Increased expression of insulin-like growth factor I in skin in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) has potent effects on motor neuron survival and is being studied as a possible therapeutic agent for ALS. However, little is known concerning IGF-I in the skin of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The aim was to evaluate IGF-I immunoreactivity of skin in patients with ALS.


METHODS
IGF-I immunoreactivity of skin from 18 patients with ALS and 16 controls was examined.


RESULTS
IGF-I immunoreactivity was markedly positive in the epidermis and dermal blood vessels and glands and was moderately positive in the reticular dermis in all patients with ALS. On the other hand, the epidermis and dermal blood vessels and glands and the reticular dermis showed a weak IGF-I immunoreactivity in controls. The optical density for IGF-I immunoreactivity of the epidermis and dermal blood vessels and glands, and the reticular dermis in patients with ALS was significantly higher than in diseased controls, and was significantly increased with duration of illness.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that a metabolic alteration of IGF-I may take place in the skin of patients with ALS.
Ono
S
S
Department of Neurology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Ichihara Hospital, Ichihara, Japan.
Hu
J
J
Imai
T
T
Shimizu
N
N
Tsumura
M
M
Nakagawa
H
H
D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020405:Dermis / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012627:Sebaceous Glands / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013545:Sweat Glands / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I