Activin A Stimulates Aromatase via the ALK4-Smad Pathway in Endometriosis

Figure 1

Effects of Activin A on mRNA level, protein expression, and activity of P450arom in ESCs. (a) Activin A time-course data (mean ± SD; ) for P450arom mRNA expression. ESCs were treated with Activin A (25 ng/mL) for 2, 12, and 24 h and total RNA was isolated from untreated control and treated ESC. versus control. (b) Activin A dose-response data (mean ± SD) of P450arom mRNA expression from three independent experiments performed in triplicate. ESCs were treated with Activin A (2.5, 25, and 50 ng/mL) for 24 h and total RNA was isolated from untreated control and treated ESC. versus control. (c) Activin A time-course data (mean ± SD) for P450arom expression from three independent experiments performed in triplicate. The top panel of (c) shows representative data. The bottom panel of (c) is the mean ± SD data from three independent experiments performed in triplicate. ESCs were treated with Activin A (25 ng/mL) for 2, 12, or 24 hrs and total RNA was isolated from untreated control and treated ESC. versus control. (d) Activin A dose-response data (mean ± SD) on P450arom expression from three independent experiments performed in triplicate. The top panel of (d) is representative data. The bottom panel of (d) is the mean ± SD from three independent experiments performed in triplicate. ESCs were treated with Activin A (2.5, 25, or 50 ng/mL) for 24 h and total RNA was isolated from untreated control and treated ESC. versus control. (e) ESCs were incubated in the absence (control) or presence of Activin A (25 ng/mL) and/or testosterone (100 ng/mL). The estradiol concentrations in media secreted by stromal cells were measured in four groups. The data displayed in the figure show the mean ± SD from three independent experiments performed in triplicate. versus control; versus control.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)