%0 Journal Article
%T Activin A rescues preterm brain injury through a novel Noggin/BMP4/Id2 signaling pathway.
%A Su X
%A Ying J
%A Xiao D
%A Qiu X
%A Li S
%A Zhao F
%A Tang J
%J Int J Mol Med
%V 51
%N 2
%D Feb 2023
%M 36524372
%F 5.314
%R 10.3892/ijmm.2022.5215
%X Activin A (Act A) has been reported to promote oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) differentiation in vitro and improve neurological outcomes in adult mice. However, the roles and mechanisms of action of Act A in preterm brain injury are unknown. In the present study, P5 rats were subjected to hypoxia‑ischemia to establish a neonatal white matter injury (WMI) model and Act A was injected via the lateral ventricle. Pathological characteristics, OPC differentiation, myelination, and neurological performance were analyzed. Further, the involvement of the Noggin/BMP4/Id2 signaling pathway in the roles of Act A in WMI was explored. Act A attenuated pathological damage, promoted OPC differentiation, enhanced myelin sheath and myelinated axon formation, and improved neurological performance of WMI rats. Moreover, Act A enhanced noggin expression, which, in turn, inhibited the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) and inhibitor of DNA binding 2 (Id2). Furthermore, upregulation of Id2 completely abolished the rescue effects of Act A in WMI rats. In conclusion, the present findings suggested that Act A rescues preterm brain injury via targeting a novel Noggin/BMP4/Id2 signaling pathway.