Hepatic production of insulin-like growth factors in normal and diseased liver.
OBJECTIVE
IGF-I levels are reduced in cirrhotic patients. However, it is not known whether this decreased level is the result of reduced hepatic production or modified bioavailability secondary to decreased binding proteins. We determined the hepatic production of IGF-I and IGF-II and their receptors in normal and diseased liver.


METHODS
Twenty-five patients included, 11 controls with normal liver and 14 with either chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis. mRNA for IGF-1, IGF-II and their receptors were measured. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to localize the IGF-producing cells.


RESULTS
In 11 normal livers, the IGF-I mRNA levels were 4.95 +/- 1.8; in the 14 diseased livers, the levels were 1.22 +/- 0.69 (p < 0.001). IGF-II mRNA levels were 3.78 +/- 1.45 for the control and 5.11 +/- 2.15 in the diseased livers (NS). IGF-I receptor levels were 1.15 +/- 0.83 in the normal and 0.31 +/- 0.22 in the liver disease group (p < 0.05). There was no statistical difference between the two groups for IGF-II receptor.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with chronic liver disease have a significant reduction in their hepatic production of IGF-I, whereas IGF-II tends to be elevated. Treatment with recombinant IGF-I in patients with metabolic or endocrine complications of cirrhosis might prove useful.
Morali
Gilles
G
Department of Gastroenterology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
Shitrit
Ariella Bar-Gil
AB
Eran
Maya
M
Freier
Serem
S
Reinus
Constantin
C
Braverman
Dan
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D017527:Receptor, IGF Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D017451:Receptors, Somatomedin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D017527:Receptor, IGF Type 2; D017451:Receptors, Somatomedin; D013002:Somatomedins; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1