Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Biotechnology for Plant Development, College of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China.
Biochem Pharmacol. 2011 Oct 1;82(7):701-12. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2011.06.042. Epub 2011 Jul 8.
Abscisic acid (ABA) is an important phytohormone that regulates plant growth, development, dormancy and stress responses. Recently, it was discovered that ABA is produced by a wide range of animals including sponges (Axinella polypoides), hydroids (Eudendrium racemosum), human parasites (Toxoplasma gondii), and by various mammalian tissues and cells (leukocytes, pancreatic cells, and mesenchymal stem cells). ABA is a universal signaling molecule that stimulates diverse functions in animals through a signaling pathway that is remarkably similar to that used by plants; this pathway involves the sequential binding of ABA to a membrane receptor and the activation of ADP-ribose cyclase, which results in the overproduction of the intracellular cyclic ADP-ribose and an increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ concentrations. ABA stimulates the stress response (heat and light) in animal cells, immune responses in leukocytes, insulin release from pancreatic β cells, and the expansion of mesenchymal and colon stem cells. ABA also inhibits the growth and induces the differentiation of cancer cells. Unlike some drugs that act as cell killers, ABA, when functioning as a growth regulator, does not have significant toxic side effects on animal cells. Research indicated that ABA is an endogenous immune regulator in animals and has potential medicinal applications for several human diseases. This article summarizes recent advances involving the discovery, signaling pathways and functions of ABA in animals.
脱落酸（ABA）是一种重要的植物激素，调节植物的生长、发育、休眠和应激反应。最近发现，ABA 广泛存在于多种动物中，包括海绵（Axinella polypoides）、水螅（Eudendrium racemosum）、人类寄生虫（刚地弓形虫），以及各种哺乳动物组织和细胞（白细胞、胰腺细胞和间充质干细胞）。ABA 是一种通用的信号分子，通过与植物中非常相似的信号通路刺激动物的多种功能；该通路涉及 ABA 与膜受体的顺序结合以及 ADP-核糖环化酶的激活，导致细胞内环状 ADP-核糖的过度产生和细胞内 Ca²⁺浓度的增加。ABA 刺激动物细胞的应激反应（热和光）、白细胞的免疫反应、胰腺β细胞的胰岛素释放以及间充质和结肠干细胞的扩增。ABA 还能抑制癌细胞的生长并诱导其分化。与一些作为细胞杀伤剂的药物不同，ABA 作为生长调节剂时，对动物细胞没有显著的毒副作用。研究表明，ABA 是动物体内的一种内源性免疫调节剂，在治疗多种人类疾病方面具有潜在的药用价值。本文总结了 ABA 在动物中的发现、信号通路和功能的最新进展。
