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.
Anim-Nyame
N
N
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.
Hills
F A
FA
Sooranna
S R
SR
Steer
P J
PJ
Johnson
M J
MJ
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