Changes in inhibins and activin secretion in healthy and pathological pregnancies

Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2001 Jun 30;180(1-2):123-30. doi: 10.1016/s0303-7207(01)00503-2.

Abstract

Inhibin-related proteins are involved in the control of the feto-maternal communication required to maintain pregnancy. Human placenta, decidua, and fetal membranes are the major sites of production and secretion of activin A, inhibin A and inhibin B in maternal serum, amniotic fluid, and cord blood. The availability of suitable assays developed in the last years has enabled the measurement of inhibins and activin A in their dimeric forms, in order to investigate their role in physiological conditions of pregnancy. The studies conducted on inhibin-related proteins and human pregnancy suggested the possibility of an involvement of inhibin A and activin A in the pathogenesis of gestational diseases. In fact, several lines of evidence underline the potential role and the clinical usefulness of inhibin-related proteins measurement in the diagnosis, prevention, prognosis and follow-up of different gestational pathologies such as early pregnancy viability, Down's syndrome, fetal demise, pre-eclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, preterm delivery and intrauterine growth restriction. The measurement of inhibin A and activin A into the biological fluids of pregnancy will offer in the future, further possibilities in the early diagnosis, prediction, and monitoring diseases of pregnancy.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Activins / analysis
  • Activins / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inhibins / analysis
  • Inhibins / metabolism*
  • Pregnancy / metabolism*
  • Pregnancy Complications / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications / metabolism*
  • Pregnancy Trimesters / metabolism*
  • Pregnancy Trimesters / physiology
  • Prenatal Diagnosis / methods

Substances

  • Activins
  • Inhibins