Activin A and follistatin-like 3 determine the susceptibility of heart to ischemic injury.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Transforming growth factor-beta family cytokines have diverse actions in the maintenance of cardiac homeostasis. Activin A is a member of this family whose regulation and function in heart are not well understood at a molecular level. Follistatin-like 3 (Fstl3) is an extracellular regulator of activin A protein, and its function in the heart is also unknown.

Methods and results

We analyzed the expression of various transforming growth factor-beta superfamily cytokines and their binding partners in mouse heart. Activin betaA and Fstl3 were upregulated in models of myocardial injury. Overexpression of activin A with an adenoviral vector (Ad-actbetaA) or treatment with recombinant activin A protein protected cultured myocytes from hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apopto

SUBMITTER: Oshima Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2764796 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature