title: Evaluation of the components of the insulin-like growth factors system in GH-deficient adults: effects of twelve-month rhGH treatment.
abstract: The impact of GH deficiency and rhGH replacement therapy on IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and ALS levels has been widely studied. There is less information available on IGF-II levels, the component of the ternary complex poorly dependent on GH. We investigate the components of IGFs system in 36 GHD adults (28M, 8F, age 45 +/- 14 yrs) before and after 12 months of rhGH therapy (mean dose 0.3 +/- 0.1 mg/day). One-hundred healthy sex- and age-matched subjects were studied for comparison. At baseline, GHD patients showed IGF-I and IGF-II levels and IGFs to IGFBP-3 molar ratios that were lower than controls. During therapy, IGF-I levels increased (p < 0.01) to normal range. IGF-II levels, though higher than at baseline (p < 0.01), remained lower than in controls (p < 0.01). ALS and IGFBP-3 significantly increased (p < 0.001). These modifications resulted in normalization in IGF-I to IGFBP-3 ratio, while no change in IGF-II to IGFBP-3 ratio was observed. In conclusion, the increase of serum IGF-II levels during rhGH treatment in GHD patients probably reflects the increase in the other components of ternary complex (ALS and IGFBP-3). However, serum IGF-II levels as well as IGF-II to IGFBP-3 ratio, although increased, were definitely lower than in controls. This last result, given the increasing evidences of a direct implication of IGF-II in cancer, may further confirm the safety of rhGH replacement in adults with severe GHD as diagnosed by appropriate stimulation tests.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Endocrine Sciences, University of Milan, Ospedale Maggiore IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferrante
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giavoli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Porretti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vassallo
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Ronchi
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Lania
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beck-Peccoz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013002:Somatomedins; C075944:insulin-like growth factor binding protein, acid labile subunit; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II