title: The role of IGF-1 and ghrelin in the compensation of intrauterine growth restriction.
abstract: The role of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and ghrelin in intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) neonates in comparison to appropriate for gestational age (AGA) ones was investigated. Levels of IGF-1/insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3), ghrelin, insulin, and cortisol were determined in 20 singleton, full-term IUGR and 20 respective AGA neonates at birth (umbilical cord-UC), on days 1 (d1) and 4 (d4) postnatally. The ratio of IGF-1 to birth weight was higher in IUGR than in AGA in both UC (18.2 +/- 1.2 vs14.4 +/- 0.9, P = .05) and d1 (9.6 +/- 0.5 vs 6.8 +/- 0.3, P = .05). A significant positive correlation was found between IGF-1 and ghrelin levels and a negative one between IGFBP3 and ghrelin only in IUGR. In both groups, fetal IGF-1 levels negatively correlated with fetal cortisol levels. Intrauterine growth restricted neonates demonstrate a relative IGF-1 resistance in an attempt to drive energy toward survival on the expense of growth. The observed correlations between ghrelin and IGF-1/IGFBP3 postnatally indicate that ghrelin might play a role in the compensation of intrauterine undernutrition, promoting postnatal growth.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Marialena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kyriakakou
authors.forename: Ariadne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malamitsi-Puchner
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mastorakos
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boutsikou
authors.forename: Demetrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hassiakos
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Papassotiriou
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kanaka-Gantenbein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001724:Birth Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood*; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C515349:GHRL protein, human; D054439:Ghrelin; C515497:IGFBP3 protein, human; D007328:Insulin; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D006854:Hydrocortisone