Human Recombinant Activin-A Inhibits Proliferation of Human Fetal Adrenal CellsIn Vitro*
- 1 December 1990
- journal article
- research article
- Published by The Endocrine Society in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
- Vol. 71 (6) , 1678-1680
- https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem-71-6-1678
Abstract
Activins and inhibins are dimeric peptides which are structurally and functionally related to transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). The mRNA for the activin and inhibin subunits is expressed in the adrenal gland. Because members of the TGF-P superfamily have effects on mitogenesis, we examined the effect of recombinant human activin-A(rh-activin-A) on proliferation ofmidgestation human fetal adrenal cells in vitro. Dose-dependent growth inhibition by rh-activin-A was obtained, with an ED50 of 1 ng/ml. Rh-activin-A inhibited basal and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated fetal zone cell proliferation, but did not alter basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-stimulated growth. TGF-β combined with rh-activin-A demonstrated additive inhibition of fetal adrenal growth. These findings suggest a potential autocrine or paracrine role for activin-A in modulating the growth and/or subsequent involution of the human fetal adrenal gland.Keywords
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