Diagnostic applications for inhibin and activins

作者：McNeilly Alan S^*

来源：Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 2012, 359(1-2): 121-125.

DOI：10.1016/j.mce.2011.06.017

• Diagnostic applications
• Inhibin A
• Inhibin B
• Reproductive disorders
• Activin

Inhibin and activins play major roles as paracrine and autocrine signaling molecules in reproduction and development where the main emphasis has been placed in developing potential diagnostic applications. While a role for activin assays in diagnostics has so far been unfounded, ELISAs specific for the biologically active inhibin A and B dimers, and for free inhibin alpha subunits, alone or in combination have found some specific diagnostic applications. Addition of inhibin A to the triple test for Down syndrome in the second trimester of pregnancy, measurement of total inhibin as a marker of certain forms of ovarian cancer in specific circumstances, and inhibin B for male fertility are useful diagnostics. A review of the evidence so far suggests that other applications for inhibin and activin assays have yet to be confirmed, or translated into reliable tools for clinical practice.

• 出版日期2012-8-15