title: A critical role of activin A in maturation of mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: Activin A, a multifunctional factor of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily, is mainly produced by microglia and macrophages, and its anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory activities are both related to macrophage functions. However the direct effect of activin A on the rest macrophages in vivo remains unclear. In the present study, the results showed that activin A not only increased NO and IL-1beta release, but also promoted phagocytic abilities of mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro and in vivo, whereas it did not influence MHC I and MHC II expression. Moreover, we found that activin A significantly upregulated the expressions of CD14 and CD68, markers of mature macrophages, on the surface of macrophages in vitro and in vivo. These data suggest that activin A can induce primary macrophage maturation in vitro and in vivo, but may not trigger the acquired immune response via regulating expression of MHC molecules involved in presentation of antigen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
authors.forename: Yinan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xueling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Guixiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Jingyan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Fangfang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Zhonghui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I / Q000502:physiology; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II / Q000502:physiology; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D028341:Activins; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C081026:CD68 protein, mouse; D000097382:CD68 Molecule; C422405:activin A