Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptors in human spinal cord: changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Neurotrophic factors are important for neuronal survival and maintenance in the adult nervous system. The regional distribution of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) receptors in human spinal cords from controls and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients was studied by immunohistochemistry and quantitative autoradiography. When comparing 125I-IGF-1 binding in the different spinal levels of normal spinal cord the same distribution pattern was found in which the binding was highest in the central canal > dorsal horn > ventral horn > white matter. In the ALS cases although a general upregulation of IGF-1 receptors was observed throughout the spinal cord, significant increases were observed in the cervical and sacral segments compared to controls. IGF-1 receptor immunoreactivity showed a similar pattern to that for 125I-IGF-1 binding, with immunoreactivity being found in the gray matter of the spinal cord and enhanced immunoreactivity occuring in ALS patients compared to controls. In agreement with the distribution of IGF-1 receptors, IGF-1 immunoreactivity was found within the gray matter of the spinal cord. The cartography of IGF-1 receptors in the normal spinal cord as well as the change of these receptors in diseased spinal cord may be of importance in future treatment strategies of ALS.
Adem
A
A
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Huddinge Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Sweden.
Ekblom
J
J
Gillberg
P G
PG
Jossan
S S
SS
Höög
A
A
Winblad
B
B
Aquilonius
S M
SM
Wang
L H
LH
Sara
V
V
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1