Recombinant Insulin-like Growth factor-I Research Articles

Oral IGF-I enhances nutrient and electrolyte absorption in neonatal piglet intestine.

The effect of orally administered insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on small intestinal structure and function was studied in 5-day-old colostrum-deprived piglets. Human recombinant IGF-I (3.5 mg. kg(-1). day(-1)) or control vehicle was given orogastrically for 4 days. Body weights, jejunal and ileal mucosa wet and dry weights, and serum IGF-I levels were similar in the two groups. Small intestinal villus height and crypt depth and jejunal enterocyte microvillar dimensions were also similar between groups. Oral IGF-I produced higher rates of jejunal ion transport because of increased basal Na+ absorption. Short-circuit current responses to mucosal addition of D-glucose and L-alanine and net transepithelial absorption of 3-O-methylglucose were increased by IGF-I. Carrier-mediated uptake of D-glucose per milligram in everted jejunal sleeves was greater in IGF-I-treated piglets because of a significantly greater maximal rate of uptake. We conclude that rates of net Na+ and Na+-dependent nutrient absorption are enhanced in piglets treated with oral IGF-I, and this effect is independent of changes in mucosal mass or surface area.

Regulation of plasma insulin-like growth factor-I levels in brown trout ( Salmo trutta)

In this study we report that the use of a heterologous radioimmunoassay (RIA) is valid for the detection of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels in plasma of a variety of fish species. Parallelism between standard curves and plasma dilutions were observed and the standard curve obtained with mammalian IGF-I presented the same characteristics as that obtained with coho salmon recombinant IGF-I.The RIA was biologically validated since total plasma IGF-I values were significantly modified by different experimental conditions. Hyperinsulinemia induced either by arginine or insulin injection was accompanied by increases in IGF-I plasma levels in brown trout ( Salmo trutta). In contrast, parallel decreases in insulin and IGF-I circulating levels were observed after 45 days of fasting and 20 days after a single streptozotocin injection. Administration of arginine in fasted fish led to a relative increase in insulin and IGF-I plasma concentrations, while arginine injection in fish previously treated with streptozotocin increased IGF-I levels only. The above data suggest that insulin, together with other factors, may act to increase the levels of IGF-I in plasma.

Expression of Mhc class I and II mRNA in a macrophage-like cell line (SHK-1) derived from Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., head kidney

A cell-line derived from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) head kidney (SHK-1) consisting of macrophage-like cells was investigated for major histocompatibility complex (Mhc) class I and class II messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression following stimulation with lipopolysaccaride (LPS), human recombinant insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and virus infection. A reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to provide a semi-quantitative comparison of specific mRNA levels. Incubation with LPS from Escherichia coli (100μg ml−1) resulted in a decrease in the expression of Mhc class I heavy chain mRNA after 24h followed by a weak increase or slightly reduced expression. Incubation with LPS from Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida (10μg ml−1and 100μg ml−1) induced a more marked reduction in expression after 24h than LPS from E. coli, and a greater increase in expression after 72h. Similar observations were also recorded with respect to Mhc class II mRNA expression. Following infection with two different viruses that are pathogenic for Atlantic salmon (infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) virus, and infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) virus), the level of expressed mRNA for both Mhc classes increased at 24h post-infection, whereas the level was markedly reduced or absent 72h post-infection. IGF-I (10μg ml−1and 100μg ml−1) induced either a reduction or absence of Mhc transcripts following 3h and 48h incubation. The present study shows that a cell-line consisting of macrophage-like cells expresses Mhc class I and class II, and that the expression can be modified in response to bacterial components, infective viruses, and hormonal stimulation. The study demonstrates a link in expression between the two Mhc classes, indicating common regulatory mechanisms.

Enhanced repair of extensive articular defects by insulin-like growth factor-I-laden fibrin composites.

