title: Human recombinant activin-A inhibits proliferation of human fetal adrenal cells in vitro.
abstract: Activins and inhibins are dimeric peptides which are structurally and functionally related to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). The mRNA for the activin and inhibin subunits is expressed in the adrenal gland. Because members of the TGF-beta superfamily have effects on mitogenesis, we examined the effect of recombinant human activin-A (rh-activin-A) on proliferation of midgestation 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-beta 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.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rabinovici
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Jaffe
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins