title: Changes in cerebrospinal fluid and blood plasma levels of IGF-II and its binding proteins in Alzheimer's disease: an observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF)-related system is implicated in neuroregeneration and cell repair, as well as regulating lifespan. IGF-II, one component of this system, has also been found to affect memory functions in a rat model. In this study we explored changes in the IGF-related system in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), including changes in IGF-II levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3 in 72 healthy controls and 92 patients with AD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found significantly lower blood plasma levels of IGF-II and IGFBP-3 in patients with AD, compared with controls. The levels of IGF-II and IGFBP-2 were significantly elevated in the CSF from patients with AD. We also found correlations between established CSF biomarkers for AD (tau and P-tau) and components of the IGF system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CSF and blood plasma levels of IGF-II and some of its binding proteins are changed in patients with AD. Further investigation into this area may unravel important clues to the nature of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden. joakim.hertze@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Joakim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hertze
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nägga
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Minthon
authors.forename: Oskar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hansson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II