scholarly journals The effects of FSH and activin A on follicle development in vitro

Reproduction ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 143 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davina A Cossigny ◽  
Jock K Findlay ◽  
Ann E Drummond
Keyword(s):  
Combined Treatment ◽  
Primordial Follicle ◽  
Treated Group ◽  
Activin A ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Development In Vitro ◽  
Rates Of Growth

Numerous studies have reported on the roles of activins in gonadal regulation; however, little is known about their specific roles in early folliculogenesis. Ovarian follicular growth was investigated in 10-day cultures of day 4 postnatal whole ovaries treated with activin A (ActA; 50 ng/ml), with or without FSH (100 ng/ml) in vitro. We hypothesized that treatment with ActA±FSH would affect rates of growth and atresia in follicles. None of the treatments affected primordial follicle activation, and antral follicles were not observed after 10 days in culture. Primordial follicle numbers from all treatment groups were ∼20% of those in day 4 fresh ovaries, indicating that activation had occurred. In the presence of ActA, preantral follicle numbers increased significantly (P<0.0001). ActA alone decreased the proportion of atretic follicles in the primary and preantral classes, whereas the combined treatment of ActA+FSH increased the proportion of atretic preantral oocytes. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that follistatin, FSH receptor, and activin βA and βB subunits were all expressed at significantly higher levels in the ActA-only treated group but not in the ActA+FSH group. Here, we report novel findings supporting the role of FSH in primordial follicle survival through an action on apoptosis and a stimulatory role of ActA in the primordial to primary and preantral stages of follicle development, suggesting an inhibitory action of activin on oocyte apoptosis.

scholarly journals The activin-follistatin system and in vitro early follicle development in goats

2006 ◽  
Vol 189 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
J R V Silva ◽  
T Tharasanit ◽  
M A M Taverne ◽  
G C van der Weijden ◽  
R R Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Tissue ◽  
Primordial Follicle ◽  
Activin A ◽  
Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Cortical Tissue ◽  
Primary Follicle ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Primordial Follicles

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of activin-A and follistatin on in vitro primordial and primary follicle development in goats. To study primordial follicle development (experiment 1), pieces of ovarian cortex were cultured in vitro for 5 days in minimal essential medium (MEM) supplemented with activin-A (0, 10 or 100 ng/ml), follistatin (0, 10 or 100 ng/ml) or combinations of the two. After culture, the numbers of primordial follicles and more advanced follicle stages were calculated and compared with those in non-cultured tissue. Protein and mRNA expression of activin-A, follistatin, Kit ligand (KL), growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) and bone morphogenetic protein-15 (BMP-15) in non-cultured and cultured follicles were studied by immunohistochemistry and PCR. To evaluate primary follicle growth (experiment 2), freshly isolated follicles were cultured for 6 days in MEM plus 100 ng/ml activin-A, 100 ng/ml follistatin or 100 ng/ml activin-A plus 200 ng/ml follistatin. Morphology, follicle and oocyte diameters in cultured tissue and isolated follicles before and after culture were assessed. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) reactions were performed to study DNA fragmentation in follicles. In experiment 1, it was found that goat primordial follicles were activated to develop into more advanced stages, i.e. intermediate and primary follicles, during in vitro culture, but neither activin-A nor follistatin affected the number of primordial follicles that entered the growth phase. Activin-A treatment enhanced the number of morphologically normal follicles and stimulated their growth during cortical tissue culture. The effects were, however, not counteracted by follistatin. The follicles in cultured goat tissue maintained their expression of proteins and mRNA for activin-A, follistatin, KL, GDF-9 and BMP-15. Fewer than 30% of the atretic follicles in cultured cortical tissue had TUNEL-positive (oocyte or granulosa) cells. Activin-A did not affect the occurrence of TUNEL-positive cells in follicles within cortical tissue. In experiment 2, addition of activin-A to cultured isolated primary follicles significantly stimulated their growth, the effect being counteracted by follistatin. Absence of such a neutralizing effect of follistatin in the cultures with ovarian cortical tissue can be due to lower dose of follistatin used and incomplete blockage of activin in these experiments. In contrast to cortical enclosed atretic follicles, all atretic follicles that had arisen in cultures with isolated primary follicles had TUNEL-positive cells, which points to differences between isolated and ovarian tissue-enclosed follicles with regard to the followed pathways leading to their degeneration. In summary, this in vitro study has demonstrated that cultured goat primordial follicles are activated to grow and develop into intermediate and primary follicles. During in vitro culture, the follicles maintain their ability to express activin-A, follistatin, KL, GDF-9 and BMP-15. The in vitro growth and survival of activated follicles enclosed in cortical tissue and the in vitro growth of isolated primary follicles are stimulated by activin-A.

