Activin A: autocrine regulator of kidney development and repair.
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.
Maeshima
Akito
A
Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
Miya
Masaaki
M
Mishima
Keiichiro
K
Yamashita
Shin
S
Kojima
Itaru
I
Nojima
Yoshihisa
Y
D029404:Activin Receptors / Q000502:physiology; D028341:Activins / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D019898:Autocrine Communication / Q000502:physiology; D038681:Follistatin / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D038081:Organogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D014513:Ureter / Q000196:embryology; D014928:Wolffian Ducts / Q000196:embryology