - S Russ Price
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA. .,Department of Internal Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
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11
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The role of pro-domains in human growth factors and cytokines. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:1963-1973. [PMID: 34495310 PMCID: PMC8589418 DOI: 10.1042/bst20200663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Many growth factors and cytokines are produced as larger precursors, containing pro-domains, that require proteolytic processing to release the bioactive ligand. These pro-domains can be significantly larger than the mature domains and can play an active role in the regulation of the ligands. Mining the UniProt database, we identified almost one hundred human growth factors and cytokines with pro-domains. These are spread across several unrelated protein families and vary in both their size and composition. The precise role of each pro-domain varies significantly between the protein families. Typically they are critical for controlling bioactivity and protein localisation, and they facilitate diverse mechanisms of activation. Significant gaps in our understanding remain for pro-domain function — particularly their fate once the bioactive ligand has been released. Here we provide an overview of pro-domain roles in human growth factors and cytokines, their processing, regulation and activation, localisation as well as therapeutic potential.
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12
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Carraro U, Yablonka-Reuveni Z. Translational research on Myology and Mobility Medicine: 2021 semi-virtual PDM3 from Thermae of Euganean Hills, May 26 - 29, 2021. Eur J Transl Myol 2021; 31:9743. [PMID: 33733717 PMCID: PMC8056169 DOI: 10.4081/ejtm.2021.9743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
On 19-21 November 2020, the meeting of the 30 years of the Padova Muscle Days was virtually held while the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic was hitting the world after a seemingly quiet summer. During the 2020-2021 winter, the epidemic is still active, despite the start of vaccinations. The organizers hope to hold the 2021 Padua Days on Myology and Mobility Medicine in a semi-virtual form (2021 S-V PDM3) from May 26 to May 29 at the Thermae of Euganean Hills, Padova, Italy. Here the program and the Collection of Abstracts are presented. Despite numerous world problems, the number of submitted/selected presentations (lectures and oral presentations) has increased, prompting the organizers to extend the program to four dense days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugo Carraro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of the University of Padova, Italy; CIR-Myo - Myology Centre, University of Padova, Italy; A-C Mioni-Carraro Foundation for Translational Myology, Padova.
| | - Zipora Yablonka-Reuveni
- Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA.
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13
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Targeting the Activin Receptor Signaling to Counteract the Multi-Systemic Complications of Cancer and Its Treatments. Cells 2021; 10:cells10030516. [PMID: 33671024 PMCID: PMC7997313 DOI: 10.3390/cells10030516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Muscle wasting, i.e., cachexia, frequently occurs in cancer and associates with poor prognosis and increased morbidity and mortality. Anticancer treatments have also been shown to contribute to sustainment or exacerbation of cachexia, thus affecting quality of life and overall survival in cancer patients. Pre-clinical studies have shown that blocking activin receptor type 2 (ACVR2) or its ligands and their downstream signaling can preserve muscle mass in rodents bearing experimental cancers, as well as in chemotherapy-treated animals. In tumor-bearing mice, the prevention of skeletal and respiratory muscle wasting was also associated with improved survival. However, the definitive proof that improved survival directly results from muscle preservation following blockade of ACVR2 signaling is still lacking, especially considering that concurrent beneficial effects in organs other than skeletal muscle have also been described in the presence of cancer or following chemotherapy treatments paired with counteraction of ACVR2 signaling. Hence, here, we aim to provide an up-to-date literature review on the multifaceted anti-cachectic effects of ACVR2 blockade in preclinical models of cancer, as well as in combination with anticancer treatments.
