The relationship between insulin and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 is modified by pre-eclampsia.
Insulin is the main negative regulator of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) in the non-pregnant state. Although changes in insulin resistance and circulating level of IGFBP-1 occur in pre-eclampsia, little is known about the relationship between insulin and IGFBP-1 in pregnancies complicated by the disease. In this study, we have investigated whether the relationship between insulin and IGFBP-1 is modified by pre-eclampsia. Maternal levels of insulin and IGFBP-1 were measured, at 4-weekly intervals between 16 and 36 weeks' gestation, in plasma samples obtained from ten normal pregnant controls and ten women who developed pre-eclampsia. The controls were chosen to be similar in maternal age and booking body mass index to the pre-eclampsia group. Insulin levels increased in both the normal controls and the women who developed pre-eclampsia. The levels in pre-eclampsia were significantly greater than those in normal pregnancy at 32 and 36 weeks' gestation (p = 0.02 and 0.005, respectively). IGFBP-1 levels were unchanged in normal pregnancy and rose in pre-eclampsia. In normal pregnancy, insulin levels were inversely related to IGFBP-1 levels throughout. In women developing pre-eclampsia, the relationship between insulin and IGFBP-1 was negative at 16 weeks and positive from 24 weeks. These data suggest that whereas the inverse relationship between insulin and IGFBP-1 is maintained during normal pregnancy, this relationship is reversed in women who develop pre-eclampsia.
Department of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Division of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, UK.
N
N
Anim-Nyame
F A
FA
Hills
S R
SR
Sooranna
P J
PJ
Steer
M J
MJ
Johnson
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 / Q000097:blood*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third
D007328:Insulin; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1