132. ACTIVIN A HAS A STIMULATORY EFFECT IN VITRO ON EARLY FOLLICLE DEVELOPMENT IN RAT OVARIES

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
D. A. Cossigny ◽  
J. K. Findlay ◽  
A. E. Drummond
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Combined Treatment ◽  
Activin A ◽  
Tunel Staining ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Primordial Follicles ◽  
Preantral Follicles

Activins are dimers of inhibin β subunits and are growth and differentiation factors belonging to the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily (1). Both βA and βB subunits are highly expressed in rat granulosa cells, while theca cells express little or no β subunit mRNAs (2). Oocytes lack expression of either subunit (3, 4). Activin is suggested to facilitate the responsiveness of granulosa cells to FSH (5). We hypothesized that activin, with or without FSH, could enhance the transition from the primordial to later preantral stages of follicle development. In two independent experiments, day 4 rat ovaries (n = 3 from different rats per treatment) were randomly assigned and cultured (6, 7) for 10 days in DMEM/Hams F-12 media with either no additives, FSH (100 ng/mL), activin A (50 ng/mL), or both. Day 4 fresh ovaries were also used as controls. Media and treatments were refreshed every alternate day. Ovaries were fixed andsectioned, or placed into Ultraspec for RNA extraction and real-time PCR analysis. Follicle numbers were counted as described previously (7). The proportion of atretic follicles (TUNEL staining) was determined in 3 randomly selected sections per ovary. Primordial follicles in all treatment groups were approximately 20% of those in Day 4 fresh ovaries. Primary follicles increased significantly (P < 0.05) only in the combined treatment group, where preantral follicles increased significantly (P < 0.0001) only when treated with activin A alone. Activin A alone decreased the proportion of atretic follicles in the primary and preantral classes, where the combined treatment increased the proportion of atretic preantral follicles. Real-time analysis revealed that expression levels of follistatin, FSH receptor and activin βA and βB subunits were all expressed at significantly higher levels in the Activin A-only treated group (P < 0.05). In summary, there was no effect on primordial follicle activation by any treatment. Activin alone had a stimulatory effect in vitro on subsequent folliculogenesis, but in the presence of FSH its effect was counteracted shown by an increase in atresia. Reasons for an increase in atretic preantral follicles in the combined treatment group are unclear. These studies support a stimulatory role for activin A in early follicle development and confirm the in vivo effects of activin on folliculogenesis (4). NHMRC program grant # 494802 and Fellowship (# 441101) provided financial support. (1) Vale W et al. 1986. Nature 321: 776–779.(2) Meunier H et al. 1988. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 85: 547–251.(3) Roberts V et al. 1993. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 7: 1402–1410.(4) Sidis Y et al. 1998. Biology of Reproduction 59(4): 807–812.(5) Drummond A et al. 2002. Endocrinology 143 (4): 1423–1433.(6) Nilsson E et al. 2001. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 182 (2): 145–155.(7) Rosairo D et al. 2008. Reproduction 136: 799–809.

scholarly journals The Role of Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) During Follicle Development in a Monovulatory Species (Sheep)

Endocrinology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 153 (9) ◽  
pp. 4533-4543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce K. Campbell ◽  
M. Clinton ◽  
R. Webb
Keyword(s):  
Functional Relationship ◽  
Primordial Follicle ◽  
Active Immunization ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Antral Follicles ◽  
Therapeutic Value ◽  
Clinical Interest

