Maternal serum inhibin-A and activin-A levels in the first trimester of pregnancies developing pre-eclampsia

2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 622-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Spencer ◽  
N. J. Cowans ◽  
K. H. Nicolaides
Keyword(s):  
First Trimester ◽  
Activin A ◽  
Maternal Serum ◽  
Inhibin A

scholarly journals Inhibin A and Activin A in the First Trimester of Human Pregnancy

1997 ◽  
Vol 82 (5) ◽  
pp. 1557-1560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Birdsall ◽  
William Ledger ◽  
Nigel Groome ◽  
Hossam Abdalla ◽  
Shanthi Muttukrishna
Keyword(s):  
First Trimester ◽  
Activin A ◽  
Maternal Serum ◽  
Corpora Lutea ◽  
Specific Enzyme ◽  
Inhibin A ◽  
Human Pregnancy ◽  
First Trimester Of Pregnancy ◽  
Donor Egg ◽  
High Concentrations

Abstract Recent studies show that high concentrations of inhibin A and activin A are present in the maternal serum throughout human pregnancy. The aim of this study was to determine whether the corpus luteum produces significant quantities of inhibin A and activin A during the first trimester of pregnancy. This prospective study examined two groups of women who had blood samples taken from 5–12 weeks gestation. One group consisted of 14 women with donor egg pregnancies (8 singletons and 6 multiples) who did not have corpora lutea, and the other group consisted 5 women with spontaneous pregnancies who had corpora lutea. Inhibin A and activin A were measured at weekly intervals using specific enzyme immunoassays. All pregnancies progressed to term, with healthy babies being delivered. Maternal serum concentrations of inhibin A significantly increased throughout the study period in the donor egg pregnancies (P < 0.001) and the control pregnancies (P < 0.001). Circulating concentrations of activin A also increased significantly in both the spontaneous and donor egg pregnancies (P < 0.001) during the study period. However, the concentrations of inhibin A and activin A in the first trimester of human pregnancy were not significantly different in the women with or without corpora lutea, suggesting a fetoplacental origin. Multiple donor egg pregnancies were found to have higher concentrations of inhibin A (P < 0.001) and activin A (P < 0.05) compared with singleton donor egg pregnancies, which also supports a placental source.

Maternal serum activin A and inhibin A in trisomy 18 pregnancies at 10-14 weeks

2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 571-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Spencer ◽  
Adolfo W. Liao ◽  
Charas Y. T. Ong ◽  
Nicola J. Flack ◽  
Kypros H. Nicolaides
Keyword(s):  
Activin A ◽  
Maternal Serum ◽  
Trisomy 18 ◽  
Inhibin A

scholarly journals A longitudinal study of maternal serum inhibin-A, inhibin-B, activin-A, activin-AB, pro-alphaC and follistatin during pregnancy

1998 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 3530-3536 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Fowler ◽  
L. W. Evans ◽  
N. P. Groome ◽  
A. Templeton ◽  
P. G. Knight
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Activin A ◽  
Maternal Serum ◽  
Inhibin B ◽  
Inhibin A

scholarly journals The secretion and effect of inhibin A, activin A and follistatin on first-trimester trophoblasts in vitro

2005 ◽  
Vol 152 (6) ◽  
pp. 909-916 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Bearfield ◽  
E Jauniaux ◽  
N Groome ◽  
I L Sargent ◽  
S Muttukrishna
Keyword(s):  
First Trimester ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Activin A ◽  
Invasion Assay ◽  
Inhibin A ◽  
Significant Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Epidermal Growth ◽  
Design And Methods ◽  
Significant Stimulatory Effect

