title: Correlation between serum IGF-1 and blood lead level in short stature children and adolescent with growth hormone deficiency.
abstract: This study aimed to investigate correlation between serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and blood lead level in short stature children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD), and IGF-1 signal molecules were investigated in lead exposed rats. Our findings may provide evidence for clarifying pathogenesis of lead induced short stature in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  880 short stature children were recruited from clinics and divided into GHD group and idiopathic short stature (ISS) group according to the GH peak in growth hormone stimulation test. The height, body weight, serum IGF-1 level and blood lead level were determined. A rat model of lead poisoning was used to establish and western blot assay was employed to detect the phosphorylation of signaling molecules (MAPK and PI3K/Akt) related to IGF-1 signaling pathway.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In GHD group, the height, body weight and serum IGF-1 level were significantly lower, but the blood lead level was significantly higher than those in ISS group (P<0.05). Western blot assay confirmed that the protein expression of phosphorylated ERK1/2, JNK, p38, Akt473 and Akt308 increased significantly (P<0.01) in lead exposure rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggesting that reduction in IGF-1 in children with GHD is associated with blood lead level. Lead exposure may induce expression of phosphorylated MAPK and Akt signaling molecules. The activation of these molecules may influence binding of IGF-1 and tyrosine kinase receptor IGFIR to regulate cell growth via the MAPK and Akt signaling pathways, which then interfere with growth-promoting effect of IGF-1 in short children.
authors: Department of Clinical Laboratories, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University Xi'an 710032, China.
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Xu
authors: Department of Occupational & Environmental Health and The Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University Xi'an 710032, China.
authors: Ming-Chao
authors: MC
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Clinical Laboratories, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University Xi'an 710032, China.
authors: Pei
authors: P
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Clinical Laboratories, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University Xi'an 710032, China.
authors: Bei
authors: B
authors: Xu
authors: Department of Occupational & Environmental Health and The Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University Xi'an 710032, China.
authors: Xin-Qin
authors: XQ
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Clinical Laboratories, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University Xi'an 710032, China.
authors: Zhi-Ping
authors: ZP
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Clinical Laboratories, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University Xi'an 710032, China.
authors: Li-Fen
authors: LF
authors: Ren
authors: Department of Clinical Laboratories, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University Xi'an 710032, China.
authors: Qing
authors: Q
authors: Qin
authors: Department of Clinical Laboratories, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University Xi'an 710032, China.
authors: Yue-Yun
authors: YY
authors: Ma
authors: Department of Occupational & Environmental Health and The Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Fourth Military Medical University Xi'an 710032, China.
authors: Wen-Jing
authors: WJ
authors: Luo
authors: Department of Clinical Laboratories, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University Xi'an 710032, China.
authors: Xiao-Ke
authors: XK
authors: Hao
keywords: Growth hormone deficiency; insulin-like growth factor I; lead exposure animal model; short stature; signaling pathway