The activins and their binding protein, follistatin-Diagnostic and therapeutic targets in inflammatory disease and fibrosis.

Abstract

The activins, as members of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, are pleiotrophic regulators of cell development and function, including cells of the myeloid and lymphoid lineages. Clinical and animal studies have shown that activin levels increase in both acute and chronic inflammation, and are frequently indicators of disease severity. Moreover, inhibition of activin action can reduce inflammation, damage, fibrosis and morbidity/mortality in various disease models. Consequently, activin A and, more recently, activin B are emerging as important diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets in inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. Activin antagonists such as follistatin, an endogenous activin-binding protein, offer considerable promise as therapies in conditions as diverse as sepsis, liver fibrosis, acute lung injury, asthma, wound healing and ischaemia-reperfusion injury.

• Authors: M P Hedger, D M de Kretser
• Journal: Cytokine & growth factor reviews (Cytokine Growth Factor Rev) Vol. 24 Issue 3 Pg. 285-95 (Jun 2013) ISSN: 1879-0305 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23541927 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Crown Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Follistatin
• Activins
• Inhibins

Topics

• Activins (biosynthesis, physiology)
• Animals
• Asthma (drug therapy)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Female
• Fibrosis
• Follistatin (metabolism, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Inflammation (drug therapy)
• Inhibins (physiology)
• Male
• Wound Healing (drug effects)