Embryo Quality May Be Associated With Serum Inhibin B Levels but Not With Serum or Follicular Fluid Levels of Other Components of the Activin-Follistatin-Inhibin Axis.

Objective: We investigated the potential associations of embryo quality with serum and/or follicular fluid (FF) concentrations of the molecules of the activin-follistatin-inhibin (AFI) axis and antimüllerian hormone and aimed to identify molecules that could predict a positive assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcome.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we measured AFI hormone and antimüllerian hormone levels in the serum and FF of follicles (n = 101) obtained from healthy oocyte donors who underwent an assisted reproductive technology course (n = 32). After egg retrieval, embryos were characterized as good or bad quality according to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology criteria.

PCSK9 and ANGPTL3 levels correlate with hyperlipidemia in HIV-lipoatrophy, are regulated by fasting and are not affected by leptin administered in physiologic or pharmacologic doses.

Background: Medications leveraging the leptin, PCSK9, ANGPTL3 and FABP4 pathways are being developed for the treatment of insulin resistance and/or lipid disorders. To evaluate whether these pathways are independent from each other, we assessed the levels of PCSK9, ANGPTL3 and FABP4, in normal subjects and subjects exhibiting HIV and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) induced metabolic syndrome with lipoatrophy and hypoleptinemia. Studies were performed at baseline and during food deprivation for three days with either a placebo or leptin administration at physiological replacement doses to correct fasting induced acute hypoleptinemia and in pharmacological doses.

Circulating profile of Activin-Follistatin-Inhibin Axis in women with hypothalamic amenorrhea in response to leptin treatment.

Background: Chronic energy deficiency observed in women that exercise strenuously affects reproductive function, often leading to hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA). In such conditions, hypoleptinemia and robust changes in the Activin-Follistatin-Inhibin Axis (AFI) are observed. Treatment with leptin restores menstruation in many (60% responders) but not all (40% non-responders) women, suggesting that leptin is not the only regulator of reproductive function related to energy balance.