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14
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Huot JR, Pin F, Narasimhan A, Novinger LJ, Keith AS, Zimmers TA, Willis MS, Bonetto A. ACVR2B antagonism as a countermeasure to multi-organ perturbations in metastatic colorectal cancer cachexia. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2020; 11:1779-1798. [PMID: 33200567 PMCID: PMC7749603 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.12642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) is often accompanied by the development of liver metastases, as well as cachexia, a multi-organ co-morbidity primarily affecting skeletal (SKM) and cardiac muscles. Activin receptor type 2B (ACVR2B) signalling is known to cause SKM wasting, and its inhibition restores SKM mass and prolongs survival in cancer. Using a recently generated mouse model, here we tested whether ACVR2B blockade could preserve multiple organs, including skeletal and cardiac muscle, in the presence of metastatic CRC. METHODS NSG male mice (8 weeks old) were injected intrasplenically with HCT116 human CRC cells (mHCT116), while sham-operated animals received saline (n = 5-10 per group). Sham and tumour-bearing mice received weekly injections of ACVR2B/Fc, a synthetic peptide inhibitor of ACVR2B. RESULTS mHCT116 hosts displayed losses in fat mass ( - 79%, P < 0.0001), bone mass ( - 39%, P < 0.05), and SKM mass (quadriceps: - 22%, P < 0.001), in line with reduced muscle cross-sectional area ( - 24%, P < 0.01) and plantarflexion force ( - 28%, P < 0.05). Further, despite only moderately affected heart size, cardiac function was significantly impaired (ejection fraction %: - 16%, P < 0.0001; fractional shortening %: - 25%, P < 0.0001) in the mHCT116 hosts. Conversely, ACVR2B/Fc preserved fat mass ( + 238%, P < 0.001), bone mass ( + 124%, P < 0.0001), SKM mass (quadriceps: + 31%, P < 0.0001), size (cross-sectional area: + 43%, P < 0.0001) and plantarflexion force ( + 28%, P < 0.05) in tumour hosts. Cardiac function was also completely preserved in tumour hosts receiving ACVR2B/Fc (ejection fraction %: + 19%, P < 0.0001), despite no effect on heart size. RNA sequencing analysis of heart muscle revealed rescue of genes related to cardiac development and contraction in tumour hosts treated with ACVR2B/Fc. CONCLUSIONS Our metastatic CRC model recapitulates the multi-systemic derangements of cachexia by displaying loss of fat, bone, and SKM along with decreased muscle strength in mHCT116 hosts. Additionally, with evidence of severe cardiac dysfunction, our data support the development of cardiac cachexia in the occurrence of metastatic CRC. Notably, ACVR2B antagonism preserved adipose tissue, bone, and SKM, whereas muscle and cardiac functions were completely maintained upon treatment. Altogether, our observations implicate ACVR2B signalling in the development of multi-organ perturbations in metastatic CRC and further dictate that ACVR2B represents a promising therapeutic target to preserve body composition and functionality in cancer cachexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua R Huot
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Fabrizio Pin
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Ashok Narasimhan
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Leah J Novinger
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | - Teresa A Zimmers
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Monte S Willis
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Andrea Bonetto
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.,Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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15
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Hagg A, Kharoud S, Goodchild G, Goodman CA, Chen JL, Thomson RE, Qian H, Gregorevic P, Harrison CA, Walton KL. TMEPAI/PMEPA1 Is a Positive Regulator of Skeletal Muscle Mass. Front Physiol 2020; 11:560225. [PMID: 33250771 PMCID: PMC7672205 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.560225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of myostatin- and activin-mediated SMAD2/3 signaling using ligand traps, such as soluble receptors, ligand-targeting propeptides and antibodies, or follistatin can increase skeletal muscle mass in healthy mice and ameliorate wasting in models of cancer cachexia and muscular dystrophy. However, clinical translation of these extracellular approaches targeting myostatin and activin has been hindered by the challenges of achieving efficacy without potential effects in other tissues. Toward the goal of developing tissue-specific myostatin/activin interventions, we explored the ability of transmembrane prostate androgen-induced (TMEPAI), an inhibitor of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β1)-mediated SMAD2/3 signaling, to promote growth, and counter atrophy, in skeletal muscle. In this study, we show that TMEPAI can block activin A, activin B, myostatin and GDF-11 activity in vitro. To determine the physiological significance of TMEPAI, we employed Adeno-associated viral vector (AAV) delivery of a TMEPAI expression cassette to the muscles of healthy mice, which increased mass by as much as 30%, due to hypertrophy of muscle fibers. To demonstrate that TMEPAI mediates its effects via inhibition of the SMAD2/3 pathway, tibialis anterior (TA) muscles of mice were co-injected with AAV vectors expressing activin A and TMEPAI. In this setting, TMEPAI blocked skeletal muscle wasting driven by activin-induced phosphorylation of SMAD3. In a model of cancer cachexia associated with elevated circulating activin A, delivery of AAV:TMEPAI into TA muscles of mice bearing C26 colon tumors ameliorated the muscle atrophy normally associated with cancer progression. Collectively, the findings indicate that muscle-directed TMEPAI gene delivery can inactivate the activin/myostatin-SMAD3 pathway to positively regulate muscle mass in healthy settings and models of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Hagg
