Growth hormone supplementation increased latency to tumourigenesis in Atm-deficient mice.
Growth hormone (GH) is important for cell growth and differentiation, has multiple effects on lymphoid tissue and may promote blast cell proliferation and cancer development. We studied the effect of GH on longevity and tumour formation in Atm-deficient mice, an established model of the human cancer prone syndrome ataxia telangiectasia (AT). AT is a devastating recessive disorder that is characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia, immunodeficiency, chromosomal instability and cancer susceptibility. Since AT patients also show endocrinological abnormalities the question has been raised as to whether GH therapy could be beneficial and/or increase the cancer risk in AT. We found that treatment with GH significantly increased longevity of Atm-deficient mice. In addition, GH ameliorated locomotoric behaviour and improved T-cell immunity. Thus, our data demonstrated that GH treatment is not necessarily accompanied by increased cancer development in diseases with chromosomal instability and cancer susceptibility and might be beneficial for AT patients.
Schubert
Ralf
R
Pediatric Children's Hospital, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. ralf.schubert@kgu.de
Schmitz
Nathalie
N
Pietzner
Julia
J
Tandi
Christa
C
Theisen
Alf
A
Dresel
Ruth
R
Christmann
Martin
M
Zielen
Stefan
S
D000818:Animals; D001260:Ataxia Telangiectasia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D064007:Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D013006:Growth Hormone; C576324:ATM protein, human; D064007:Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins; C576325:Atm protein, mouse; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases