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Chugh D, Iyer CC, Bobbili P, Blatnik AJ, Kaspar BK, Meyer K, Burghes AH, Clark BC, Arnold WD. Voluntary wheel running with and without follistatin overexpression improves NMJ transmission but not motor unit loss in late life of C57BL/6J mice. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 101:285-296. [PMID: 33678425 PMCID: PMC8122043 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Sarcopenia, or pathological loss of muscle mass and strength during aging, is an important contributor to loss of physical function in older adults. Sarcopenia is a multifactorial syndrome associated with intrinsic muscle and upstream neurological dysfunction. Exercise is well-established as an effective intervention for sarcopenia, but less is known about the long-term neurobiological impact of exercise. The goals of this study were to investigate the effects of exercise, alone or in combination with follistatin (FST) overexpression (antagonist of myostatin), on neuromuscular junction transmission and motor unit numbers in mice between the age of 22 and 27 months, ages at which prior studies have demonstrated that some motor unit loss is already evident. C57BL/6J mice underwent baseline assessment and were randomized to housing with or without voluntary running wheels and injection with adeno-associated virus to overexpress FST or vehicle. Groups for comparison included sedentary and running with and without FST. Longitudinal assessments showed significantly increased muscle mass and contractility in the 'running plus FST' group, but running, with and without FST, showed no effect on motor unit degeneration. In contrast, running, with and without FST, demonstrated marked improvement of neuromuscular junction transmission stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepti Chugh
- Department of Neurology, Neuromuscular Division, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Chitra C Iyer
- Department of Neurology, Neuromuscular Division, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Prameela Bobbili
- Department of Neurology, Neuromuscular Division, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Anton J Blatnik
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Brian K Kaspar
- The Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kathrin Meyer
- The Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Arthur Hm Burghes
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Brian C Clark
- Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute & the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Athens, OH, USA
| | - W David Arnold
- Department of Neurology, Neuromuscular Division, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Perakakis N, Mougios V, Fatouros I, Siopi A, Draganidis D, Peradze N, Ghaly W, Mantzoros CS. Physiology of Activins/Follistatins: Associations With Metabolic and Anthropometric Variables and Response to Exercise. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2018; 103:3890-3899. [PMID: 30085147 PMCID: PMC6179167 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2018-01056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Clinical trials are evaluating the efficacy of inhibitors of the myostatin pathway in neuromuscular and metabolic diseases. Activins and follistatins are major regulators of the myostatin pathway, but their physiology in relation to metabolic and anthropometric variables and in response to exercise remains to be fully elucidated in humans. OBJECTIVE We investigated whether concentrations of circulating activin A, activin B, follistatin, and follistatin-like 3 (FSTL3) are associated with anthropometric and metabolic variables and whether they are affected by exercise. DESIGN Activin A, activin B, follistatin, and FSTL3 were measured in (1) 80 subjects divided according to age (young vs old) and fitness status (active vs sedentary) before and after exercise at 70% maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), followed by 90% of VO2max until exhaustion; and (2) 23 subjects [9 healthy and 14 with metabolic syndrome (MetS)] who completed four sessions: no exercise, high-intensity interval exercise, continuous moderate-intensity exercise, and resistance exercise for up to 45 minutes. RESULTS At baseline, follistatin and FSTL3 concentrations were positively associated with age, fat percentage, and body mass index (P < 0.001). Follistatin was positively associated with serum cholesterol (P = 0.005), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.01), triglycerides (P = 0.033), and blood pressure (P = 0.019), whereas activin A and activin B were higher in physically active participants (P = 0.056 and 0.029, respectively). All exercise types increased the levels of all hormones ∼10% to 21% (P = 0.034 for activin B, P < 0.001 for the others) independent of the presence of MetS. CONCLUSION Concentrations of circulating activins and follistatins are associated with metabolic parameters and increase after 45 minutes of exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Perakakis
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Vassilis Mougios
- School of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ioannis Fatouros
- School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences,University of Thessaly, Karies, Trikala, Greece
| | - Aikaterina Siopi
- School of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Draganidis
- School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences,University of Thessaly, Karies, Trikala, Greece
| | - Natia Peradze
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Wael Ghaly
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Physiology, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
| | - Christos S Mantzoros
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Correspondence and Reprint Requests: Christos S. Mantzoros, MD, 330 Brookline Avenue, East Campus, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Stoneman Building, ST-820, Boston, Massachussetts 02215. E-mail:
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Ashry M, Rajput SK, Folger JK, Knott JG, Hemeida NA, Kandil OM, Ragab RS, Smith GW. Functional role of AKT signaling in bovine early embryonic development: potential link to embryotrophic actions of follistatin. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2018; 16:1. [PMID: 29310676 PMCID: PMC5759257 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-017-0318-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND TGF-β signaling pathways regulate several crucial processes in female reproduction. AKT is a non-SMAD signaling pathway regulated by TGF-β ligands essential for oocyte maturation and early embryonic development in the mouse, but its regulatory role in bovine early embryonic development is not well established. Previously, we demonstrated a stimulatory role for follistatin (a binding protein for specific members of TGF-β superfamily) in early bovine embryonic development. The objectives of the present studies were to determine the functional role of AKT signaling in bovine early embryonic development and embryotrophic actions of follistatin. METHODS We used AKT inhibitors III and IV as pharmacological inhibitors of AKT signaling pathway during the first 72 h of in vitro embryo culture. Effects of AKT inhibition on early embryonic development and AKT phosphorylation were investigated in the presence or absence of exogenous follistatin. RESULTS Pharmacological inhibition of AKT signaling resulted in a significant reduction in early embryo cleavage, and development to the 8- to 16-cell and blastocyst stages (d7). Treatment with exogenous follistatin increased AKT phosphorylation and rescued the inhibitory effect of AKT inhibitors III and IV on AKT phosphorylation and early embryonic development. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, results suggest a potential requirement of AKT for bovine early embryonic development, and suggest a potential role for follistatin in regulation of AKT signaling in early bovine embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Ashry
- Laboratory of Mammalian Reproductive Biology and Genomics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 USA
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 USA
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Sandeep K. Rajput
- Laboratory of Mammalian Reproductive Biology and Genomics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 USA
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 USA
| | - Joseph K. Folger
- Laboratory of Mammalian Reproductive Biology and Genomics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 USA
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 USA
| | - Jason G. Knott
- Developmental Epigenetics Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 USA
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 USA
| | - Nabil A. Hemeida
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Omaima M. Kandil
- Department of Animal Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Veterinary Research Division, National Research Center, Giza, Egypt
| | - Refaat S. Ragab
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - George W. Smith
- Laboratory of Mammalian Reproductive Biology and Genomics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 USA
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 USA
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Fung RSK, Bai J, Yuen KWY, Wong AOL. Activin/follistatin system in grass carp pituitary cells: - Regulation by local release of growth hormone and luteinizing hormone and its functional role in growth hormone synthesis and secretion. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0179789. [PMID: 28662143 PMCID: PMC5491050 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Gonadotrophin regulation by activin/follistatin system is well-documented, but the corresponding effect on growth hormone (GH) has not been fully characterized and with little information available in lower vertebrates, especially in fish models. In grass carp, local interactions of GH and luteinizing hormone (LH) can induce GH release and gene expression at pituitary level via autocrine/paracrine mechanisms. To shed light on the role of activin/follistatin system in GH regulation by local actions of GH and LH, grass carp activin βA and βB were cloned, shown to be single-copy genes expressed in the pituitary, and confirmed to encode activin proteins capable of transactivating promoter with activin-responsive elements. In grass carp pituitary cells, activin A and B were effective in reducing GH secretion and GH cell content with concurrent drop in GH mRNA level whereas the opposite was true for follistatin, the activin-binding protein known to neutralize the effects of endogenous activin. Treatment with activin A and B not only could suppress basal but also inhibit GH mRNA expression induced by GH and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a functional analogue of LH in fish model. Apparently, down-regulation of GH mRNA by activin was mediated by reducing GH transcript stability with concurrent inhibition on GH promoter activity via the SMAD pathway. In reciprocal experiments, GH treatment was found to up-regulate activin βA, activin βB and follistatin mRNA levels in carp pituitary cells but the opposite was noted by removing endogenous GH with GH antiserum. Interestingly, parallel treatment with hCG could also inhibit basal as well as GH-induced activin βA, activin βB and follistatin gene expression. These results, as a whole, indicate that the pituitary activin/follistatin system can serve as a regulatory target for local interactions of GH and LH and contribute to GH regulation by autocrine/paracrine mechanisms in the carp pituitary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger S. K. Fung
- School of Biological Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jin Bai
- School of Biological Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Karen W. Y. Yuen
- School of Biological Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Anderson O. L. Wong
- School of Biological Sciences, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
- * E-mail:
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Singh R, Braga M, Reddy ST, Lee SJ, Parveen M, Grijalva V, Vergnes L, Pervin S. Follistatin Targets Distinct Pathways To Promote Brown Adipocyte Characteristics in Brown and White Adipose Tissues. Endocrinology 2017; 158:1217-1230. [PMID: 28324027 PMCID: PMC5460830 DOI: 10.1210/en.2016-1607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that Fst expression is highest in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and skeletal muscle, but is also present at substantial levels in epididymal and subcutaneous white adipose tissues (WATs). Fst promotes mouse brown preadipocyte differentiation and promotes browning during differentiation of mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Fst-transgenic (Fst-Tg) mice show substantial increases in circulating Fst levels and increased brown adipose mass. BAT of Fst-Tg mice had increased expression of brown adipose-associated markers including uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), PRDM16, PGC-1α, and Glut4. WATs from Fst-Tg mice show upregulation of brown/beige adipose markers and significantly increased levels of phosphorylated p38 MAPK/ERK1/2 proteins compared with the wild-type (WT) mice. Pharmacological inhibition of pp38 MAPK/pERK1/2 pathway of recombinant mouse Fst (rFst) treated differentiating 3T3-L1 cells led to significant blockade of Fst-induced UCP1 protein expression. On the other hand, BAT from Fst-Tg mice or differentiating mouse BAT cells treated with rFst show dramatic increase in Myf5 protein levels as well as upregulation of Zic1 and Lhx8 gene expression. Myf5 levels were significantly downregulated in Fst knock-out embryos and small inhibitory RNA-mediated inhibition of Myf5 led to significant inhibition of UCP1, Lhx8, and Zic1 gene expression and significant blockade of Fst-induced induction of UCP1 protein expression in mouse BAT cells. Both interscapular BAT and WAT tissues from Fst-Tg mice display enhanced response to CL316,243 treatment and decreased expression of pSmad3 compared with the WT mice. Therefore, our results indicate that Fst promotes brown adipocyte characteristics in both WAT and BAT depots in vivo through distinct mechanisms.
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MESH Headings
- 3T3-L1 Cells
- Adipocytes, Brown/physiology
- Adipocytes, White/physiology
- Adipose Tissue, Brown/anatomy & histology
- Adipose Tissue, Brown/physiology
- Adipose Tissue, White/anatomy & histology
- Adipose Tissue, White/physiology
- Animals
- Cell Differentiation/genetics
- Cell Transdifferentiation/genetics
- Cells, Cultured
- Embryo, Mammalian
- Female
- Follistatin/blood
- Follistatin/genetics
- Follistatin/physiology
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Transgenic
- Signal Transduction/genetics
- Thermogenesis/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajan Singh
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California 90059; Departments of
- 2Obstetrics and Gynecology and
| | - Melissa Braga
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California 90059; Departments of
| | - Srinivasa T. Reddy
- 2Obstetrics and Gynecology and
- Medicine, Molecular and Medical Pharmacology and
| | - Se-Jin Lee
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Baltimore, Maryland 21205
| | - Meher Parveen
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California 90059; Departments of
| | | | - Laurent Vergnes
- Molecular Biology and Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Shehla Pervin
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California 90059; Departments of
- 2Obstetrics and Gynecology and
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Dmochowski RR. Editorial. Neurourol Urodyn 2017; 36:220. [PMID: 28235167 DOI: 10.1002/nau.23246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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O'Connell AR, McNatty KP, Hurst PR, Spencer TE, Bazer FW, Reader KL, Johnstone PD, Davis GH, Juengel JL. Activin A and follistatin during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy in ewes. J Endocrinol 2016; 228:193-203. [PMID: 26733604 DOI: 10.1530/joe-15-0367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The activin pathway has been postulated to be involved in regulation of multiple reproductive processes important for survival of the conceptus. These processes include luteinisation of the follicular cells and thus function of the corpus luteum, early embryo development and uterine function including implantation of the conceptus. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to determine whether the concentrations of activin A and follistatin (FST), an activin-binding protein, differed between ewes with a lifetime history of enhanced or reduced embryonic survival (ES). The mRNAs encoding FST and activin A (inhibin beta A subunit; INHBA) were present in the uterus and abundant in the uterine luminal or glandular epithelia by day 18 of gestation. A peak of activin A was observed in the systemic circulation around the time of oestrus, and activin A concentrations were elevated in animals with reduced ES during the oestrous cycle and early gestation. Concentrations of activin A in uterine fluid were approximately twofold greater on day 16 of gestation in ewes with reduced ES compared to those with enhanced ES. No consistent differences in FST were observed between these groups. Treatment of luteinising ovine granulosa cells with activin A in vitro suppressed progesterone secretion providing evidence of a potential pathway whereby increased concentrations of activin A may decrease ES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne R O'Connell
- Animal ReproductionAgResearch Limited, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Puddle Alley Mosgiel, Mosgiel 9092, New ZealandSchool of Biological SciencesVictoria University, Wellington 6021, New ZealandDepartment of AnatomySchool of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandDepartment of Animal SciencesWashington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6353, USADepartment of Animal ScienceCenter for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2471, USA
| | - Kenneth P McNatty
- Animal ReproductionAgResearch Limited, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Puddle Alley Mosgiel, Mosgiel 9092, New ZealandSchool of Biological SciencesVictoria University, Wellington 6021, New ZealandDepartment of AnatomySchool of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandDepartment of Animal SciencesWashington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6353, USADepartment of Animal ScienceCenter for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2471, USA
| | - Peter R Hurst
- Animal ReproductionAgResearch Limited, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Puddle Alley Mosgiel, Mosgiel 9092, New ZealandSchool of Biological SciencesVictoria University, Wellington 6021, New ZealandDepartment of AnatomySchool of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandDepartment of Animal SciencesWashington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6353, USADepartment of Animal ScienceCenter for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2471, USA
| | - Thomas E Spencer
- Animal ReproductionAgResearch Limited, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Puddle Alley Mosgiel, Mosgiel 9092, New ZealandSchool of Biological SciencesVictoria University, Wellington 6021, New ZealandDepartment of AnatomySchool of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandDepartment of Animal SciencesWashington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6353, USADepartment of Animal ScienceCenter for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2471, USA
| | - Fuller W Bazer
- Animal ReproductionAgResearch Limited, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Puddle Alley Mosgiel, Mosgiel 9092, New ZealandSchool of Biological SciencesVictoria University, Wellington 6021, New ZealandDepartment of AnatomySchool of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandDepartment of Animal SciencesWashington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6353, USADepartment of Animal ScienceCenter for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2471, USA
| | - Karen L Reader
- Animal ReproductionAgResearch Limited, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Puddle Alley Mosgiel, Mosgiel 9092, New ZealandSchool of Biological SciencesVictoria University, Wellington 6021, New ZealandDepartment of AnatomySchool of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandDepartment of Animal SciencesWashington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6353, USADepartment of Animal ScienceCenter for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2471, USA
| | - Peter D Johnstone
- Animal ReproductionAgResearch Limited, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Puddle Alley Mosgiel, Mosgiel 9092, New ZealandSchool of Biological SciencesVictoria University, Wellington 6021, New ZealandDepartment of AnatomySchool of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandDepartment of Animal SciencesWashington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6353, USADepartment of Animal ScienceCenter for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2471, USA
| | - George H Davis
- Animal ReproductionAgResearch Limited, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Puddle Alley Mosgiel, Mosgiel 9092, New ZealandSchool of Biological SciencesVictoria University, Wellington 6021, New ZealandDepartment of AnatomySchool of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandDepartment of Animal SciencesWashington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6353, USADepartment of Animal ScienceCenter for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2471, USA
| | - Jennifer L Juengel
- Animal ReproductionAgResearch Limited, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Puddle Alley Mosgiel, Mosgiel 9092, New ZealandSchool of Biological SciencesVictoria University, Wellington 6021, New ZealandDepartment of AnatomySchool of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New ZealandDepartment of Animal SciencesWashington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6353, USADepartment of Animal ScienceCenter for Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2471, USA
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Jiang M, Ku WY, Zhou Z, Dellon ES, Falk GW, Nakagawa H, Wang ML, Liu K, Wang J, Katzka DA, Peters JH, Lan X, Que J. BMP-driven NRF2 activation in esophageal basal cell differentiation and eosinophilic esophagitis. J Clin Invest 2015; 125:1557-68. [PMID: 25774506 DOI: 10.1172/jci78850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 01/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue homeostasis requires balanced self-renewal and differentiation of stem/progenitor cells, especially in tissues that are constantly replenished like the esophagus. Disruption of this balance is associated with pathological conditions, including eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), in which basal progenitor cells become hyperplastic upon proinflammatory stimulation. However, how basal cells respond to the inflammatory environment at the molecular level remains undetermined. We previously reported that the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway is critical for epithelial morphogenesis in the embryonic esophagus. Here, we address how this pathway regulates tissue homeostasis and EoE development in the adult esophagus. BMP signaling was specifically activated in differentiated squamous epithelium, but not in basal progenitor cells, which express the BMP antagonist follistatin. Previous reports indicate that increased BMP activity promotes Barrett's intestinal differentiation; however, in mice, basal progenitor cell-specific expression of constitutively active BMP promoted squamous differentiation. Moreover, BMP activation increased intracellular ROS levels, initiating an NRF2-mediated oxidative response during basal progenitor cell differentiation. In both a mouse EoE model and human biopsies, reduced squamous differentiation was associated with high levels of follistatin and disrupted BMP/NRF2 pathways. We therefore propose a model in which normal squamous differentiation of basal progenitor cells is mediated by BMP-driven NRF2 activation and basal cell hyperplasia is promoted by disruption of BMP signaling in EoE.