Knockout studies in mice have suggested that anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) modulates primordial follicle recruitment and the response of growing follicles to FSH. Little is known of the physiology of AMH in monovular species, despite intense clinical interest in this factor. Using sheep as a model, we sought to investigate the functional role of AMH in modulating follicle development in monovular species. In contrast to the rodent, the results indicate that AMH does not affect the rate of primordial follicle recruitment but appears to regulate the rate at which follicles progress through the gonadotropin-responsive phase, during which it is maximally expressed. Thus, knockdown of AMH bioactivity by active immunization lead to a decline in the population of gonadotropin-responsive preantral and small antral follicles (P &lt; 0.01) and increases in both the number of gonadotropin-dependent antral follicles (P &lt; 0.01) and ovulation rate (P &lt; 0.05). These in vivo findings were consistent with the results of other studies examining the pattern of expression of AMH, which was negatively correlated with aromatase (P &lt; 0.001), and in vitro supplementation experiments, which supported an inhibitory role for AMH in modulating the response of both theca and granulosa cells to LH and FSH, respectively. The elucidation of a functional relationship between AMH and LH-stimulated thecal androgen production may be significant in terms of the etiology of common forms of anovulatory infertility in women. Furthermore, the observed increase in both the number of recruitable antral follicles and ovulatory quota in response to AMH knockdown may have therapeutic value in women who respond poorly to ovarian stimulation.

Circulating Activin-A Is Elevated in Patients with Thalassemia Major and Double Heterozygous Sickle-Cell/Beta-Thalassemia and Correlates with Markers of Hemolysis and Bone Mineral Density

Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 3256-3256
Author(s):  
Ersi Voskaridou ◽  
Dimitrios Christoulas ◽  
Maria Dimopoulou ◽  
Veroniki Komninaka ◽  
Maria Tsalkani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Mineral Density ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Bone Mineral ◽  
Thalassemia Major ◽  
Activin A ◽  
Beta Thalassemia ◽  
Mineral Density ◽  
Development In Vitro

