Insulin-like growth factor delivery across the blood-brain barrier. Potential use of IGF-1 as a drug in child neurology.
BACKGROUND
Recent data indicate that insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) can cross the blood-brain barrier when bound to binding proteins. IGF-1 is very important for early brain development, myelination and survival of cerebellar neurons. It is antiapoptotic and is important for synaptic development. The aim of this study was to identify neurological conditions with low CNS IGF-1.


METHODS
Levels of CSF IGF-1 were determined by radio-immunoassay (Mediagnost, Tubingen, Germany).


RESULTS
Levels of CSF IGF-1 were low in some progressive diseases of white matter and the cerebellum. In some other diseases not involving cerebellum or white matter, CSF IGF-1 was normal.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings might pave the way for rational therapy in patients with neurodegeneration. Patients with low CNS IGF-1 might be candidates for IGF-1 therapy.
Riikonen
Raili
R
Children's Hospital, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland. raili.riikonen@uku.fi
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000378:metabolism; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000378:metabolism*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D020271:Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018971:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D009896:Optic Atrophy / Q000378:metabolism; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000378:metabolism; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D018971:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I