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Zhong SS, Jiang XY, Sun CF, Zou SM. Identification of a second follistatin gene in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) and its regulatory function in myogenesis during embryogenesis. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2013; 185:19-27. [PMID: 23396016 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2013.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [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] [Received: 11/10/2012] [Revised: 01/15/2013] [Accepted: 01/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Follistatin can antagonize the function of myostatin as a competitive binding protein and promote muscle growth in vivo. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a second follistatin gene fst2 in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus). The grass carp fst2 cDNA was 1,376 bp in length, with an open reading frame (ORF) encoding 350 amino acid residues. A relatively low sequence identity of 78% was found between grass carp Fst2 and its paralog Fst1. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses suggest that the grass carp fst2 originated from fish-specific gene duplication. In adult fish, fst2 mRNA expression was observed in most tissues but was strongly expressed in the eyes, muscles, skin and ovary. Grass carp fst2 mRNA could be detected as early as 16 h post-fertilization (hpf), while fst1 mRNA was detected throughout embryogenesis. Using in situ hybridization, fst2 transcripts were detected in the anterior somites at 24 hpf and in the brain and posterior somites at 36 hpf. Meanwhile, fst1 mRNA was transcribed mainly in the optic vesicle and at the cephalic mesoderm at 12 hpf, in the eyes, cephalic mesoderm and at the lateral edge of most somites at 24 hpf, and mainly in the brain at 36 hpf. Furthermore, overexpression of fst2 mRNA markedly affected the formation of the embryonic midline and somite structures. Based on comparisons with fst1, our findings suggest that fst2 retained the ancestral functions of regulating muscle development and growth during embryogenesis in grass carp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha-Sha Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Shanghai Ocean University, Huchenghuan Road 999, Shanghai 201306, China
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Bilezikjian LM, Justice NJ, Blackler AN, Wiater E, Vale WW. Cell-type specific modulation of pituitary cells by activin, inhibin and follistatin. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2012; 359:43-52. [PMID: 22330643 PMCID: PMC3367026 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2012.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2011] [Revised: 01/26/2012] [Accepted: 01/30/2012] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Activins are multifunctional proteins and members of the TGF-β superfamily. Activins are expressed locally in most tissues and, analogous to the actions of other members of this large family of pleiotropic factors, play prominent roles in the regulation of diverse biological processes in both differentiated and embryonic stem cells. They have an essential role in maintaining tissue homeostasis in the adult and are known to contribute to the developmental programs in the embryo. Activins are further implicated in the growth and metastasis of tumor cells. Through distinct modes of action, inhibins and follistatins function as antagonists of activin and several other TGF-β family members, including a subset of BMPs/GDFs, and modulate cellular responses and the signaling cascades downstream of these ligands. In the pituitary, the activin pathway is known to regulate key aspects of gonadotrope functions and also exert effects on other pituitary cell types. As in other tissues, activin is produced locally by pituitary cells and acts locally by exerting cell-type specific actions on gonadotropes. These local actions of activin on gonadotropes are modulated by the autocrine/paracrine actions of locally secreted follistatin and by the feedback actions of gonadal inhibin. Knowledge about the mechanism of activin, inhibin and follistatin actions is providing information about their importance for pituitary function as well as their contribution to the pathophysiology of pituitary adenomas. The aim of this review is to highlight recent findings and summarize the evidence that supports the important functions of activin, inhibin and follistatin in the pituitary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise M Bilezikjian
- Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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de Kretser DM, O'Hehir RE, Hardy CL, Hedger MP. The roles of activin A and its binding protein, follistatin, in inflammation and tissue repair. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2012; 359:101-6. [PMID: 22037168 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2011.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [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] [Received: 05/20/2011] [Revised: 10/06/2011] [Accepted: 10/13/2011] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Activin A, a member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily of cytokines, is a critical controller of inflammation, immunity and fibrosis. It is rapidly released into the blood following a lipopolysaccharide challenge in experimental animals, through activation of the Toll-like receptor 4 signalling pathway. Blocking activin action by pre-treatment with its binding protein, follistatin, modifies the inflammatory cytokine cascade, and reduces the severity of the subsequent inflammatory response and mortality. Likewise, high serum levels of activin A are predictive of death in patients with septicaemia. However, activin A has complex immunomodulatory actions. It is produced by inflammatory macrophages, but can regulate either pro- or anti-inflammatory responses in these cells, depending on their prior activation status. Activin A is also produced by Th2 cells, and stimulates antibody production by B cells and the development of regulatory T cells. Production of activin A during inflammatory responses stimulates fibrosis and tissue remodelling, and follistatin inhibits these actions of activin A. The modulation of activin by follistatin may represent an important therapeutic target for the modulation and amelioration of inflammatory and fibrotic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M de Kretser
- Monash Institute of Medical Research and the Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Clayton Victoria 3800, Australia.
