Activin A in perinatal brain injury.

Activin A is a multifunctional growth and differentiation factor belonging to the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family. Growing evidence indicates its role as a neurotrophic factor and regulator of synaptic transmission as well as its functional importance in several types of cerebral injury. We recently described age-dependent expression of activin A and its regulation at the mRNA and protein level under different conditions of global hypoxia in the neonatal mouse brain.

Activin A regulation under global hypoxia in developing mouse brain.

Activin A is a multifunctional growth and differentiation factor with pronounced neuroprotective properties that is strongly up-regulated in various forms of acute brain disorders and injuries including epilepsy, stroke and trauma. In a pediatric context, activin A has been advanced as a potential marker for the severity of perinatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. Here we investigated the regulation of activin A under global hypoxia without ischemia in primary cultures of cortical neurons and in neonatal and adult mice of two strains (C57BL/6 and CD-1).

Rapidly progressive phenotype of Lafora disease associated with a novel NHLRC1 mutation.

Lafora disease is a fatal, autosomal recessive form of progressive myoclonus epilepsy. Patients characteristically exhibit myoclonic and tonic-clonic seizures and cognitive impairment, beginning in their second decade. Alterations in two genes were identified as the cause of the disease.