Activin A and Follistatin-Like 3 Determine the Susceptibility of Heart to Ischemic Injury

Abstract

Activin A and Fstl3 are induced in heart by myocardial stress. Activin A protects myocytes from death, and this activity is antagonized by Fstl3. Thus, the relative expression levels of these factors after injury is a determinant of cell survival in the heart.