title: Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-binding protein-3 serum levels in relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I has a role in remyelination, and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) might reduce its bioavailability. A role of IGFBP-3 in multiple sclerosis (MS) progression was hypothesized in patients with primary progressive (PP) MS.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in patients with relapsing-remitting (RR) and secondary progressive (SP) MS and their correlations with disease activity and progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-three (41 RR and 22 SP) 'naive' MS patients and 60 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Patients were assessed through clinical [Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Multiple Sclerosis Severity Scale (MSSS), number of relapses] and laboratory investigations. IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were measured by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were similar in the two MS groups. IGFBP-3 levels were higher in patients with MS than in controls (P < 0.001), with a reduction in IGF-I/BP3 ratio (P < 0.001). Patients showing IGFBP-3 levels higher than 2SD of the normal population had a higher EDSS (mean EDSS 3.7 vs. 2.8, P = 0.021). MSSS was not related to IGF-I or IGFBP-3 serum levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our patients showed high IGFBP-3 serum levels respect to controls and higher serum levels were associated with a higher EDSS, despite of comparable disease duration. Therefore, MS and higher disability seem to be associated with a reduction in bioavailability of IGF-I. MSSS score was not related to IGFBP-3 levels, suggesting that IGFBP-3 might not have the pathogenetic role previously suggested for PP MS, in the mechanism of progression in the SP form of disease.
authors.affiliation: Neurology, Hermitage Capodimonte Hospital, Naples, Italy. robertalanzillo@libero.it
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lanzillo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Somma
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quarantelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ventrella
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gasperi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prinster
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vacca
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pivonello
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orefice
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colao
authors.forename: V B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Morra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C515497:IGFBP3 protein, human; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I