Expression, localization and control of activin A release from human umbilical vein endothelial cells.
Activin-A is a member of the TGFβ superfamily found in maternal and umbilical cord blood throughout gestation. We investigated whether human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) express activin-A in vivo and tested the effects of vasoactive (endothelin-1), pro-inflammatory (interferon-γ, interleukin-8) and anti-inflammatory (dexamethasone, urocortin) factors on activin-A release by isolated HUVEC in vitro. Activin βA subunit protein and mRNA were strongly localized in the endothelial cells of umbilical veins and were also detectable in scattered cells of the cord connective tissue. Dimeric activin-A was detected in the HUVEC culture medium at picomolar concentrations. Activin-A release by HUVEC decreased after cell incubation with urocortin (p < 0.01), whereas no effect was observed with interleukin-8, interferon-γ, endothelin-1 or dexamethasone. In summary, activin-A is present in the human umbilical vein endothelium in vivo and is produced and released by isolated HUVEC. Activin-A secretion is inhibited in vitro by urocortin, a neuropeptide with predominantly anti-inflammatory action.
a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil .
Lavinia E
LE
Borges
b Laboratory of Translational Endocrinology , Biophysics Institute Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil .
Enrrico
E
Bloise
a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil .
Cynthia
C
Dela Cruz
c Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences , University of Siena , Italy .
Lauretta
L
Massai
d Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine , Polytechnic University of Marche , Ancona , Italy .
Pasquapina
P
Ciarmela
e Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore , Rome , Italy , and.
Rosanna
R
Apa
f Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine , Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena , Siena , Italy.
Stefano
S
Luisi
f Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine , Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena , Siena , Italy.
Filiberto M
FM
Severi
f Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine , Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena , Siena , Italy.
Felice
F
Petraglia
a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil .
Fernando M
FM
Reis
D028341:Activins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D054832:Urocortins / Q000494:pharmacology
D054832:Urocortins; C422405:activin A; D028341:Activins
Activin A; HUVEC; cytokines; endothelium; umbilical cord; urocortin