Expression of activins and activin receptors in human retinoblastoma cell line Y-79

Activin is a member of TGFβ family and is known to inhibit neuronal differentiation in certain tumor cell lines. In this study, the messenger RNA expression of activin subunits and activin receptors was characterized in retinoblastoma cell line Y-79 using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction as well as in situ hybridization. The identity of the RT-PCR products was confirmed by DNA sequencing of PCR products. The activin protein production was determined by immunocytochemistry. We found that Y-79 cells transcribe mRNAs coding activin subunits and activin receptors and produce activin proteins. Our results imply that activin may have autocrine functions in these cells.