Abstract Abstract 3256 Activins are typical members of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily in that they contain a conserved cysteine knot motif and are secreted as homo- or heterodimers of related beta-subunits. Activins seem to be implicated in the regulation of erythropoiesis and bone metabolism. Many studies have documented erythropoietic effects of activin-A in transformed cell lines or other in vitro models; however, there is a paucity of functional data regarding hematopoietic roles of activin-A in vivo. Regarding bone remodeling, activin A is produced by osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and bone marrow cells, and there is agreement that activin-A promotes osteoclast development in vitro; however, the effect of activin-A on osteoblast development in vitro varies dramatically depending on experimental conditions. It is of interest that activin-A antagonists (i.e. sotatercept) have increased hemoglobin and bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with multiple myeloma who receive chemotherapy, giving the rationale for their use in other hematological disorders with anemia, like myelodysplastic syndromes. Thalassemia is characterized by ineffective hemopoiesis, while osteopenia or osteoporosis is found in the vast majority of patients due to several reasons including bone marrow expansion and endocrine disorders. The role of activin-A has never been evaluated in hemoglobinopathies. The aim of this study was to examine the role of activin-A in different hemoglobinopathies in an attempt to explore if there is any rationale for the use of activin-A antagonists in this cohort of patients. Therefore, we measured circulating levels of activin-A in 227 patients with hemoglobinopathies: 58 patients had beta-thalassemia major (TM), 43 had beta-thalassemia intermedia (TI), 109 had double heterozygous sickle-cell/beta-thalassemia (HbS/beta-thal) and 17 had homozygous sickle cell disease (SCD) and we explored possible correlations with clinical and laboratory data including bone mineral density (BMD). Activin-A was also measured in the serum of 17, age- and gender-matched, healthy individuals who served as controls. For the evaluation of activin-A, we used an ELISA methodology (Quantikine, R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN, USA). BMD of the lumbar spine (L1-L4), femoral neck (FN) and distal radius (R) was determined using Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the time of activin-A measurement. Patients with TM (mean±SD: 481±213 pg/ml) and HbS/beta-thal (459±181 pg/ml) had elevated circulating activin-A compared to controls (361±87 pg/ml; p=0.041 and p=0.038, respectively). Furthermore, TM patients had higher activin-A levels compared to patients with TI (427±509 pg/ml, p=0.002), while circulating activin-A levels did not differ between TI patients and controls (p=0.811) or between SCD patients (422±132 pg/ml) and controls (p=0.202). In patients with TM, high circulating activin-A showed strong correlations with markers of hemolysis, such as elevated reticulocyte counts (r=0.406, p=0.011) and high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; r=0.397, p=0.024). Similarly, in HbS/beta-thal patients, activin-A showed positive correlations with indirect bilirubin (r=0.399, p<0.001), ferritin (r=0.270, p=0.005) and LDH (r=0.194, p=0.044). Regarding BMD, osteoporosis (according to the WHO definition based on DXA data) was present in 45% of patients with TM, in 40% of patients with TI, in 33% of SCD patients and in 25% of patients with HbS/beta-thal. High activin-A correlated with low Z-score of L1-L4 BMD in TI patients (r=0.615, p<0.01) and low Z-score of FN-BMD in TM patients (r=0.456, p<0.01). Our data suggest that activin-A is elevated in the serum of patients with TM and HbS/beta-thal and correlates with markers of hemolysis and low BMD. These observations in addition to previously published data that single nucleotide polymorphisms in activin-A receptor type II-like 1 independently contributes to pulmonary hypertension in SCD support a role of activin-A in the biology of these hemoglobinopathies, making activin-A an attractive agent for the development of novel therapies. The strong correlation of high activin-A with bone loss also supports the use of activin-A antagonists in patients with thalassemia and osteopenia or osteoporosis. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Oocyte Survival and Development During Follicle Formation and Folliculogenesis in Mice Lacking Aromatase

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica M. Toothaker ◽  
Kristen Roosa ◽  
Alexandra Voss ◽  
Suzanne M. Getman ◽  
Melissa Pepling
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cells ◽  
Ovarian Reserve ◽  
Primordial Germ Cells ◽  
Primordial Follicle ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Primordial Follicles ◽  
Survival And Development ◽  
Hemosiderin Deposits

Abstract BackgroundAssembly of oocytes into primordial follicles is essential for establishing the ovarian reserve required for female fertility. In mice, this process begins during embryonic development. Primordial germ cells form cysts by incomplete mitosis until 13.5 days post coitum (dpc). These cysts break down just before birth. Some oocytes undergo apoptosis while surviving oocytes are enclosed by granulosa cells to form primordial follicles. Cyst breakdown and primordial follicle formation were previously shown to be inhibited by estradiol and estrogenic compounds in vitro, suggesting that estrogen is important for regulation of this process. MethodsTo determine the role of fetal estrogen in cyst breakdown and follicle formation these processes were quantified in aromatase deficient (ArKO) mice between 17.5 dpc and postnatal day (PND) 9. Ovaries of ArKO mice were also examined at 2-week intervals to determine if folliculogenesis is affected by lack of estrogen and the age at which the typical ArKO ovarian phenotype first appears. ResultsOocyte number, follicle assembly and follicle development in ArKO mice did not differ from controls between 17.5 dpc and PND9 except for a difference in the proportion of follicles at the primordial and primary stage at PND7. At 2 weeks, ArKO heterozygous and homozygous ovaries still had oocytes in cyst while all oocytes were enclosed in follicles in wildtype ovaries. From 2 to 8 weeks oocyte numbers were similar in all genotypes though there was a trend toward fewer total oocytes in ArKO homozygous females as compared to controls at 8 weeks and a significant reduction at 10 weeks. Abnormal structures such as hemorrhagic follicles and hemosiderin deposits were also observed starting at 6 weeks. ConclusionsThese results suggest that a lack of fetal estrogen does not affect the rate of cyst breakdown or primordial follicle formation perinatally, and maternal estrogen or other signals are the chief regulators. Furthermore, the typical ArKO ovarian phenotype occurs earlier than previously reported.

