Inhibin alpha chain (INHA)

Inhibin alpha chain is a glycoprotein subunit that pairs with beta subunits to form the biologically active hormone inhibin (inhibin A and inhibin B). Inhibin functions to inhibit FSH secretion from the anterior pituitary and thereby plays a crucial role in reproductive endocrine regulation. It belongs to the TGF-beta superfamily. Inhibin is produced primarily by gonadal tissues (granulosa cells in ovaries, Sertoli cells in testes), but expression also occurs in extragonadal tissues. Inhibin acts as a tumor suppressor, with abnormal levels serving as biomarkers in various cancers, especially ovarian granulosa-cell tumors. It is not directly targeted by current drugs, but its levels are clinically monitored to inform therapy and disease outcomes. Mechanistically, inhibin blocks activin signaling via engagement with activin receptors and the coreceptor betaglycan.

Other names

Inhibin alphaalpha inhibinINHAinhibin alpha subunitinhibin A alpha subunit

Drugs targeting this molecule would likely act via antagonism or modulation of inhibin's inhibitory effect on FSH secretion or by impacting its tumor suppressor activity. Inhibin's mechanism involves antagonizing activin actions by binding to activin receptors, aided by coreceptors such as betaglycan.