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12
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Braga M, Bhasin S, Jasuja R, Pervin S, Singh R. Testosterone inhibits transforming growth factor-β signaling during myogenic differentiation and proliferation of mouse satellite cells: potential role of follistatin in mediating testosterone action. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2012; 350:39-52. [PMID: 22138414 PMCID: PMC3264813 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2011.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2011] [Revised: 11/09/2011] [Accepted: 11/16/2011] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Testosterone (T) administration is associated with increased satellite cell number and skeletal muscle hypertrophy, although there is considerable heterogeneity in the response of different skeletal muscle groups to T in vivo. We investigated the effects of T on the growth and differentiation of satellite cells isolated from levator ani (LA) and gastrocnemius (gastroc) muscles. T up regulated follistatin (Fst) expression, but down regulated the mRNA and protein expression of a number of genes in the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)-signaling pathway. Inhibition of Fst expression by small interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibited myogenic differentiation and blocked the pro-myogenic effects of T. Treatment of satellite cells with T or Fst up regulated the expression of Pax7 and PCNA, and increased their proliferation. T and Fst blocked TGF-β induced inhibition of growth and myogenic differentiation and down regulated TGF-β-dependent transcriptome in both LA and gastroc cells. We conclude that T stimulation of satellite cell proliferation and myogenic differentiation are associated with up regulation of Fst and inhibition of TGF-β-signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Braga
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California 90059
| | - Shalender Bhasin
- Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
| | - Ravi Jasuja
- Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
| | - Shehla Pervin
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California 90059
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Rajan Singh
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California 90059
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095
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Brinkoetter M, Magkos F, Vamvini M, Mantzoros CS. Leptin treatment reduces body fat but does not affect lean body mass or the myostatin-follistatin-activin axis in lean hypoleptinemic women. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2011; 301:E99-E104. [PMID: 21505147 PMCID: PMC3129841 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00146.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Animal studies in vivo indicate that leptin treatment in extremely leptin-sensitive ob/ob mice reduces body weight exclusively by reducing fat mass and that it increases muscle mass by downregulating myostatin expression. Data from human trials are limited. Therefore, we aimed at characterizing the effects of leptin administration on fat mass, lean body mass, and circulating regulators of muscle growth in hypoleptinemic and presumably leptin-sensitive human subjects. In an open-label, single-arm trial, seven lean, strenuously exercising, amenorrheic women with low leptin concentrations (≤5 ng/ml) were given recombinant methionyl human leptin (metreleptin; 0.08 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1)) for 10 wk. In a separate randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, seven women were given metreleptin (initial dose: 0.08 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1) for 3 mo, increased thereafter to 0.12 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1) if menstruation did not occur), and six were given placebo for 9 mo. Metreleptin significantly reduced total body fat by an average of 18.6% after 10 wk (P < 0.001) in the single-arm trial and by 19.5% after 9 mo (placebo subtracted; P for interaction = 0.025, P for metreleptin = 0.004) in the placebo-controlled trial. There were no significant changes in lean body mass (P ≥ 0.33) or in serum concentrations of myostatin (P ≥ 0.35), follistatin (P ≥ 0.30), and activin A (P ≥ 0.20) whether in the 10-wk trial or the 9-mo trial. We conclude that metreleptin administration in lean hypoleptinemic women reduces fat mass exclusively and does not affect lean body mass or the myostatin-follistatin-activin axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Brinkoetter
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
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Flanagan JN, Linder K, Mejhert N, Dungner E, Wahlen K, Decaunes P, Rydén M, Björklund P, Arver S, Bhasin S, Bouloumie A, Arner P, Dahlman I. Role of follistatin in promoting adipogenesis in women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2009; 94:3003-9. [PMID: 19470636 PMCID: PMC3214594 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2008-2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Follistatin is a glycoprotein that binds and neutralizes biological activities of TGFbeta superfamily members including activin and myostatin. We previously identified by expression profiling that follistatin levels in white adipose tissue (WAT) were regulated by obesity. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to elucidate the role of follistatin in human WAT and obesity. DESIGN We measured secreted follistatin protein from WAT biopsies and fat cells in vitro. We also quantified follistatin mRNA expression in sc and visceral WAT and in WAT-fractionated cells and related it to obesity status, body region, and cellular origin. We investigated the effects of follistatin on adipocyte differentiation of progenitor cells in vitro. PARTICIPANTS Women (n = 66) with a wide variation in body mass index were recruited by advertisement and from a clinic for weight-reduction therapy. RESULTS WAT secreted follistatin in vitro. Follistatin mRNA levels in sc but not visceral WAT were decreased in obesity and restored to nonobese levels after weight reduction. Follistatin mRNA levels were high in the stroma-vascular fraction of WAT and low in adipocytes. Recombinant follistatin treatment promoted adipogenic differentiation of progenitor cells and neutralized the inhibitory action of myostatin on differentiation in vitro. Moreover, activin and myostatin signaling receptors were detected in WAT and adipocytes. CONCLUSION Follistatin is a new adipokine important for adipogenesis. Down-regulated WAT expression of follistatin in obesity may counteract adiposity but could, by inhibiting adipogenesis, contribute to hypertrophic obesity (large fat cells) and insulin resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- John N Flanagan
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Gilson H, Schakman O, Kalista S, Lause P, Tsuchida K, Thissen JP. Follistatin induces muscle hypertrophy through satellite cell proliferation and inhibition of both myostatin and activin. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2009; 297:E157-64. [PMID: 19435857 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00193.2009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [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: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Follistatin (FS) inhibits several members of the TGF-beta superfamily, including myostatin (Mstn), a negative regulator of muscle growth. Mstn inhibition by FS represents a potential therapeutic approach of muscle atrophy. The aim of our study was to investigate the mechanisms of the FS-induced muscle hypertrophy. To test the role of satellite cells in the FS effect, we used irradiation to destroy their proliferative capacity. FS overexpression increased the muscle weight by about 37% in control animals, but the increase reached only 20% in irradiated muscle, supporting the role of cell proliferation in the FS-induced hypertrophy. Surprisingly, the muscle hypertrophy caused by FS reached the same magnitude in Mstn-KO as in WT mice, suggesting that Mstn might not be the only ligand of FS involved in the regulation of muscle mass. To assess the role of activin (Act), another FS ligand, in the FS-induced hypertrophy, we electroporated FSI-I, a FS mutant that does not bind Act with high affinity. Whereas FS electroporation increased muscle weight by 32%, the muscle weight gain induced by FSI-I reached only 14%. Furthermore, in Mstn-KO mice, FSI-I overexpression failed to induce hypertrophy, in contrast to FS. Therefore, these results suggest that Act inhibition may contribute to FS-induced hypertrophy. Finally, the role of Act as a regulator of muscle mass was supported by the observation that ActA overexpression induced muscle weight loss (-15%). In conclusion, our results show that satellite cell proliferation and both Mstn and Act inhibition are involved in the FS-induced muscle hypertrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Gilson
- Unité de Diabétologie et Nutrition, Université Catholique de Louvain, 54 Ave. Hippocrate, B-1200, Brussels, Belgium.
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Lee KB, Bettegowda A, Wee G, Ireland JJ, Smith GW. Molecular determinants of oocyte competence: potential functional role for maternal (oocyte-derived) follistatin in promoting bovine early embryogenesis. Endocrinology 2009; 150:2463-71. [PMID: 19179440 DOI: 10.1210/en.2008-1574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [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: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies established a positive relationship between oocyte competence and follistatin mRNA abundance. Herein, we used the bovine model to test the hypothesis that follistatin plays a functional role in regulation of early embryogenesis. Treatment of early embryos with follistatin during in vitro culture (before embryonic genome activation) resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in time to first cleavage, increased numbers of blastocysts, and increased blastocyst total and trophectoderm cell numbers. To determine the requirement of endogenous follistatin for early embryogenesis, follistatin ablation/replacement studies were performed. Microinjection of follistatin small interfering RNA into zygotes reduced follistatin mRNA and protein and was accompanied by a reduction in number of embryos developing to eight- to 16-cell and blastocyst stages and reduced blastocyst total and trophectoderm cell numbers. Effects of follistatin ablation were rescued by culture of follistatin small interfering RNA-injected embryos in the presence of exogenous follistatin. To investigate whether follistatin regulation of early embryogenesis is potentially mediated via inhibition of endogenous activin activity, the effects of treatment of embryos with exogenous activin, SB-431542 (inhibitor of activin, TGF-beta, and nodal type I receptor signaling) and follistatin plus SB-431542 were investigated. Activin treatment mimicked positive effects of follistatin on time to first cleavage and blastocyst development, whereas negative effects of SB-431542 treatment were observed. Stimulatory effects of follistatin on embryogenesis were not blocked by SB-431542 treatment. Results support a functional role for oocyte-derived follistatin in bovine early embryogenesis and suggest that observed effects of follistatin are likely not mediated by classical inhibition of activin activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Bon Lee
- Laboratory of Mammalian Reproductive Biology and Genomics, Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
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Singh R, Bhasin S, Braga M, Artaza JN, Pervin S, Taylor WE, Krishnan V, Sinha SK, Rajavashisth TB, Jasuja R. Regulation of myogenic differentiation by androgens: cross talk between androgen receptor/ beta-catenin and follistatin/transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathways. Endocrinology 2009; 150:1259-68. [PMID: 18948405 PMCID: PMC2654730 DOI: 10.1210/en.2008-0858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Androgens are important regulators of body composition and promote myogenic differentiation and inhibit adipogenesis of mesenchymal, multipotent cells. Here, we investigated the mechanisms by which androgens induce myogenic differentiation of mesenchymal multipotent cells. Incubation of mesenchymal multipotent C3H 10T1/2 cells with testosterone and dihydrotestosterone promoted nuclear translocation of androgen receptor (AR)/beta-catenin complex and physical interaction of AR, beta-catenin, and T-cell factor-4 (TCF-4). Inhibition of beta-catenin by small inhibitory RNAs significantly decreased testosterone-induced stimulation of myogenic differentiation. Overexpression of TCF-4, a molecule downstream of beta-catenin in Wnt signaling cascade, in C3H 10T1/2 cells significantly up-regulated expression of myoD and myosin heavy chain II proteins and of follistatin (Fst), which binds and antagonizes native ligands of the TGF-beta/Smad pathway. Gene array analysis of C3H 10T1/2 cells treated with testosterone revealed that testosterone up-regulated the expression of Fst and modified the expression of several signaling molecules involved in the TGF-beta/Smad pathway, including Smad7. Lowering of testosterone levels in mice by orchidectomy led to a significant decrease in Fst and Smad7 expression; conversely, testosterone supplementation in castrated mice up-regulated Fst and Smad7 mRNA expression in androgen-responsive levator ani muscle. Testosterone-induced up-regulation of MyoD and myosin heavy chain II proteins in C3H 10T1/2 cells was abolished in cells simultaneously treated with anti-Fst antibody, suggesting an essential role of Fst during testosterone regulation of myogenic differentiation. In conclusion, our data suggest the involvement of AR, beta-catenin, and TCF-4 pathway during androgen action to activate a number of Wnt target genes, including Fst, and cross communication with the Smad signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajan Singh
- Division of Endocrinology and Research Centers in Minority Institutions Core Laboratory, Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California 90059, USA.