Testosterone Induces Porcine Primordial Follicle Development In Vitro.

2009 ◽  
Vol 81 (Suppl_1) ◽  
pp. 506-506
Author(s):  
Manjula Priyantha Sumith Magamage ◽  
Mai Zengyo ◽  
Mohammad Moniruzzaman ◽  
Takashi Miyano
Keyword(s):  
Primordial Follicle ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Development In Vitro

scholarly journals Effects of IGF-I bioavailability on bovine preantral follicular development in vitro

Reproduction ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 133 (6) ◽  
pp. 1121-1128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona H Thomas ◽  
Bruce K Campbell ◽  
David G Armstrong ◽  
Evelyn E Telfer
Keyword(s):  
Follicular Development ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Igf Binding Proteins ◽  
Preantral Follicles ◽  
Follicle Diameter ◽  
Igf I ◽  
Igf Binding ◽  
Development In Vitro

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of regulation of IGF-I bioavailability on preantral follicle development in vitro. Bovine preantral follicles were cultured for 6 days in serum-free medium with increasing doses of Long R3 (LR3) IGF-I (an analog with low affinity for IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs)), or human recombinant IGF-I (hrIGF-I). Follicle diameter and estradiol production were measured every second day. On day 6, ratios of oocyte/follicle diameter and oocyte morphology were assessed by histological examination, and IGFBP-2 and -3 were detected by immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization respectively. Both types of IGF-I increased follicle diameter in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05) and increased estradiol production over control levels (P < 0.05). However, follicles treated with LR3 IGF-I and the highest concentration of hrIGF-I (1000 ng/ml) had smaller oocyte/follicle ratios, and increased oocyte degeneration, compared with controls or follicles treated with physiological concentrations of hrIGF-I (P < 0.05). IGFBPs were detected in cultured preantral follicles, indicating a requirement for regulation of IGF bioavailability during the early stages of follicular development. Specifically, IGFBP-3 mRNA was found to be expressed in oocytes, and IGFBP-2 immunoreactivity was detected in oocytes and granulosa cells of cultured follicles. In summary, the regulation of IGF-I bioavailability by IGFBPs is necessary for the co-ordination of oocyte and follicle development in vitro.

miR-369-3p serves as prognostic factor and regulates cancer progression of hepatocellular carcinoma

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Can Chen ◽  
Yi Zong ◽  
Jiaojiao Tang ◽  
Ruisheng Ke ◽  
Lizhi Lv ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Cell Counting ◽  
Migration And Invasion ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Reverse Transcription Pcr ◽  
Huh7 Cells

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of miR-369-3p in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials & methods: The expression levels of miR-369-3p were detected using the quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR analysis. The cell counting kit-8 and transwell assays were used to explore the effects of miR-369-3p on cell proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells. Results: The miR-369-3p expression was downregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines, in comparison to the normal controls, respectively. In vitro, overexpression of miR-369-3p in Hep 3B and Huh7 cells inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion. SOX4 was a direct target of miR-369-3p. Conclusion: Our results suggested that miR-369-3p may be a tumor suppressor in HCC by targeting SOX4.

scholarly journals 650 Target the activin receptor 1c on CD4+ T cells to achieve anti-tumor therapeutic effects

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A679-A679
Author(s):  
Ying Zheng ◽  
Andriana Lebid ◽  
Andrew Pardoll ◽  
Juan Fu ◽  
Chirag Patel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Regulatory T Cells ◽  
Activin A ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Cd4 Cells ◽  
Activin Receptor ◽  
Tumor Bearing

