Activin and inhibin

Not to be confused with the agent that was referred to as 'inhibine' prior to its identification as hydrogen peroxide.
inhibin, alpha
Identifiers
Symbol INHA
Entrez 3623
HUGO 6065
OMIM 147380
RefSeq NM_002191
UniProt P05111
Other data
Locus Chr. 2 q33-qter
inhibin, beta A

The Activin dimer, from 2ARV.pdb
Identifiers
Symbol INHBA
Alt. symbols activin A
Entrez 3624
HUGO 6066
OMIM 147290
RefSeq NM_002192
UniProt P08476
Other data
Locus Chr. 7 p15-p13
inhibin, beta B
Identifiers
Symbol INHBB
Alt. symbols activin B
Entrez 3625
HUGO 6067
OMIM 147390
RefSeq NM_002193
UniProt P09529
Other data
Locus Chr. 2 cen-q13
inhibin, beta C
Identifiers
Symbol INHBC
Alt. symbols activin C
Entrez 3626
HUGO 6068
OMIM 601233
RefSeq NM_005538
UniProt P55103
Other data
Locus Chr. 12 q13
inhibin, beta E
Identifiers
Symbol INHBE
Alt. symbols activin E
Entrez 83729
HUGO 24029
OMIM 612031
RefSeq NM_031479
UniProt P58166
Other data
Locus Chr. 12 q13.2

Activin and inhibin are two closely related protein complexes that have almost directly opposite biological effects. Identified in 1986,[1][2] activin enhances FSH biosynthesis and secretion, and participates in the regulation of the menstrual cycle. Many other functions have been found to be exerted by activin, including roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis,[3] metabolism, homeostasis, immune response, wound repair,[4] and endocrine function. Conversely, inhibin downregulates FSH synthesis and inhibits FSH secretion.[5] The existence of inhibin was hypothesized as early as 1916; however, it was not demonstrated to exist until Neena Schwartz and Cornelia Channing's work in the mid 1970s, after which both proteins were molecularly characterized ten years later.[6]

Activin is a dimer composed of two identical or very similar beta subunits. Inhibin is also a dimer wherein the first component is a beta subunit similar or identical to the beta subunit in activin. However, in contrast to activin, the second component of the inhibin dimer is a more distantly-related alpha subunit.[7][8] Activin, inhibin and a number of other structurally related proteins such as anti-Müllerian hormone, bone morphogenetic protein, and growth differentiation factor belong to the TGF-β protein superfamily.[9]

Structure

The activin and inhibin protein complexes are both dimeric in structure, and, in each complex, the two monomers are linked to one another by a single disulfide bond.[10] In addition, both complexes are derived from the same family of related genes and proteins but differ in their subunit composition.[7] Below is a list of the most common inhibin and activin complexes and their subunit composition:

Class Activity Complex Dimer subunits
1 2
Inhibin inhibits FSH secretion Inhibin A α βA
Inhibin B α βB
Activin stimulates FSH secretion Activin A βA βA
Activin AB βA βB
Activin B βB βB
Schematic diagram of the 1D structures of inhibin and activin. The black line between the monomers represents a disulfide bond.

The alpha and beta subunits share approximately 25% sequence similarity, whereas the similarity between beta subunits is approximately 65%.[9]

In mammals, four beta subunits have been described, called activin βA, activin βB, activin βC and activin βE. Activin βA and βB are identical to the two beta subunits of inhibin. A fifth subunit, activin βD, has been described in Xenopus laevis. Two activin βA subunits give rise to activin A, one βA, and one βB subunit gives rise to activin AB, and so on. Various, but not all theoretically possible, heterodimers have been described.[11][12] The subunits are linked by a single covalent disulfide bond.

The βC subunit is able to form activin heterodimers with βA or βB subunits but is unable to dimerize with inhibin α.[13]

Function

Activin

Activin is produced in the gonads, pituitary gland, placenta, and other organs:

Inhibin

In both females and males, inhibin inhibits FSH production. Inhibin does not inhibit the secretion of GnRH from the hypothalamus.[16][17] However, the overall mechanism differs between the sexes:

In females

Inhibin is produced in the gonads, pituitary gland, placenta, corpus luteum and other organs.

FSH stimulates the secretion of inhibin from the granulosa cells of the ovarian follicles in the ovaries. In turn, inhibin suppresses FSH.