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Abstract
The research described in this review suggests a novel and important role for activin A in the developmental and repair processes of the kidney (Table 1). The results obtained in these studies indicate that activin A is a negative regulator of kidney development and plays an essential part in kidney diseases, such as acute renal failure or renal fibrosis. It is also possible that activin A is a key player in the pathophysiological processes of other kidney diseases, such as congenital urogenital abnormalities, renal cystic disease and renal cell carcinoma. Activin A is thus a potential target for therapeutic interventions in kidney diseases. To address this issue, more detailed analysis on the regulation of activin production, modulation of activin activity and activin target genes is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akito Maeshima
- Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumiaki Aoki
- Department of Medicine and Biological Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
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Reame NE, Lukacs JL, Olton P, Ansbacher R, Padmanabhan V. Differential effects of aging on activin A and its binding protein, follistatin, across the menopause transition. Fertil Steril 2007; 88:1003-5. [PMID: 17434501 PMCID: PMC2075352 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2006.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [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] [Received: 12/20/2005] [Revised: 12/20/2006] [Accepted: 12/20/2006] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
To assess the involvement of ovarian-derived regulatory proteins in FSH modulation, we compared FSH, inhibin A, inhibin B, activin A, and follistatin (FS) in 79 women from the following five groups: young cycling, older cycling, perimenopause (PERI), spontaneous menopause (PM), and surgical menopause receiving estrogen (OVX+ET). Although inhibin B varied as expected by ovarian function, no group differences were observed in activin A, barring a tendency for an increase in PERI, while FS 288 was lower in the PERI, PM, and OVX+ET groups and negatively correlated with advancing age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy E Reame
- School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
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Hardy CL, O'Connor AE, Yao J, Sebire K, de Kretser DM, Rolland JM, Anderson GP, Phillips DJ, O'Hehir RE. Follistatin is a candidate endogenous negative regulator of activin A in experimental allergic asthma. Clin Exp Allergy 2007; 36:941-50. [PMID: 16839410 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2006.02523.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Activin A is a member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily which is directly implicated in airway structural change and inflammation in asthma. In vitro, the biological effects of activin A are neutralized by the soluble binding protein follistatin. OBJECTIVE To determine the potential of endogenous follistatin to suppress activin A in vivo by analysing their relative tissue and kinetic compartmentalization during the effector phase of subchronic Th2-driven mucosal inflammation in a murine model of allergic asthma. METHODS Eosinophilic mucosal inflammation was elicited by triggering Th2 recall responses by antigen challenge in ovalbumin-sensitized BALB/c mice. The kinetics and distribution of activin A and follistatin protein were assessed in lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and measured in relation to airway eosinophilia, goblet cell metaplasia and Th2 cytokine production in mediastinal lymph nodes. RESULTS Follistatin was released concurrently with activin A suggesting it acts as an endogenous regulator: peak BAL concentrations coincided with maximal airway eosinophilia, and frequency of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 producing cells in mediastinal lymph nodes but induction lagged behind the onset of inflammation. Follistatin and activin A immunoreactivity were lost in airway epithelial cells in parallel with goblet cell metaplasia. Exogenous follistatin inhibited the allergen-specific Th2 immune response in mediastinal lymph nodes and mucus production in the lung. CONCLUSION Follistatin is preformed in the normal lung and released in concert with activin A suggesting it serves as an endogenous regulator. Disturbance of the fine balance between activin A and its endogenous inhibitor follistatin may be a determinant of the severity of allergic inflammation or tissue phenotypic shift in asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Hardy
- Department of Immunology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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Diamanti-Kandarakis E, Kandarakis H, Legro RS. The role of genes and environment in the etiology of PCOS. Endocrine 2006; 30:19-26. [PMID: 17185788 DOI: 10.1385/endo:30:1:19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2005] [Revised: 11/30/1999] [Accepted: 12/11/2005] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Both genes and the environment contribute to PCOS. Obesity, exacerbated by poor dietary choices and physical inactivity, worsens PCOS in susceptible individuals. The role of other environmental modifiers such as infectious agents or toxins are speculative. Phenotype confusion has characterized genetic studies of PCOS. Although several loci have been proposed as PCOS genes including CYP11A, the insulin gene, the follistatin gene, and a region near the insulin receptor, the evidence supporting linkage is not overwhelming. The strongest case can be made for the region near the insulin receptor gene (but not involving this gene), as it has been identified in two separate studies, and perhaps most importantly has not yet been refuted by larger studies. However, the responsible gene at chromosome 19p13.3 remains to be identified. To date, no gene has been identified that causes or contributes substantially to the development of a PCOS phenotype.