BackgroundActivins, members of the transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) superfamily, were isolated and identified in endocrine system, and have been widely studied in endocrine-related cancers,1 2 but not substantially in the context of immune system and endocrine-unrelated cancers.3–5 It has been reported that upon binding to the receptors, activins cause the intracellular recruitment and phosphorylation of smad proteins, which mediate the expression of Foxp3.6–9 Therefore, we hypothesized that the blockade of the interaction of activins and their receptors will inhibit the activins-mediated Foxp3 induction in CD4+ T cells, thus modify the immune suppressive tumor microenvironment and achieve the goal of cancer immunotherapy.MethodsELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) has been performed to determine the plasma level of Activin A in tumor-bearing mice and cancer patients. In vitro iTreg (induced regulatory T cells) differentiation has been done to naïve CD4+ cells isolated from wild type mice in the presence or absence of Activin A, and the percentage of Foxp3+ cells was demonstrated by flow cytometric analysis. qRT-PCR analysis has been conducted to determine the mRNA level of activin receptor isotypes in the immune subpopulations sorted from Foxp3-YFP mice. In the end, in vivo subcutaneous transplanted tumor studies have been done to evaluate the anti-tumor therapeutic effects of activin-receptor 1c blockade.ResultsWe show here that tumor-bearing mice had elevated Activin A levels, which correlated directly with tumor burden. Likewise, cancer patients had elevated plasma Activin A compared to healthy controls. Importantly, our in vitro studies suggested that Activin A promoted differentiation of conventional CD4+ cells into Foxp3-expressing induced Tregs, especially when TGF-ß was limited. Database and qRT-PCR analysis of sorted major immune cell subsets in mice revealed that activin receptor 1C (Acvr1c) was uniquely expressed on Tregs and was highly upregulated during iTreg differentiation. Mice deficient in Acvr1c were more resistant to cancer progression compared to wild type mice. This phenotype correlated with reduced expression of the FoxP3 transcription factor in CD4+ cells. Similar phenomena were observed when we treated the mice with anti-Acvr1c antibody after tumor inoculation. This anti-tumor therapeutic effect was more significant when anti-Acvr1c antibody was administrated in combination with anti-PD-1 antibody.ConclusionsBlocking Activin A signaling through its receptor 1c is a promising and disease-specific strategy for preventing the accumulation of immunosuppressive iTregs in cancer. Hence it represents a potential candidate for cancer immunotherapy.AcknowledgementsThis research is supported by the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute (Immunometabolism Program & Immune Modulation Program), the Melanoma Research Alliance, the NIH (RO1AI099300, RO1AI089830, and R01AI137046), and The DoD (PC130767).ReferencesRisbridger GP, Schmitt JF, Robertson DM. Activins and inhibins in endocrine and other tumors. Endocr Rev 2001;22(6):836–858.Cui X, et al. Perspectives of small molecule inhibitors of activin receptor-like kinase in anti-tumor treatment and stem cell differentiation (Review). Mol Med Rep 2019;19(6):5053–5062.Michael IP, et al. ALK7 signaling manifests a homeostatic tissue barrier that is abrogated during tumorigenesis and metastasis. Dev Cell 2019;49(3):409–424.Wu B, et al. The TGF-ß superfamily cytokine Activin-A is induced during autoimmune neuroinflammation and drives pathogenic Th17 cell differentiation. Immunity 2021;54(2):308–323.Antsiferova M, et al. Activin promotes skin carcinogenesis by attraction and reprogramming of macrophages. MBO Mol Med 2017;9(1):27–45.Tsuchida K, et al. Activin isoforms signal through type I receptor serine/threonine kinase ALK7. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2004;220(1–2):59–65.Khalil AM, et al. Differential binding activity of TGF-ß family proteins to select TGF-ß receptors. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2016;358(3):423–430.Huber S, et al. Activin a promotes the TGF-beta-induced conversion of CD4+CD25- T cells into Foxp3+ induced regulatory T cells. J Immunol 2009;182(8):4633–4640.Iizuka-Koga M, et al. Induction and maintenance of regulatory T cells by transcription factors and epigenetic modifications. J Autoimmun 2017;83:113–121.Ethics ApprovalAll animal experiments were performed under protocols approved by the Johns Hopkins University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

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