Objective: The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of activin A and follistatin on first-trimester cytotrophoblast invasion in culture and to study the secretion of inhibin A, activin A and follistatin by these cells in vitro. Design and methods: Cytotrophoblasts were isolated from human placental chorionic villous tissue obtained from 6–8, 8–10 and 10–12 weeks gestation. Cells were cultured for 3 days on cell-culture inserts coated with gelatine for invasion studies and in 24-well culture plates for secretion studies. The effects of activin A (10 ng/ml), follistatin (100 ng/ml), interleukin 1β (IL-1β; 10 ng/ml) and epidermal growth factor (EGF; 10 ng/ml) on cytotrophoblast invasion were investigated using a non-radioactive invasion assay. Secretion of inhibin A, activin A and follistatin in the presence of EGF, IL-1β, activin A and follistatin were measured using in-house ELISAs. Results and conclusion: Activin A, follistatin and EGF had a significant stimulatory effect on cytotrophoblast invasion from 6–10 weeks gestation. IL-1β had a significant stimulatory effect at 8–10 weeks and a significant inhibitory effect on invasion at 10–12 weeks gestation. Follistatin also had a significant inhibitory effect on invasion at 10–12 weeks gestation. In the secretion study, activin A secretion at 8–10 weeks was significantly stimulated by IL-1β and EGF. At 10–12 weeks, follistatin and EGF had a significant inhibitory effect on activin A secretion. Follistatin secretion was significantly increased in the presence of IL-1β at 6–8 weeks gestation. Inhibin A secretion was not significantly altered by EGF, IL-1β, activin A and follistatin. These results show that activin A promotes invasion of first-trimester cytotrophoblasts until 10 weeks gestation. There is a difference in the control of secretion of these proteins dependent on the gestation, suggesting that there is a tight regulation in the function of first-trimester trophoblasts depending on the gestational age.

First trimester maternal serum inhibin A concentrations in smokers

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 296-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas J. Cowans ◽  
Kevin Spencer
Keyword(s):  
First Trimester ◽  
Maternal Serum ◽  
Inhibin A

scholarly journals Potential screening strategies for early prediction of pre-eclampsia

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1436
Author(s):  
Hymavathi K. ◽  
Sandhya Rani Davuluru ◽  
Sameera Shaik ◽  
Sahithi Kaviti
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Uterine Artery ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Maternal Serum ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Early Prediction ◽  
Inhibin A ◽  
Study Results

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of different biochemical and biophysical markers in the early weeks of gestation as screening tools for early prediction of preeclampsia.Methods: This hospital-based prospective observational study conducted on 52 pregnant women, at less than 13 weeks of gestation were recruited. Maternal serum inhibin A and USG uterine artery PI levels were analyzed among the pregnant women who subsequently developed PE and compare with those who did not develop PE. Methods used for the detection of markers were: chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) for serum inhibin A levels, and uterine artery Doppler velocimetry was done by PHILIPS HD11XE transabdominal ultrasound machine using a 4-6 MHz probe with the same sonographer.Results: The present study revealed a significant rise of inhibin A in preeclamptic women when compared to normotensive women (p<0.0001). The mean levels of 1st and 2nd trimester uterine artery PI significantly high in women who subsequently developed PE when compared to those who did not develop preeclampsia (p<0.0001). Study results showed a strong association between gestational age at delivery and neonatal outcome (neonatal birth weight and APGAR) with preeclampsia. The maternal serum inhibin A, and uterine artery PI found to have good sensitivity and specificity for early prediction of PE.Conclusions: Study concluded that the women who are prone to develop PE subsequently, had high levels of MAP, UAPI, inhibin A. In our setting, MAP, UAPI, inhibin A, appeared to be better screening modalities. Combination of the biochemical markers with the biophysical markers, demographic characteristics, and other novel markers will establish the effective screening models for early prediction of PE. Early identification of high-risk cases will offer an opportunity for prophylactic therapy, such as Low- dose Aspirin in selected groups of high-risk women screened in the first trimester, thus improving the maternal and perinatal outcome.

