Insulin-like growth factor-I receptors in normal appearing white matter and chronic plaques in multiple sclerosis.
Preclinical studies suggest that insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) plays an important role in oligodendrocyte survival and myelination. We used human recombinant [125I]IGF-I to study IGF-I receptors in post-mortem brain tissue from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). In normal appearing white matter, we found that IGF-I receptor densities and binding characteristics were not different between MS patients and controls. In chronic plaques, histologically characterized by astrogliosis, we found densities of IGF-I receptors which were in the same range as those measured in the normal appearing white matter. In vitro studies have shown that IGF-I also acts as a mitogenic factor for astrocytes. Since MS lesions are rapidly invaded by reactive astrocytes, IGF-I may not only protect oligodendrocytes and stimulate remyelination but also enhance the astrogliosis that limits repair.
Wilczak
N
N
Department of Neurology, Academisch Ziekenhuis Groningen, The Netherlands.
De Keyser
J
J
D000368:Aged; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism*
D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1