Inhibin secretion is diminished by GnRH, and enhanced by insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).

In males

It is secreted from the Sertoli cells,[18] located in the seminiferous tubules inside the testes. Androgens stimulate inhibin production; this protein may also help to locally regulate spermatogenesis.[19]

Mechanism of action

Activin

As with other members of the superfamily, activins interact with two types of cell surface transmembrane receptors (Types I and II) which have intrinsic serine/threonine kinase activities in their cytoplasmic domains:

Activin binds to the Type II receptor and initiates a cascade reaction that leads to the recruitment, phosphorylation, and activation of Type I activin receptor. This then interacts with and then phosphorylates SMAD2 and SMAD3, two of the cytoplasmic SMAD proteins.

Smad3 then translocates to the nucleus and interacts with SMAD4 through multimerization, resulting in their modulation as transcription factor complexes responsible for the expression of a large variety of genes.

Inhibin

In contrast to activin, much less is known about the mechanism of action of inhibin, but may involve competing with activin for binding to activin receptors and/or binding to inhibin-specific receptors.[8]

Clinical significance

Activin

Activin A is more plentiful in the adipose tissue of obese, compared to lean persons.[20] Activin A promotes the proliferation of adipocyte progenitor cells, while inhibiting their differentiation into adipocytes.[20] Activin A also increases inflammatory cytokines in macrophages.[20]

A mutation in the gene for the activin receptor ACVR1 results in fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, a fatal disease that causes muscle and soft tissue to gradually be replaced by bone tissue.[21] This condition is characterized by the formation of an extra skeleton that produces immobilization and eventually death by suffocation.[21] The mutation in ACVR1 causes activin A, which normally acts as an antagonist of the receptor and blocks osteogenesis (bone growth), to behave as an agonist of the receptor and to induce hyperactive bone growth.[21] On 2 September 2015, Regeneron announced that they had developed an antibody for activin A that effectively cures the disease in an animal model of the condition.[22]

Mutations in the ACVR1 gene have also been linked to cancer, especially diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG).[23][24][25]

Inhibin

Quantification of inhibin A is part of the prenatal quad screen that can be administered during pregnancy at a gestational age of 16–18 weeks. An elevated inhibin A (along with an increased beta-hCG, decreased AFP, and a decreased estriol) is suggestive of the presence of a fetus with Down syndrome.[26] As a screening test, abnormal quad screen test results need to be followed up with more definitive tests.

It also has been used as a marker for ovarian cancer.[27][28]

Inhibin B may be used as a marker of spermatogenesis function and male infertility. The mean serum inhibin B level is significantly higher among fertile men (approximately 140 pg/mL) than in infertile men (approximately 80 pg/mL).[29] In men with azoospermia, a positive test for inhibin B slightly raises the chances for successfully achieving pregnancy through testicular sperm extraction (TESE), although the association is not very substantial, having a sensitivity of 0.65 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.56–0.74) and a specificity of 0.83 (CI: 0.64–0.93) for prediction the presence of sperm in the testes in non-obstructive azoospermia.[30]

