title: Expression of insulin-like growth factor-I in lesional and non-lesional skin of patients with morphoea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Morphoea (scleroderma) is a chronic disorder characterized by circumscribed sclerotic plaques with the hallmark of increased fibroblast activation and fibrosis. Through its effect on connective tissue cells and immune cells, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I has been found to play a role in some autoimmune connective tissue diseases and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several fibrotic disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of IGF-I in the pathogenesis of morphoea.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out on 15 patients with morphoea and nine healthy controls. Two 5-mm punch skin biopsies were taken from every patient (one from lesional and one from non-lesional skin) and a single biopsy was taken from the normal skin of each control. A 10-mL blood sample was also taken from each patient and control. Quantitative detection of tissue and serum levels of IGF-I was done using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IGF-I in lesional skin was significantly higher than in non-lesional and control skin (P = 0.001 and P = 0.021, respectively). Moreover, a significantly higher level of IGF-I was detected in patient serum when compared with control serum (P < 0.001). A direct significant correlation existed between lesional and non-lesional skin level (r = 0.618, P = 0.014), and between lesional skin level and Rodnan score (r = 0.538, P = 0.039).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the small sample size, this study suggests that IGF-I plays an important role in the pathogenesis of fibrosis, characteristic of morphoea. Studies on a larger number of patients with morphoea as well as on patients with systemic sclerosis are recommended. Furthermore, therapeutic trials using IGF-I antagonist (octreotide) are highly recommended in patients with morphoea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Dokki, Cairo, Eqypt.
authors.forename: M M T
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Fawzi
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Tawfik
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Eissa
authors.forename: M H M
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: El-Komy
authors.forename: M R E
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Abdel-Halim
authors.forename: O G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Shaker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I