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Moreira EF, Adler R. Effects of follistatin overexpression on cell differentiation in the chick embryo retina. Dev Biol 2006; 298:272-84. [PMID: 16872597 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2006.06.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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] [Received: 02/23/2006] [Revised: 06/21/2006] [Accepted: 06/22/2006] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Although activin is expressed in the embryonic central nervous system (CNS), its possible functions in the regulation of CNS neuronal differentiation remain largely unknown. We have investigated this question in the retina, a well-characterized CNS structure previously shown to respond to activin in vitro, and to express activin subunits and receptors in vivo. RCAS retroviruses were used to overexpress in the chick retina in ovo either follistatin (FS), an activin-binding protein and inhibitor, or alkaline phosphatase (AP), as control. FS-treated retinas appeared normal until ED 8, when they showed a reduction of the inner plexiform layer, accompanied by a marked decrease in the frequency of amacrine cells. The territory lacking amacrine cells showed downregulation of transcription factors necessary for amacrine cell differentiation, such as Pax6 and AP2alpha, accompanied by ectopic expression of transcription factors associated with the development of horizontal or bipolar neurons, such as Prox1, Chx10 and NeuroM. Increases in cell death were also observed in FS-treated retinas. Taken together with previous in vitro studies, our results suggest that activin is a powerful regulator of neuronal differentiation in the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto F Moreira
- Department of Opthalmology, The Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287-9257, USA
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24
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Arai K, Taya K. [Inhibin/activin and pregnancy]. Nihon Rinsho 2006; 64 Suppl 4:311-6. [PMID: 16689326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Koji Arai
- Department of Tissue Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
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Matsuzaki T, Tanaka N, Irahara M. [Activin and follicular maturation]. Nihon Rinsho 2006; 64 Suppl 4:291-6. [PMID: 16689323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Toshiya Matsuzaki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School
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Abstract
In a famous experiment over a century ago, Hans Spemann demonstrated that amphibians have a remarkable ability to compensate for perturbations to the embryo. In this issue of Cell, Reversade and De Robertis (2005) uncover the basis of this phenomenon. They demonstrate that interactions between bone morphogenetic proteins (Bmps) and their inhibitors on both the dorsal and ventral sides of the early Xenopus embryo are involved in creating the body plan.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Kimelman
- Department of Biochemistry, Box 357350, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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28
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Bearfield C, Jauniaux E, Groome N, Sargent IL, Muttukrishna S. The secretion and effect of inhibin A, activin A and follistatin on first-trimester trophoblasts in vitro. Eur J Endocrinol 2005; 152:909-16. [PMID: 15941932 DOI: 10.1530/eje.1.01928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of activin A and follistatin on first-trimester cytotrophoblast invasion in culture and to study the secretion of inhibin A, activin A and follistatin by these cells in vitro. DESIGN AND METHODS Cytotrophoblasts were isolated from human placental chorionic villous tissue obtained from 6-8, 8-10 and 10-12 weeks gestation. Cells were cultured for 3 days on cell-culture inserts coated with gelatine for invasion studies and in 24-well culture plates for secretion studies. The effects of activin A (10 ng/ml), follistatin (100 ng/ml), interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta; 10 ng/ml) and epidermal growth factor (EGF; 10 ng/ml) on cytotrophoblast invasion were investigated using a non-radioactive invasion assay. Secretion of inhibin A, activin A and follistatin in the presence of EGF, IL-1beta, activin A and follistatin were measured using in-house ELISAs. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Activin A, follistatin and EGF had a significant stimulatory effect on cytotrophoblast invasion from 6-10 weeks gestation. IL-1beta had a significant stimulatory effect at 8-10 weeks and a significant inhibitory effect on invasion at 10-12 weeks gestation. Follistatin also had a significant inhibitory effect on invasion at 10-12 weeks gestation. In the secretion study, activin A secretion at 8-10 weeks was significantly stimulated by IL-1beta and EGF. At 10-12 weeks, follistatin and EGF had a significant inhibitory effect on activin A secretion. Follistatin secretion was significantly increased in the presence of IL-1beta at 6-8 weeks gestation. Inhibin A secretion was not significantly altered by EGF, IL-1beta, activin A and follistatin. These results show that activin A promotes invasion of first-trimester cytotrophoblasts until 10 weeks gestation. There is a difference in the control of secretion of these proteins dependent on the gestation, suggesting that there is a tight regulation in the function of first-trimester trophoblasts depending on the gestational age.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Bearfield
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, RFUC Medical School, 86-96 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
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Ueno N. [Mesoderm induction and neural induction]. Tanpakushitsu Kakusan Koso 2005; 50:583-7. [PMID: 15926484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
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Tsuchita K. [Regulation of skeletal muscle mass and adipose tissue mass by follistatin and follistatin-related gene (FLRG) and development of novel polypeptides as medical drugs]. Seikagaku 2005; 77:440-3. [PMID: 15952337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kunihiro Tsuchita
- Division for Therapies Against Intractable Diseases, Institute for Comprehensive Medical Sciences, Fujita Health University, Kutsukate-cho, Toyoake, Japan
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Abstract
Inhibin, activin, and follistatin were first identified as gonadal hormones that could exert selective effects on follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion without affecting luteinizing hormone (LH). Although the primary source of inhibin remains the gonad, both activin and follistatin are produced in extragonadal tissues and can exert effects on FSH through an autocrine-paracrine mechanism. These proteins can effect the regulation of the gonadotropins at many levels. First, activin can directly stimulate FSH biosynthesis and release from the gonadotrope cells of the pituitary gland. Second, activin up-regulates gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR) gene expression, leading to alterations in the synthesis and release of both gonadotropins in response to GnRH. Third, activin can stimulate GnRH release from GnRH neurons in the hypothalamus and thereby affect FSH and LH secretion. Both inhibin and follistatin can negatively regulate these effects by preventing activin binding to the activin receptor at the cell membrane and blocking activation of downstream signal transduction pathways. This review concentrates on the mechanisms through which inhibin, activin, and follistatin regulate the gonadotropins. We discuss the expression of inhibin/activin subunits and receptors throughout the hypothalamus and pituitary and their role in the regulation of FSH and LH. The mechanisms of inhibin and activin signaling are also reported, with particular attention to developments in our understanding of inhibin receptor action and activin-induced transcriptional regulation of the FSHbeta gene promoter. Finally, we present recent findings that other members of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily may also play an important role in transcriptional regulation of the pituitary gonadotropins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan J Gregory
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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Abstract
The activins and inhibins are members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily and, along with follistatin, a high affinity binding protein of activin, form a group of interrelated factors originally isolated for their role in regulating the release of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Knowledge of their function, particularly that of activin, has expanded since being originally isolated, such that they are now regarded as important paracrine regulators in many cellular systems. This review summarizes the biology of these proteins as has been established in the large domestic animals. While the majority of data relate to the pituitary, ovary, uterus/placenta and testis, consideration is also given to emerging roles in inflammatory processes and in non-reproductive tissues or systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Phillips
- Center for Molecular Reproduction & Endocrinology, Monash Institute of Reproduction & Development, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia.
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Matsui H, Ikeda K, Nakatani K, Sakabe M, Yamagishi T, Nakanishi T, Nakajima Y. Induction of initial cardiomyocyte α-actin—smooth muscle α-actin—in cultured avian pregastrula epiblast: A role for nodal and BMP antagonist. Dev Dyn 2005; 233:1419-29. [PMID: 15977172 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.20477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [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: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
During early cardiogenesis, endoderm-derived bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) induces the expression of both heart-specific transcription factors and sarcomeric proteins. However, BMP antagonists do not inhibit the expression of the "initial heart alpha-actin"--smooth muscle alpha-actin (SMA)--which is first expressed in the anterior lateral mesoderm and then recruited into the initial myofibrils (Nakajima et al. [2002] Dev. Biol. 245:291-303). Therefore, mechanisms that regulate the expression of SMA in the heart-forming mesoderm are not well-understood. Regional explantation experiments using chick blastoderm showed that the posterolateral region of the epiblast differentiated into cardiomyocytes. Posterior epiblast cultured with or without the associated hypoblast showed that interaction between the tissues of these two germ layers at the early pregastrula stage (stages X-XI) was a prerequisite for the expression of SMA. Posterior epiblast that is cultured without hypoblast could also be induced to express SMA if TGF-beta or activin was added to the culture medium. However, neither neutralizing antibodies against TGF-betas nor follistatin perturbed the expression of SMA in cultured blastoderm. Adding BMP to the cultured blastoderm inhibited the expression of SMA, whereas BMP antagonists, such as chordin, were able to induce the expression of SMA in cultured posterior epiblast. Furthermore, adding lefty-1, a nodal antagonist, to the blastoderm inhibited the expression of SMA, and nodal plus BMP antagonist up-regulated the expression of SMA in cultured posterior epiblast. Results indicate that the interaction between the tissues of the posterior epiblast and hypoblast is necessary to initiate the expression of SMA during early cardiogenesis and that nodal and BMP antagonist may play an important role in the regulation of SMA expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroko Matsui
- Department of Anatomy, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Abenoku, Osaka, Japan
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Proceedings of the International Workshop on Inhibins, Activins and Follistatins. Siena, Italy, July 3-4, 2003. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2004; 225:1-132. [PMID: 15451578 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2004.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Abstract
Activin and follistatin were initially identified in the follicular fluid based on their effects on pituitary FSH secretion in the mid-1980s. It is now evident that activin, follistatin and activin receptors are widely expressed in many tissues where they function as autocrine/paracrine regulators of a variety of physiological processes including reproduction. The major function of follistatin is to bind to activin with high affinity and block activin binding to its receptors. Total activin A and follistatin are also found in the maternal circulation throughout pregnancy. Activin A levels are increased in abnormal pregnancies such as pre-eclampsia, fetal growth restriction and gestational hypertension. The placenta, vascular endothelial cells and activated peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) may all contribute to the raised levels of activin A in pre-eclampsia with unaltered follistatin in pre-eclamptic placenta, PBMCs or vascular endothelial cells suggesting the availability of 'free' activin A that could be biologically active in these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanthi Muttukrishna
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Free University College Medical School, 86-96 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
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36
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Abstract
The precise regulation of the anterior pituitary is achieved by the cell-specific and combined actions of central, peripheral and local factors. Activins, inhibins, and follistatins were first discovered as gonadal factors with actions on FSH production from pituitary gonadotropes. With the realization that these factors are expressed in a wide array of tissues, including the pituitary, it became apparent that the functional importance of activins, inhibins, and follistatins extends beyond the reproductive axis and that they often exert their effects by autocrine/paracrine mechanisms. As members of the TGF-beta superfamily, activins and inhibins control and orchestrate many physiological processes and are vital for the development, the growth, and the functional integrity of most tissues, including the pituitary. Activins exert effects on multiple pituitary cell types but the best-characterized pituitary targets of the autocrine/paracrine function of activins are the gonadotropes. The autocrine/paracrine function of the activin-binding proteins, follistatins, constitutes an important local mechanism to modulate activin bioactivity while the restricted actions of gonadal inhibins to betaglycan-expressing gonadotropes provides a secondary mode of regulation of cell-specific actions of activins. The aim of this review is to highlight and evaluate experimental evidence that supports the roles of activins, inhibins, and follistatins as autocrine, paracrine, and/or endocrine modulators of the pituitary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise M Bilezikjian
- Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology, The Salk Institute, 10010 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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de Kretser DM, Buzzard JJ, Okuma Y, O'Connor AE, Hayashi T, Lin SY, Morrison JR, Loveland KL, Hedger MP. The role of activin, follistatin and inhibin in testicular physiology. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2004; 225:57-64. [PMID: 15451568 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2004.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [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: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The role of the inhibins, activins and follistatins in testicular function are being more clearly defined following studies describing the cellular localisation of these proteins to the testis and the availability of specific assay systems enabling measurement of these proteins. Taken together with the results of targetted gene inactivation experiments, several concepts emerge. Inhibin B is predominantly produced by the Sertoli cell in many adult male mammals whereas there is a perinatal peak of inhibin A in the rat. In contrast, activin A has its highest concentrations in the immediate post-natal period during which it is involved in the developmental regulation of both germ cells and Sertoli cells being modulated by follistatin. Activin A levels are considerably lower in the adult testis but Sertoli cell production is stimulated by interleukin-1 and inhibited by FSH. Little is known about the production of activin B due to the absence of a suitable assay but the beta(B) subunit mRNA is expressed in germ cells and Sertoli cells and is stage-dependent. This pattern of expression suggest that it may be involved in autocrine or paracrine actions within the seminiferous epithelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- D M de Kretser
- Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development and the ARC Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Development, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, Vic. 3168, Australia.
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Abstract
Follistatin (FS) is an important physiological regulator of activin and other TGFbeta superfamily members. The recently discovered follistatin-like 3 (FSTL3; a.k.a. FLRG; FSRP) shares significant structural and functional homology with FS, but also has some interesting differences, including a prominent nuclear localization. The existence of these two related proteins allows detailed molecular and biochemical comparisons of the biologic roles of their individual structural elements. Current studies indicate that the heparin binding sequence is essential for the ability of FS to inhibit autocrine activin but is not sufficient to confer this activity on FSTL3. Preliminary analysis of FSTL3 transgenic mice suggests that FSTL3 regulates gonadal development and function through inhibition of the paracrine activity of activin and/or other related factors. These studies have identified important structural elements necessary for biological activity of FS and FSTL3 and potential roles for FSTL3 in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Schneyer
- Reproductive Endocrine Unit, BHX-5, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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Abstract
Inflammation is a complex process regulated by a cascade of cytokines and growth factors. This review summarizes the emerging evidence implicating activin A and follistatin in the inflammatory process. Our recent studies have highlighted that activin A is released early in the process as part of the circulatory cytokine cascade during acute systemic inflammation. This release occurs concurrently with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and prior to that of interleukin (IL)-6 and follistatin. Although, the cellular source(s) of activin A are yet to be established, circulating blood cells and the vascular endothelium are candidates for this rapid release of activin A into the circulation. The release of activin A and follistatin is also observed in the clinical setting, in particular in sepsis. Furthermore activin A is released into cerebrospinal fluid in a model of meningitis in rabbits. The role of activin A in the inflammatory response is poorly understood, however, in vitro data has highlighted that activin A can have both pro- and anti-inflammatory actions on key mediators of the inflammatory response such as TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6. Furthermore, emerging data would suggest that activin A induction is restricted to certain types of inflammation and its release is dependant upon the inflammatory setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian L Jones
- Center for Molecular Reproduction and Endocrinology, Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development, 27-31 Wright Street, Clayton 3168, Victoria, Australia
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Fujii M, Imura S, Morine Y, Ikemoto T, Shimada M. [Pathophysiology and strategy for small-for-size graft syndrome after living-donor liver transplantation]. Nihon Geka Gakkai Zasshi 2004; 105:680-6. [PMID: 15521386] [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: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Small-for-size (SFS) graft syndrome is an important problem after living-donor liver transplantation in adults. Hemodynamic change is thought to be the main cause of graft injury. Excessive portal flow is associated with hepatic sinusoidal injury, and reduction of portal flow improves postoperative liver function. Increased venous outflow due to hepatic venoplasty or reconstruction of the middle hepatic vein decrease the risk of graft congestion. However, the intragraft acute-phase response remains unclear. Recent studies have revealed that downregulation of heat shock protein (HSP) may account for SFS graft injury, and induction of HSP may prevent SFS syndrome. On the other hand, derangement in the regulation of liver regeneration is recognized as another important factor. Further investigation of the regulatory mechanisms of liver regeneration in SFS grafts may suggest a strategy for the prevention and treatment of SFS syndrome. Successful transplantation of marginal-size liver grafts would improve outcome for recipients and increase the margin of safety for living donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiko Fujii
- Department of Digestive Pediatric Surgery, University of Tokushima School of Medicine, Tokushima, Japan
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Abstract
Dimeric inhibins, activins, and follistatin (FS) were all initially characterized as reproductive endocrine hormones that regulate follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion. This model, however, has expanded under the weight of current medical evidence. Activin appears to play a central auto/paracrine role in reproductive and nonreproductive tissues. Inhibin and FS each have important counterregulatory functions in activin signaling. With reproductive aging, inhibin B declines along with the follicular pool and disturbs the dynamics of the normal menstrual cycle of midreproductive age. The loss of inhibin restraint of FSH secretion appears to be the initiating endocrine event that leads to menstrual cycle shortening and some of the hormonal unpredictability of the late reproductive years. It may also be related to the decline in fertility that occurs in reproductive aging. In men, inhibin B is an excellent marker for gonadal competence, and the decline of inhibin B with age reflects decreased gonadal reserve in both sexes. Circulating activin increases with aging, but its effect on reproduction in women and men is not clear. FS does not appear to change greatly with aging in men or women. The age-related fluctuations in this delicately balanced regulatory triad influence reproductive capacity and the sequelae of chronological aging. Elucidation of the molecular pathways responsible for the action of these hormones may allow closer integration with their current conceptual roles in aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M Hurwitz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA
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Maeshima A, Nojima Y. [Activin]. Nihon Rinsho 2004; 62 Suppl 6:201-5. [PMID: 15250295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Akito Maeshima
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, USA
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Tardif G, Hum D, Pelletier JP, Boileau C, Ranger P, Martel-Pelletier J. Differential gene expression and regulation of the bone morphogenetic protein antagonists follistatin and gremlin in normal and osteoarthritic human chondrocytes and synovial fibroblasts. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004; 50:2521-30. [PMID: 15334466 DOI: 10.1002/art.20441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [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: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare gene expression in normal and osteoarthritic (OA) human chondrocytes using microarray technology. Of the novel genes identified, we selected follistatin, a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonist, and investigated its expression/regulation as well as that of 3 other antagonists, gremlin, chordin, and noggin, in normal and OA chondrocytes and synovial fibroblasts. METHODS Basal and induced gene expression were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Gene regulation was monitored following treatment with inflammatory, antiinflammatory, growth, and developmental factors. Follistatin protein production was measured using a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and localization of follistatin and gremlin in cartilage was determined by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS All BMP antagonists except noggin were expressed in chondrocytes and synovial fibroblasts. Follistatin and gremlin were significantly up-regulated in OA chondrocytes but not in OA synovial fibroblasts. Chordin was weakly expressed in normal and OA cells. Production of follistatin protein paralleled the gene expression pattern. Follistatin and gremlin were expressed preferentially by the chondrocytes at the superficial layers of cartilage. Tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon-gamma significantly stimulated follistatin expression but down-regulated expression of gremlin. Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) had no effect on follistatin but reduced gremlin expression. Conversely, BMP-2 and BMP-4 significantly stimulated expression of gremlin but down-regulated that of follistatin. IL-13, dexamethasone, transforming growth factor beta1, basic fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor type BB, and endothelial cell growth factor down-regulated the expression of both antagonists. CONCLUSION This study is the first to show the possible involvement of follistatin and gremlin in OA pathophysiology. The increased activin/BMP-binding activities of these antagonists could affect tissue remodeling. The data suggest that follistatin and gremlin might appear at different stages during the OA process, making them interesting targets for the treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ginette Tardif