Maternal serum levels of dimeric inhibin A in pregnancies affected by trisomy 21 in the first trimester

10.1002/pd.98 ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 441-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Spencer ◽  
Adolfo W. Liao ◽  
Charas Y. T. Ong ◽  
Lut Geerts ◽  
Kypros H. Nicolaides
Keyword(s):  
Trisomy 21 ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Maternal Serum ◽  
Inhibin A

Maternal serum levels of total activin-A in first-trimester trisomy 21 pregnancies

10.1002/pd.53 ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 270-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Spencer ◽  
Adolfo W Liao ◽  
Hariklea Skentou ◽  
Charas YT Ong ◽  
Kypros H Nicolaides
Keyword(s):  
Trisomy 21 ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Activin A ◽  
Maternal Serum

Activin A and follistatin are dynamically regulated during human pregnancy

1997 ◽  
Vol 152 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
T K Woodruff ◽  
P Sluss ◽  
E Wang ◽  
I Janssen ◽  
M S Mersol-Barg
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Activin A ◽  
Maternal Serum ◽  
Third Trimester ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Biologically Relevant ◽  
Human Pregnancy ◽  
The Third

Abstract Activin A (βA–βA) and activin B (βB–βB) are related dimeric proteins that regulate numerous cellular activities. Activin activity is bioneutralized by follistatin, a specific and high-affinity binding protein. Recently, our group developed specific and sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent activin assays that do not detect either activin isoform when bound to follistatin, therefore, the assays are specific for biologically relevant ligands. Activin A is measurable in the serum of pregnant women (cross-sectional sample collection), while activin B is not detected in maternal serum. However, activin B is measurable in amniotic fluid and cord blood sera. The purpose of this study was to measure serum activin A, activin B, and follistatin prospectively in longitudinally collected samples during pregnancy. This study design offered observations of relative changes in serum hormone concentration with each person serving as an internal reference. Serum samples were collected bimonthly from seven pregnant women beginning within the second month of gestation, and up to, but not including, the onset of labor. Six of the seven women had normal labor and delivery. One patient required pitocin (an oxytocin agonist) for induction of labor which led to delivery. Activin A, activin B, total follistatin, free follistatin, human chorionic gonadotropin, estradiol, progesterone, FSH, and LH were measured in maternal serum samples using specific assays. Serum activin A levels increased in the final month of pregnancy in the six patients who delivered following normal labor (<0·78 ng/ml (first trimester) to 1–6 ng/ml (term)). Activin B was not detected in any serum sample (<0·78 pg/ml). Total serum follistatin (free follistatin, follistatin–activin, and follistatin–inhibin) increased 10- to 45-fold in the final month of pregnancy in four of the women undergoing normal labor (10 ng/ml (first trimester) to 100–450 ng/ml (final month)). Total follistatin was high and variable in two women throughout pregnancy. Total follistatin returned to basal serum concentration in three of the patients during the last 2 weeks of pregnancy. Free follistatin was detected throughout pregnancy (range <2–35 ng/ml). Free follistatin represented a small percentage of the total follistatin throughout the time of pregnancy and did not rise coincident with the rise in total follistatin. Serum activin A and activin B were not detected during the entire course of pregnancy in the one patient who did not have normal labor and total follistatin did not rise in the last trimester of pregnancy. Gonadotropin and steroid hormones were measured in all patients and were within normative ranges for human pregnancy (inclusive of the non-laboring patient). The results suggest that immunodetectable activin A is present in the third trimester of pregnant women who have normal onset labor. The total follistatin assay results suggest that follistatin–activin (or –inhibin) complexes are upregulated during the third trimester of pregnancy. Importantly, activin A production exceeds the binding capacity of circulating follistatin. Because binding protein free activin A is biologically active we conclude that the activin A detected in late pregnancy is biologically relevant. The findings are consistent with our hypothesis that activin A is an endocrine factor during the last trimester of human pregnancy and may be involved in normal labor. Journal of Endocrinology (1997) 152, 167–174

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