- Department of Physiology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Centre for Muscle Research, Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Swati Kharoud
- Department of Physiology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Georgia Goodchild
- Department of Physiology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Craig A Goodman
- Centre for Muscle Research, Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science, Sunshine Hospital, The University of Melbourne, St Albans, VIC, Australia
| | - Justin L Chen
- Department of Physiology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Rachel E Thomson
- Centre for Muscle Research, Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Hongwei Qian
- Centre for Muscle Research, Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Paul Gregorevic
- Centre for Muscle Research, Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Department of Neurology, The University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Craig A Harrison
- Department of Physiology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Kelly L Walton
- Department of Physiology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia
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16
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Wang Y, Shuang L, Yujie S, Xiaohui M, Wei W, Jidong W. Activin A overexpression promotes rat follicular development through SCF-kit-mediated cell signals. Gynecol Endocrinol 2020; 36:1070-1073. [PMID: 32133888 DOI: 10.1080/09513590.2020.1736026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
We explored the possible signaling pathway by which activin A induces oocyte maturation. Inhba-overexpressing lentivirus vectors were constructed and transfected into primary granulosa cells in vitro and ovary tissues in vivo in rats. The granulosa cell growth curve was drawn, and antibodies for phospho-Smad2, phospho-Erk5, phospho-Nur77, and stem cell factor (SCF) were prepared for western blot analysis. Protein expression of SCF and C-kit in the rat ovaries was detected by immunohistochemical staining. The rate of granulosa cell proliferation was higher in the Inhba gene overexpression group (INH) than in the control groups (CON group and GFP group) in vitro. Protein expression of SCF and C-kit was higher in the INH group than in the other two groups. phospho-Smad2, phospho-ERK5, P-nur77, and SCF proteins showed positive expression in rat ovarian granulosa cells in each group and were obviously increased in the INH group. Activin A overexpression may promote rat granulosa cell proliferation through Smad2/ERK5/nur77 signaling pathways, and rat granulosa cells overexpressing activin A in vitro showed increased levels of SCF and c-kit proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxia Wang
- Gynecology Department of Jinan Central Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Luo Shuang
- Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of Suining Central Hospital, Suining, China
| | - Su Yujie
- Gynecology Department of Jinan Central Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Ma Xiaohui
- Department of Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Shandong Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Wang Wei
- Clinical Department of Shandong Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Wang Jidong
- Gynecology Department of Shandong Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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17
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Martinez-Hackert E, Sundan A, Holien T. Receptor binding competition: A paradigm for regulating TGF-β family action. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2020; 57:39-54. [PMID: 33087301 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2020.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The transforming growth factor (TGF)-β family is a group of structurally related, multifunctional growth factors, or ligands that are crucially involved in the development, regulation, and maintenance of animal tissues. In humans, the family counts over 33 members. These secreted ligands typically form multimeric complexes with two type I and two type II receptors to activate one of two distinct signal transduction branches. A striking feature of the family is its promiscuity, i.e., many ligands bind the same receptors and compete with each other for binding to these receptors. Although several explanations for this feature have been considered, its functional significance has remained puzzling. However, several recent reports have promoted the idea that ligand-receptor binding promiscuity and competition are critical features of the TGF-β family that provide an essential regulating function. Namely, they allow a cell to read and process multi-ligand inputs. This capability may be necessary for producing subtle, distinctive, or adaptive responses and, possibly, for facilitating developmental plasticity. Here, we review the molecular basis for ligand competition, with emphasis on molecular structures and binding affinities. We give an overview of methods that were used to establish experimentally ligand competition. Finally, we discuss how the concept of ligand competition may be fundamentally tied to human physiology, disease, and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Martinez-Hackert
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
| | - Anders Sundan
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway; Centre of Molecular Inflammation Research (CEMIR), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Toril Holien
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Hematology, St. Olav's University Hospital, 7030, Trondheim, Norway.
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