Insulin-like growth factor-1 protects intestinal epithelial cells from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis

Abstract

Introduction: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants. We have recently found that activation of multiple cellular signaling transduction pathways occur during oxidative stress-induced intestinal epithelial cell injury; the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) pathway appears to play an anti-apoptotic role during this process. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 activates PI3-K pathway to promote cell proliferation; however, the effects of IGF-1 treatment during gut injury are not clearly defined.