Rarγ -Foxa1 signaling promotes luminal identity in prostate progenitors and is disrupted in prostate cancer.

Retinoic acid (RA) signaling is a master regulator of vertebrate development with crucial roles in directing body axis orientation and tissue differentiation, including in the reproductive system. However, a mechanistic understanding of how RA signaling promotes cell lineage identity in different tissues is often missing. Here, leveraging prostate organoid technology, we demonstrated that RA signaling orchestrates the commitment of adult mouse prostate progenitors to glandular identity, epithelial barrier integrity, and ultimately, proper specification of the prostatic lumen.

The therapeutic potential of soluble activin type IIB receptor treatment in a limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2D mouse model.

Limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2D (LGMD2D) is characterized by progressive weakening of muscles in the hip and shoulder girdles. It is caused by a mutation in the α-sarcoglycan gene and results in absence of α-sarcoglycan in the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex. The activin type IIB receptor is involved in the activin/myostatin pathway, with myostatin being a negative regulator of muscle growth.