title: Insulin-like growth factor-II: possible local growth factor in pheochromocytoma.
abstract: Pheochromocytomas, neural crest tumors, express an abundance of insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II). To assess further the potential for IGF-II to play an autocrine role for these tumors, we measured 1) IGF-II content by RRA in 7 pheochromocytomas and peripheral blood in these patients, 2) IGF-II receptors by Western analysis, and 3) characterized the tumor binding proteins by ligand blot studies. IGF-II levels in the tumors varied from 2.8-41 micrograms/g. Chromatography revealed that 60% of the peptide eluted as a large mol wt form of IGF-II (8.7-10 kDa); the remainder coeluted with mature peptide (7.5 kDa). This was in contrast to IGF-II levels in normal adrenal tissue (0.225 +/- 0.005 micrograms/g) or another neural crest-derived tumor, medullary carcinoma of the thyroid (0.63 +/- 0.02 micrograms/g). Serum IGF-II levels in the 7 patients with pheochromocytoma (720 +/- 71 ng/mL) were similar to those in 35 normal controls (762 +/- 69 ng/mL). Radiolabeled IGF-II (9 +/- 1%) and IGF-I (20 +/- 2%) bound specifically to pheochromocytoma membranes. Western analysis of these membranes using a specific antiserum directed against the type II receptor demonstrated a band at 210 kDa. Affinity cross-linking studies with [125I]IGF-I demonstrated a specific band at 140 kDa. Ligand blot analysis was performed on the void volume pools from the Sephadex G-75 column and demonstrated bands at about 30 and 25 kDa. In conclusion, these data 1) confirm that pheochromocytomas have increased levels of IGF-II; 2) demonstrate that despite high IGF-II concentrations in the tumors, peripheral levels are not elevated, suggesting that very little tumoral IGF-II is released into the circulation, unlike catecholamines; 3) demonstrate the presence of IGF-II and IGF-I receptors; 4) describe binding protein species similar to those present in other tissues. Thus, the presence of high levels of IGF-II and both type I and type II receptors suggests that IGF II may act through both receptors to alter tumor growth.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, State University of New York, Stony Brook 11794.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gelato
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vassalotti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D000328:Adult; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000737:chemistry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000737:chemistry*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis; D017451:Receptors, Somatomedin; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017451:Receptors, Somatomedin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II