References

  1. ↑ Vale W, Rivier J, Vaughan J, McClintock R, Corrigan A, Woo W, Karr D, Spiess J (1986). "Purification and characterization of an FSH releasing protein from porcine ovarian follicular fluid". Nature. 321 (6072): 776–9. doi:10.1038/321776a0. PMID 3012369.
  2. ↑ Ling N, Ying SY, Ueno N, Shimasaki S, Esch F, Hotta M, Guillemin R (1986). "Pituitary FSH is released by a heterodimer of the beta-subunits from the two forms of inhibin". Nature. 321 (6072): 779–82. doi:10.1038/321779a0. PMID 3086749.
  3. ↑ Chen YG, Wang Q, Lin SL, Chang CD, Chuang J, Chung J, Ying SY (May 2006). "Activin signaling and its role in regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and carcinogenesis". Experimental Biology and Medicine. 231 (5): 534–44. PMID 16636301.
  4. ↑ Sulyok S, Wankell M, Alzheimer C, Werner S (Oct 2004). "Activin: an important regulator of wound repair, fibrosis, and neuroprotection". Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. 225 (1-2): 127–32. doi:10.1016/j.mce.2004.07.011. PMID 15451577.
  5. ↑ van Zonneveld P, Scheffer GJ, Broekmans FJ, Blankenstein MA, de Jong FH, Looman CW, Habbema JD, te Velde ER (Mar 2003). "Do cycle disturbances explain the age-related decline of female fertility? Cycle characteristics of women aged over 40 years compared with a reference population of young women". Human Reproduction. 18 (3): 495–501. doi:10.1093/humrep/deg138. PMID 12615813.
  6. ↑ Makanji Y, Zhu J, Mishra R, Holmquist C, Wong WP, Schwartz NB, Mayo KE, Woodruff TK (Oct 2014). "Inhibin at 90: from discovery to clinical application, a historical review". Endocrine Reviews. 35 (5): 747–94. doi:10.1210/er.2014-1003. PMID 25051334.
  7. 1 2 Burger HG, Igarashi M (Apr 1988). "Inhibin: definition and nomenclature, including related substances". The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 66 (4): 885–6. PMID 3346366.
  8. 1 2 Robertson DM, Burger HG, Fuller PJ (Mar 2004). "Inhibin/activin and ovarian cancer". Endocrine-Related Cancer. Bioscientifica. 11 (1): 35–49. doi:10.1677/erc.0.0110035. PMID 15027884.
  9. 1 2 Kingsley DM (Jan 1994). "The TGF-beta superfamily: new members, new receptors, and new genetic tests of function in different organisms". Genes & Development. 8 (2): 133–46. doi:10.1101/gad.8.2.133. PMID 8299934.
  10. ↑ Ying SY (Dec 1987). "Inhibins and activins: chemical properties and biological activity". Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. 186 (3): 253–64. doi:10.3181/00379727-186-42611a. PMID 3122219.
  11. ↑ Xu P, Hall AK (Nov 2006). "The role of activin in neuropeptide induction and pain sensation". Developmental Biology. 299 (2): 303–9. doi:10.1016/j.ydbio.2006.08.026. PMID 16973148.
  12. ↑ Deli A, Kreidl E, Santifaller S, Trotter B, Seir K, Berger W, Schulte-Hermann R, Rodgarkia-Dara C, Grusch M (Mar 2008). "Activins and activin antagonists in hepatocellular carcinoma". World Journal of Gastroenterology. 14 (11): 1699–709. doi:10.3748/wjg.14.1699. PMC 2695910Freely accessible. PMID 18350601.
  13. ↑ Mellor SL, Cranfield M, Ries R, Pedersen J, Cancilla B, de Kretser D, Groome NP, Mason AJ, Risbridger GP (Dec 2000). "Localization of activin beta(A)-, beta(B)-, and beta(C)-subunits in humanprostate and evidence for formation of new activin heterodimers of beta(C)-subunit". The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 85 (12): 4851–8. doi:10.1210/jc.85.12.4851. PMID 11134153.
  14. ↑ Bamberger C, Schärer A, Antsiferova M, Tychsen B, Pankow S, Müller M, Rülicke T, Paus R, Werner S (Sep 2005). "Activin controls skin morphogenesis and wound repair predominantly via stromal cells and in a concentration-dependent manner via keratinocytes". The American Journal of Pathology. 167 (3): 733–47. doi:10.1016/S0002-9440(10)62047-0. PMC 1698729Freely accessible. PMID 16127153.
  15. ↑ NBC29.com. "UVA Discovers Key to Lung Cancer's Spread". WorldNow and WVIR. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  16. ↑ Luisi S, Florio P, Reis FM, Petraglia F (2005). "Inhibins in female and male reproductive physiology: role in gametogenesis, conception, implantation and early pregnancy". Human Reproduction Update. 11 (2): 123–35. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmh057. PMID 15618291.
