title: Decreased expression of the insulin-like growth factor-I-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) phosphoisoform in pre-eclamptic Wharton's jelly and its role in the regulation of collagen biosynthesis.
abstract: Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is known as an important stimulator of collagen and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) biosynthesis in tissues. IGF-I activity is under control of IGF-I-binding proteins (IGFBPs) with different IGF-I-binding affinity. IGFBP-1 is known as an inhibitor of IGF-dependent functions. Some IGFBPs (e.g., IGFBP-1) may undergo phosphorylation that dramatically increases IGFBP affinity for IGF. Wharton's jelly represents a reservoir of IGF-I and its binding proteins (BPs). Pre-eclampsia, the most common, pregnancy-associated pathological syndrome, contributes to a significant decrease in IGF-I and IGFBP-1 content in Wharton's jelly, although it does not affect collagen content in this tissue. In the present study we show that control Wharton's jelly contains phosphorylated forms of IGFBP-1 that are dramatically dephosphorylated during pre-eclampsia. A dramatic decrease in IGF-I binding to immunoprecipitated IGFBP-1 from pre-eclamptic Wharton's jelly compared to the control was observed. Western immunoblot analysis with anti-phosphothreonine antibodies for immunoprecipitated IGFBP-1 from control and pre-eclamptic Wharton's jelly revealed that both tissues contain phosphorylated forms of IGFBP-1. However, a distinct decrease in the expression of phosphorylated IGFBP-1 from pre-eclamptic Wharton's jelly was observed. The functional significance of the phenomenon was found in cultured fibroblasts treated with IGFBP isolated from Wharton's jelly extracts. A significant decrease in collagen biosynthesis was found in the cells treated with IGFBP of control Wharton's jelly, while in the presence of IGFBP from pre-eclamptic Wharton's jelly, the rate of collagen biosynthesis was similar to that in the control cells. The result was corroborated by data showing increase in expression of IGF-I receptor and phosphorylated MAP kinases (ERK1 and ERK2) in fibroblasts cultured in the presence of IGFBP from pre-eclamptic Wharton's jelly, compared to control. The data suggest that the decrease in phosphorylated IGFBP-1 in pre-eclamptic Wharton's jelly may decrease IGF-I-binding affinity for IGF and increase the bioavailability of IGF-I for receptor interaction. This mechanism may facilitate IGF-I-dependent stimulation of fibroblasts to produce extracellular matrix (ECM) components even at a low IGF-I tissue level. Therefore, IGFBP-1 phosphoisoforms in Wharton's jelly may play an important role in the regulation of IGF-I-dependent functions during pre-eclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical Academy of Białystok, Białystok, Poland. edward12@amb.edu.pl
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bańkowski
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sobolewski
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pałka
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jaworski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism*; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D003094:Collagen