INHBA (Inhibin Beta A) is a subunit of the glycoprotein hormone inhibin and activin, belonging to the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily. The INHBA gene encodes the beta A subunit, which combines with alpha subunits to form inhibin or with other beta subunits (e.g., beta B) to form activin ligands. Activins, particularly activin A (βA-βA homodimer), regulate diverse biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and immune responses, by signaling through transmembrane serine/threonine kinase receptors (ActRII/ALK) and SMAD-mediated pathways. Dysregulation of INHBA/activin signaling is implicated in cancer progression, fibrosis, and reproductive disorders.
INHBA antibodies are essential tools for detecting and quantifying INHBA protein expression in research and diagnostics. They are widely used in techniques like Western blotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and ELISA to study INHBA's role in developmental biology, tissue homeostasis, and diseases. Overexpression of INHBA has been linked to poor prognosis in cancers such as gastric, colorectal, and ovarian cancers, making it a potential biomarker or therapeutic target. These antibodies also aid in exploring activin/inhibin balance in reproductive health, including folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis. Commercial INHBA antibodies are typically validated for specificity against recombinant or endogenous targets, ensuring reliability in experimental and clinical applications.