Alternative Splicing of IGF1 Gene as a Potential Factor in the Pathogenesis of Peyronie's Disease.
OBJECTIVE
Peyronie's disease (PD) is a fibrotic entity for which the pathogenetic mechanism remains unclear and if resulting in severe deformity, its treatment is only surgical. In this study we investigated the possible role of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) expression in the pathogenesis of PD.


METHODS
Tissue samples were obtained from plaques of 24 patients with PD. The expression of IGF1 isoforms was investigated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence.


RESULTS
All IGF1 isoform gene expression (Ea, Eb and Ec) were found significantly decreased in the affected tunica albuginea, compared to normal tunica albuginea, with Ec showing the greatest decrease. Staining of tissue sections with an antibody against IGF1Ec confirmed greater expression of IGF1Ec isoform in normal tunica albuginea.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of all IGF1 alternative spliced isoforms is decreased in patients with PD, suggestive of its possible participation in the pathophysiology of PD.
Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Goudi, Athens, Greece babisthomas@yahoo.gr.
Charalampos G
CG
Thomas
Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Goudi, Athens, Greece.
Constantinos
C
Psarros
Department of Andrology, General Hospital of Patras, Patras, Greece.
Aristomenis
A
Gekas
Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Patras, Patras, Greece.
Gerasimos P
GP
Vandoros
Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Goudi, Athens, Greece.
Anastasios
A
Philippou
Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Goudi, Athens, Greece.
Michael
M
Koutsilieris
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017398:Alternative Splicing; D015870:Gene Expression; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010411:Penile Induration / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D020033:Protein Isoforms; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
Alternative splicing; IGF1; Peyronie's disease; fibrosis; penile curvature