Effects of lipopolysaccharide endotoxin on the insulin-like growth factor I system in rats with cirrhosis.
BACKGROUND
Patients with liver cirrhosis have disturbances in the insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) system that favour insulin resistance and catabolism. High morbidity and mortality of such patients from infections may be related to further aggravation of this problem but human data are controversial. Here, the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin on the IGF system was studied in rats with cirrhosis.


METHODS
One month after induction of cirrhosis by bile duct ligation, LPS was administered (0.5 mg/kg) and the IGF system assessed 24 h later. Sham-operated animals acted as controls. Circulating and liver mRNA of IGF-I and its binding proteins (IGFBPs) were measured.


RESULTS
LPS reduced IGF-I and IGFBP-3 by 20% in the cirrhosis group. LPS induced insulin resistance (HOMA) in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that LPS administered to cirrhotic rats induced changes in the IGF system that facilitate catabolism. This may be of importance for the accelerated tissue loss during infection and the acute phase response in liver cirrhosis.
Thomsen
Karen Louise
KL
Department of Medicine V (Hepatology and Gastroenterology), Clinical Institute, Aarhus University Hospital, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. kltho@as.aaa.dk
Nielsen
Susanne Schouw
SS
Grønbiek
Henning
H
Flyvbjerg
Allan
A
Vilstrup
Hendrik
H
D000818:Animals; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000502:physiology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004731:Endotoxins; D007328:Insulin; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I