  17. ↑ Le T, Bhushan V, Hofmann J (2012). First Aid for the USMLE Step 1. McGraw Hill. p. 534. ISBN 978-0-07-177636-3.
  18. ↑ Skinner MK, McLachlan RI, Bremner WJ (Oct 1989). "Stimulation of Sertoli cell inhibin secretion by the testicular paracrine factor PModS". Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. 66 (2): 239–49. doi:10.1016/0303-7207(89)90036-1. PMID 2515083.
  19. ↑ Meachem SJ, Nieschlag E, Simoni M (Nov 2001). "Inhibin B in male reproduction: pathophysiology and clinical relevance". European Journal of Endocrinology / European Federation of Endocrine Societies. 145 (5): 561–71. doi:10.1530/eje.0.1450561. PMID 11720872.
  20. 1 2 3 Zaragosi LE, Wdziekonski B, Villageois P, Keophiphath M, Maumus M, Tchkonia T, Bourlier V, Mohsen-Kanson T, Ladoux A, Elabd C, Scheideler M, Trajanoski Z, Takashima Y, Amri EZ, Lacasa D, Sengenes C, Ailhaud G, Clément K, Bouloumie A, Kirkland JL, Dani C (2010). "Activin a plays a critical role in proliferation and differentiation of human adipose progenitors". Diabetes (journal). 59 (10): 2513–2521. doi:10.2337/db10-0013. PMC 3279533Freely accessible. PMID 24113857.
  21. 1 2 3 Shore EM, Xu M, Feldman GJ, Fenstermacher DA, Cho TJ, Choi IH, Connor JM, Delai P, Glaser DL, LeMerrer M, Morhart R, Rogers JG, Smith R, Triffitt JT, Urtizberea JA, Zasloff M, Brown MA, Kaplan FS (May 2006). "A recurrent mutation in the BMP type I receptor ACVR1 causes inherited and sporadic fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva". Nature Genetics. 38 (5): 525–527. doi:10.1038/ng1783. PMID 16642017.
  22. ↑ Julie Steenhuysen (2 September 2015). "Regeneron scientists discover key to excess bone growth in rare disease". Reuters.
  23. ↑ Taylor KR, Mackay A, Truffaux N, Butterfield YS, Morozova O, Philippe C, Castel D, Grasso CS, Vinci M, Carvalho D, Carcaboso AM, de Torres C, Cruz O, Mora J, Entz-Werle N, Ingram WJ, Monje M, Hargrave D, Bullock AN, Puget S, Yip S, Jones C, Grill J (May 2014). "Recurrent activating ACVR1 mutations in diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma". Nature Genetics. 46 (5): 457–61. doi:10.1038/ng.2925. PMC 4018681Freely accessible. PMID 24705252.
  24. ↑ "Cure Brain Cancer - News - Multiple Breakthroughs in Childhood Brain Cancer DIPG". Cure Brain Cancer Foundation.
  25. ↑ Buczkowicz P, Hoeman C, Rakopoulos P, Pajovic S, Letourneau L, Dzamba M, et al. (May 2014). "Genomic analysis of diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas identifies three molecular subgroups and recurrent activating ACVR1 mutations". Nature Genetics. 46 (5): 451–6. doi:10.1038/ng.2936. PMID 24705254.
  26. ↑ Aitken DA, Wallace EM, Crossley JA, Swanston IA, van Pareren Y, van Maarle M, Groome NP, Macri JN, Connor JM (May 1996). "Dimeric inhibin A as a marker for Down's syndrome in early pregnancy". The New England Journal of Medicine. 334 (19): 1231–6. doi:10.1056/NEJM199605093341904. PMID 8606718.
  27. ↑ Robertson DM, Pruysers E, Jobling T (Apr 2007). "Inhibin as a diagnostic marker for ovarian cancer". Cancer Letters. 249 (1): 14–7. doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2006.12.017. PMID 17320281.
  28. ↑ Robertson DM, Pruysers E, Burger HG, Jobling T, McNeilage J, Healy D (Oct 2004). "Inhibins and ovarian cancer". Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. 225 (1-2): 65–71. doi:10.1016/j.mce.2004.02.014. PMID 15451569.
  29. ↑ Myers GM, Lambert-Messerlian GM, Sigman M (Dec 2009). "Inhibin B reference data for fertile and infertile men in Northeast America". Fertility and Sterility. 92 (6): 1920–3. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.09.033. PMID 19006797.
  30. ↑ Toulis KA, Iliadou PK, Venetis CA, Tsametis C, Tarlatzis BC, Papadimas I, Goulis DG (2010). "Inhibin B and anti-Mullerian hormone as markers of persistent spermatogenesis in men with non-obstructive azoospermia: a meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy studies". Human Reproduction Update. 16 (6): 713–24. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmq024. PMID 20601364.

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