- Osteoarthritis Research Unit, Hôpital Notre-Dame, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Plevyak MP, Lambert-Messerlian GM, Farina A, Groome NP, Canick JA, Silver HM. Concentrations of serum total activin A and inhibin A in preterm and term labor patients: a cross-sectional study. J Soc Gynecol Investig 2003; 10:231-6. [PMID: 12759152 DOI: 10.1016/s1071-5576(03)00047-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare maternal serum levels of total activin A and inhibin A in preterm and term patients who are in labor or not in labor. METHODS A cross-sectional study compared activin A and inhibin A in the following groups of patients: preterm and in labor (n = 65), preterm and not in labor (n = 96), term and in labor (n = 65), and term and not in labor (n = 65). Preterm was defined as 23-34 weeks' gestation and term as 37-42 weeks' gestation. Labor was defined as regular contractions with progressive cervical change or an initial examination revealing cervical dilation of 1-3 cm with 50% effacement or more. Follistatin levels were analyzed in a subset of 12 patients from each group. Analytes were measured by two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS Activin A levels were higher in the preterm labor group (median 1.38 multiples of the median [MoM], interquartile range [IQR] 1.01 MoM) compared with the preterm nonlabor group (median 1.0 MoM, IQR 0.78 MoM, P <.05) and in the term labor group (median 1.37 MoM, IQR 1.74 MoM) compared with the term nonlabor group (median 1.0 MoM, IQR 0.87 MoM, P <.05). Inhibin A levels were higher in the preterm labor group (median 1.27 MoM, IQR 0.73 MoM) compared with the preterm nonlabor group (median 1.0 MoM, IQR 0.58 MoM, P <.05). Post-hoc analysis of activin A and inhibin A elevations in the preterm labor group revealed a significant effect only during 31-34 weeks' gestation. The total activin A:follistatin ratio, an indirect measure of free activin A, was similar between labor and nonlabor gestational age-matched patient groups. CONCLUSIONS Levels of total activin A and inhibin A were increased in patients during labor; however, based on the moderate degree and narrow gestational age range of the increased levels, these analytes are not likely to be clinically useful in predicting preterm labor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Plevyak
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
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Florio P, Severi FM, Luisi S, Ciarmela P, Calonaci G, Cobellis L, Petraglia F. Endometrial expression and secretion of activin A, but not follistatin, increase in the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. J Soc Gynecol Investig 2003; 10:237-43. [PMID: 12759153 DOI: 10.1016/s1071-5576(03)00045-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Activin A is a growth factor expressed by human endometrium, and its biologic effects are counteracted by follistatin. We evaluate whether activin A and follistatin mRNA and peptide expression as well as protein secretion from human endometrium change throughout the menstrual cycle. METHODS In 25 healthy fertile patients, uterine washing fluid was retrieved by hydrosonography. In a subgroup (n = 13), endometrial tissue samples were collected by hysteroscopy during the proliferative (n = 6) or secretory (n = 7) phase of the menstrual cycle. Activin and follistatin mRNA and peptide expression were evaluated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and by immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively. Activin A and follistatin levels were assayed in uterine washing fluids by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and evaluated according to the endometrial thickness and menstrual cycle days. RESULTS Both activin A and follistatin mRNAs were expressed by human endometrium, and their peptides immunolocalized both in proliferative and secretory endometrial epithelial and stromal cells. A significant increase in immunoreactive activin betaA but not in follistatin was observed in glandular epithelium during the secretory phase. Activin A but not follistatin was significantly (P <.0001) higher in the washing fluids collected during the secretory than proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle. In addition, a significant correlation was found between activin A, but not follistatin, and menstrual cycle days (P <.0001) or endometrial thickness (P <.0001). CONCLUSIONS Both activin A and follistatin mRNAs are expressed by human endometrium; however, activin A but not follistatin peptide expression and secretion were increased in the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle, suggesting an important role in human endometrium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale Florio
- Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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46
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Buster JE. Activins, inhibins, and follistatins in reproduction. J Soc Gynecol Investig 2003; 10:177. [PMID: 12759144 DOI: 10.1016/s1071-5576(03)00082-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Abstract
Activin is a member of the transforming growth factor beta family of growth and differentiation factors. Initially discovered as a protein that stimulates release of follicle-stimulating hormone, it is now well accepted as an important regulator of cell growth and differentiation. Most interestingly, a series of previous studies have revealed novel roles of activin in inflammation and repair. Our own results have provided evidence for an important function of activin in cutaneous wound repair as well as in neuroprotection, and these data will be summarized and discussed in this chapter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Wankell
- Institute of Cell Biology, ETH Zürich, Hönggerberg, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
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Nakamura M, Matzuk MM, Gerstmayer B, Bosio A, Lauster R, Miyachi Y, Werner S, Paus R. Control of pelage hair follicle development and cycling by complex interactions between follistatin and activin. FASEB J 2003; 17:497-9. [PMID: 12514121 DOI: 10.1096/fj.02-0247fje] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [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: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Members of the transforming growth factor beta/bone morphogenetic protein (TGF-beta/BMP) family are involved in the control of hair follicle (HF) morphogenesis and cycling. The activities of several members of this family activins and BMP-2, -4, -7, and -11) are controlled by antagonists such as follistatin. Because follistatin-deficient mice show abnormalities in vibrissae development, we explored the role of follistatin and activin in pelage HF development and cycling. We show here that during HF development follistatin mRNA was prominently expressed by hair matrix and outer root sheath keratinocytes as well as by interfollicular epidermal cells, whereas activin betaA mRNA was mainly expressed in dermal papilla cells. Compared with age-matched wild-type controls, both follistatin knockout mice and activin betaA transgenic mice showed a significant retardation of HF morphogenesis. Treatment of wild-type embryonic skin explants with follistatin protein stimulated HF development. This effect was inhibited by addition of recombinant activin A protein. Activin betaA transgenic mice demonstrated retardation of catagen entry, down-regulation of BMP-2, and up-regulation of expression of its antagonist matrix GLA protein. These observations suggest that follistatin and activin interaction plays an important role in both HF development and cycling, possibly in part by regulating expression of BMP-2 and its antagonist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motonobu Nakamura
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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Abstract
In the olfactory epithelium (OE), generation of new neurons by neuronal progenitors is inhibited by a signal from neurons themselves. Here we provide evidence that this feedback inhibitory signal is growth and differentiation factor 11 (GDF11). Both GDF11 and its receptors are expressed by OE neurons and progenitors, and GDF11 inhibits OE neurogenesis in vitro by inducing p27(Kip1) and reversible cell cycle arrest in progenitors. Mice lacking functional GDF11 have more progenitors and neurons in the OE, whereas mice lacking follistatin, a GDF11 antagonist, show dramatically decreased neurogenesis. This negative autoregulatory action of GDF11 is strikingly like that of its homolog, GDF8/myostatin, in skeletal muscle, suggesting that similar strategies establish and maintain proper cell number during neural and muscular development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiao-Huei Wu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and The Developmental Biology Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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50
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Abstract
The regulation of reproductive processes involves a complex network of communication systems between the brain, endocrine organs, the gonads and other reproductive tissues. Classically, our understanding has focused on the role of endocrine hormones, but more recently interest has also dwelt on the paracrine and autocrine regulation of these cell systems. In this review, the structure and physiology of the inhibins, activins and follistatin are discussed in terms of the evidence supporting their role as endocrine hormones, and how they might function as paracrine factors within the pituitary, gonad and associated tissues. With the advent of more specific techniques and assays for their measurement, the potential of inhibins, activins and follistatin as clinical markers of reproductive function and in the screening of various pathologies is also evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- D M de Kretser
- Centre for Molecular Reproduction and Endocrinology, Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development, Monash University, Clayton 3168, Victoria, Australia.
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