Role of visfatin, insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin in fetal growth.
OBJECTIVE
IGF-I and insulin are the main regulators of intrauterine and postnatal growth. Adipose tissue secreted cytokines are implicated in intrauterine growth. The relevant function of the adipocytokine visfatin is unknown.


METHODS
Serum visfatin, IGF-I and insulin levels were measured by enzyme immunoassays in 40 singleton full-term fetuses and neonates on postnatal days 1(N1) and 4 (N4).


RESULTS
No significant correlations exist between visfatin and IGF-I or insulin. N1 and N4 visfatin positively correlated with customized (adjusted) birth weight centiles (r=0.511, P=0.021, and r=0.597, P=0.005, respectively). Fetal and N1 IGF-I positively correlated with customized centiles (r=0.608, P<0.001 and r=0.485, P=0.006, respectively). Fetal insulin positively correlated with customized centiles (r=0.654, P=0.021).


CONCLUSIONS
Potential implication of visfatin in fetal growth is probably not mediated by IGF-I or insulin. Although a more active role cannot be excluded, visfatin may simply represent a marker of fat accumulation.
Briana
Despina D
DD
2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Neonatal Division, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece.
Boutsikou
Maria
M
Gourgiotis
Dimitrios
D
Kontara
Louiza
L
Baka
Stavroula
S
Iacovidou
Nicoletta
N
Hassiakos
Dimitrios
D
Malamitsi-Puchner
Ariadne
A
D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000097:blood; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; D011247:Pregnancy
D016207:Cytokines; D007328:Insulin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; C085455:nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, human