INHA
Description
The INHA (inhibin subunit alpha) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 2.
The INHA gene encodes the inhibin alpha subunit, which forms a protein that inhibits the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from the pituitary gland. This protein also plays a role in regulating gonadal stromal cell proliferation negatively and possesses tumor-suppressor activity. Serum levels of inhibin are used as a marker for granulosa-cell tumors, reflecting the size of the tumor and indicating both primary and recurrent disease. However, in prostate cancer, the expression of the inhibin alpha-subunit gene is suppressed and undetectable in poorly differentiated tumor cells. Due to varying expression levels in gonadal and extragonadal tissues, inhibin is believed to function as both a growth/differentiation factor and a hormone.
The INHA gene encodes the alpha subunit of inhibin, which forms a complex with either the beta A or beta B subunit to create a protein that inhibits the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from the pituitary gland. This inhibin protein also plays a role in regulating various biological processes including hypothalamic and pituitary hormone secretion, gonadal hormone secretion, germ cell development and maturation, erythroid differentiation, insulin secretion, nerve cell survival, embryonic axial development, and bone growth. It is believed to counteract the actions of activins, which stimulate FSH secretion.
INHA is also known as -.
Associated Diseases
- cancer
- Perrault syndrome
- 46,XY complete gonadal dysgenesis
- 46,XX testicular disorder of sex development
- aromatase deficiency
- ring chromosome Y
- 46,XX ovotesticular disorder of sex development
- familial hyperprolactinemia
- premature ovarian failure 18
- 46,XY partial gonadal dysgenesis
- gastric adenocarcinoma and proximal polyposis of the stomach
- hyperplastic polyposis syndrome
