Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Vitam Horm. 2011;85:129-48. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-385961-7.00007-X.
Activins are the members of transforming growth factor β superfamily and act as secreted proteins; they were originally identified with a reproductive function, acting as endocrine-derived regulators of pituitary follicular stimulating hormone. In recent years, additional functions of activins have been discovered, including a regulatory role during crucial phases of growth, differentiation, and development such as wound healing, tissue repair, and regulation of branching morphogenesis. The functions of activins through activin receptors are pleiotrophic, while involving in the etiology and pathogenesis of a variety of diseases and being cell type-specific, they have been identified as important players in cancer metastasis, immune responses, inflammation, and are most likely involved in cell migration. In this chapter, we highlight the current knowledge of activin signaling and discuss the potential physiological and pathological roles of activins acting on the migration of various cell types.
激活素是转化生长因子 β 超家族的成员，作为分泌蛋白发挥作用；它们最初被确定具有生殖功能，作为内分泌来源的垂体卵泡刺激素的调节剂。近年来，发现了激活素的其他功能，包括在生长、分化和发育的关键阶段（如伤口愈合、组织修复和分支形态发生的调节）中的调节作用。激活素通过激活素受体的功能是多种多样的，虽然涉及多种疾病的病因和发病机制，并且具有细胞类型特异性，但它们已被确定为癌症转移、免疫反应、炎症的重要参与者，并且很可能参与细胞迁移。在本章中，我们强调了激活素信号转导的最新知识，并讨论了激活素对各种细胞类型迁移的潜在生理和病理作用。