Stem cells indigenous to the cancellous spaces of the bone bed in an acute injury provide an important source of pluripotent cells for cartilage repair. Insulin-like growth factor-I facilitates chondrogenesis of bone marrow-derived stem cells in long-term culture and may enhance chondrogenesis in healing cartilage lesions in vivo. This study examined the impact of insulin-like growth factor-I, gradually released from fibrin clots polymerized in situ, on the recruitable stem-cell pool in a full-thickness critical cartilage defect model. Twelve full-thickness 15-mm cartilage lesions in the femoropatellar articulations of six young mature horses were repaired by an injection of autogenous fibrin containing 25 microg of human recombinant insulin-like growth factor-I or, in control joints, fibrin without the growth factor. All horses were killed at 6 months, and cartilage repair tissue and surrounding cartilage were assessed by histology, histochemistry, types I and II collagen immunohistochemistry, types I and II collagen in situ hybridization, and matrix biochemical determinations. White tissue filled grafted and control lesions, with the growth factor-treated defects being more completely filled and securely attached to the subchondral bone. A moderately improved chondrocyte population, more columnar cellular organization, and better attachment to the underlying bone were evident on histological evaluation of growth factor-treated defects. Type-II procollagen mRNA was abundantly present in the deeper half of the treated sections compared with moderate message expression in control tissues. Immunolocalization of type-II collagen showed a preponderance of the collagen in growth factor-treated lesions, confirming translation of type-II message to protein. Composite histologic healing scores for treated defects were significantly improved over those for control defects. DNA content in the cartilage defects was similar in treated and control joints. Matrix proteoglycan content was similar in treated and control defects and lower in the defects than in the intact surrounding and remote cartilage of the treated and control joints. The proportion of type-II collagen significantly increased in growth factor-treated tissues. Fibrin polymers laden with insulin-like growth factor-I improved the histologic appearance and the proportion of type-II collagen in healing, full-thickness cartilage lesions. However, none of the biochemical or morphologic features were consistent with those of normal articular cartilage.

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) induces myotube hypertrophy associated with an increase in anaerobic glycolysis in a clonal skeletal-muscle cell model

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is an important autocrine/paracrine mediator of skeletal-muscle growth and development. To develop a definitive cultured cell model of skeletal-muscle hypertrophy, C2C12 cells were stably transfected with IGF-I and clonal lines developed and evaluated. Quantitative morphometric analysis showed that IGF-I-transfected myotubes had a larger area (2381+/-60 micrometer2 versus 1429+/-39 micrometer2; P<0.0001) and a greater maximum width (21.4+/-0.6 micrometer versus 13.9+/-0.3 micrometer; P<0.0001) than control C2C12 myotubes, independent of the number of cell nuclei per myotube. IGF-I-transfected myotubes had higher levels of protein synthesis but no difference in DNA synthesis when compared with control myotubes, indicating the development of hypertrophy rather than hyperplasia. Both lactate dehydrogenase and alanine aminotransferase activities were increased (3- and 5-fold respectively), and total lactate levels were higher (2.3-fold) in IGF-I-transfected compared with control myotubes, indicating an increase in anaerobic glycolysis in the hypertrophied myotubes. However, expression of genes involved in skeletal-muscle growth or hypertrophy in vivo, e.g. myocyte nuclear factor and myostatin, was not altered in the IGF-I myotubes. Finally, myotube hypertrophy could also be induced by treatment of C2C12 cells with recombinant IGF-I or by growing C2C12 cells in conditioned media from IGF-I-transfected cells. This quantitative model should be uniquely useful for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of skeletal-muscle hypertrophy.

Preventive effects of insulinlike growth factor-I on steroid-induced muscle atrophy.

We examined the effects of simultaneous administration of recombinant insulinlike growth factor-I (IGF-I) and glucocorticoid on the diameter of muscle fibers in rats. The steroid group received subcutaneous injection of triamcinolone, the IGF-treated group received IGF-I alone, and the steroid plus IGF group received both triamcinolone and IGF-I. After 14 days, each rat was subjected to muscle biopsy of the extensor digitorum longus and soleus. Glucocorticoid treatment caused significant reduction in diameter of muscle fibers, compared to controls. Simultaneous administration of IGF-I significantly attenuated glucocorticoid-induced muscle atrophy. Glucocorticoid increased both urinary concentration of 3-methylhistidine and urinary creatine/creatinine ratio. IGF-I reduced those changes in the urine. We conclude that IGF-I administration prevents, at least partially, the development of steroid myopathy.

Serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels during long-term IGF-I treatment of children and adults with primary GH resistance (Laron syndrome).

Serum IGF-I levels were measured in 14 patients (9 children and 5 adults) with Laron syndrome (LS) during long-term treatment by IGF-I. Recombinant IGF-I (FK-780, Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Japan) was administered once daily subcutaneously before breakfast for 3-5 years to the children and for 9 months to the adults. The initial daily dose was 150 micrograms/kg for children and 120 micrograms/kg for adults. Before initiation of treatment the mean overnight fasting levels of serum IGF-I in the children was 3.2 +/- 0.8 nmol/l (mean +/- SEM), rising to 10 +/- 1.7 nmol/l during long-term treatment even on a dose of 120 micrograms/kg/day. The serum IGF-I levels 4 hours after injection rose from 31.2 +/- 3.5 to 48 +/- 2 nmol/l. In the adult patients, the initial basal IGF-I was 4.1 +/- 0.7 nmol/l, rising to 16.1 +/- 3.84 nmol/l after 8-9 months treatment. Serum IGF-I levels at 4 hours after injection rose in the adult patients from 24.1 +/- 5.8 up to 66.8 +/- 15.4 nmol/l. A progressively increasing half-life during long term exogenous administration of IGF-I to patients with Laron syndrome was demonstrated by following serum IGF-I dynamics after injection. Based on the fact that no antibodies to IGF-I were detected and on findings in previous studies, it is speculated that the increasing serum IGF-I levels during long-term IGF-I treatment are caused by an increase in serum IGFBP-3 induced by chronic IGF-I administration. It is concluded that treatment with IGF-I necessitates regular monitoring of serum IGF-I levels; in patients in whom the age adjusted maximal levels are exceeded, a reduction of the daily IGF-I dose is indicated to avoid undesirable effects.

Concerted regulation of low density lipoprotein receptor gene expression by follicle-stimulating hormone and insulin-like growth factor I in porcine granulosa cells: promoter activation, messenger ribonucleic acid stability, and sterol feedback.

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and the gonadotropin, FSH, can synergize to stimulate progesterone production in primary cultures of maturing granulosa cells. These trophic hormones increase low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor binding and internalization, and the utilization of LDL-borne cholesterol by granulosa cells. To determine whether and how IGF-I and FSH control the genomic expression of the LDL receptor, we evaluated their individual and concerted effects on LDL receptor messenger RNA (mRNA) accumulation, stability, and gene promoter activity in first passage monolayer (serum-free) cultures of porcine granulosa cells. Ribonuclease protection assays revealed that LDL receptor mRNA accumulation was increased by human recombinant IGF-I (100 ng/ml), FSH (25 ng/ml NIDDK oFSH-20), or their combination by 2.2-, 2.6-, and 4.6-fold, respectively (P < 0.01). Hormonally stimulated LDL receptor mRNA accumulation was suppressed by 54-75% by the concurrent addition of LDL substrate (50 microg/ml). The combination of FSH and IGF-I significantly prolonged the message half-life, even in the presence of LDL. Using a combination of rapid amplification of cDNA 5'-ends, PCR with adapter-ligated genomic DNA, Southern hybridization, and DNA sequencing, we isolated 1076 bp of the porcine LDL receptor gene upstream of the coding region. In transient transfection assays, with a pLDLR1076/luciferase plasmid construct, FSH, FSH plus IGF-I, or 8-bromo-cAMP (1 mM) treatment (but not IGF-I alone) increased luciferase reporter gene activity by 10- to 23-fold in porcine granulosa cells. Over time in serum-free culture, the basal activity of the LDL receptor gene promoter increased and eventually surpassed hormone-stimulated effects, but was suppressed by LDL substrate (by 75%) at 24 h. The foregoing stimulatory hormone effects and sterol repression were localized to a 116-bp region in the porcine promoter between -255 and -139 upstream of the translational start site. We conclude that the combination of FSH and IGF-I can induce accumulation of LDL receptor mRNA in cultured granulosa cells even in the presence of sterol negative feedback and can do so mechanistically by a combination of promoter activation and increased mRNA stability.

Concerted Regulation of Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor Gene Expression by Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and Insulin-Like Growth Factor I in Porcine Granulosa Cells: Promoter Activation, Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Stability, and Sterol Feedback

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and the gonadotropin, FSH, can synergize to stimulate progesterone production in primary cultures of maturing granulosa cells. These trophic hormones increase low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor binding and internalization, and the utilization of LDL-borne cholesterol by granulosa cells. To determine whether and how IGF-I and FSH control the genomic expression of the LDL receptor, we evaluated their individual and concerted effects on LDL receptor messenger RNA (mRNA) accumulation, stability, and gene promoter activity in first passage monolayer (serum-free) cultures of porcine granulosa cells. Ribonuclease protection assays revealed that LDL receptor mRNA accumulation was increased by human recombinant IGF-I (100 ng/ml), FSH (25 ng/ml NIDDK oFSH-20), or their combination by 2.2-, 2.6-, and 4.6-fold, respectively (P < 0.01). Hormonally stimulated LDL receptor mRNA accumulation was suppressed by 54–75% by the concurrent addition of LDL substrate (50 μg/ml). The combination of FSH and IGF-I significantly prolonged the message half-life, even in the presence of LDL. Using a combination of rapid amplification of cDNA 5′-ends, PCR with adapter-ligated genomic DNA, Southern hybridization, and DNA sequencing, we isolated 1076 bp of the porcine LDL receptor gene upstream of the coding region. In transient transfection assays, with a pLDLR1076/luciferase plasmid construct, FSH, FSH plus IGF-I, or 8-bromo-cAMP (1 mm) treatment (but not IGF-I alone) increased luciferase reporter gene activity by 10- to 23-fold in porcine granulosa cells. Over time in serum-free culture, the basal activity of the LDL receptor gene promoter increased and eventually surpassed hormone-stimulated effects, but was suppressed by LDL substrate (by 75%) at 24 h. The foregoing stimulatory hormone effects and sterol repression were localized to a 116-bp region in the porcine promoter between −255 and −139 upstream of the translational start site. We conclude that the combination of FSH and IGF-I can induce accumulation of LDL receptor mRNA in cultured granulosa cells even in the presence of sterol negative feedback and can do so mechanistically by a combination of promoter activation and increased mRNA stability.

Recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) therapy decreases plasma leptin concentration in patients with chronic renal insufficiency.

To determine the relationship between plasma leptin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels in healthy subjects and patients with chronic renal insufficiency at baseline, and during administration of recombinant human IGF-I in the renal impaired patients. 20 healthy subjects (six men, 14 women, age: 42.7 +/- 3.2 y) and nine subjects with chronic renal insufficiency (five men, four women, age: 53.6 +/- 3.7 y). Daily s.c. injection of recombinant human IGF-I (50 micrograms/kg) for 24 d. Fasting plasma levels of leptin, IGF-I, growth hormone, C-peptide, glucagon and IGF binding proteins by specific radioimmunoassays at baseline in all subjects and serially during IGF-I therapy in the renal impaired subjects. Baseline leptin levels were correlated with body mass index (BMI, R = 0.72, P = 0.0001) but not IGF-I levels (R = 0.02). During IGF-I therapy, plasma IGF-I levels increased from 128 +/- 17.4 ng/ml at baseline to 250 +/- 36.8 ng/ml on day 3 (P = 0.003) and 323 +/- 61.6 ng/ml on day 24 (P = 0.01), whereas leptin levels declined: 24.4 +/- 10.3 ng/ml (baseline), 19.5 +/- 6.2 ng/ml (day 3, P = 0.028), and 17.2 +/- 4.9 ng/ml (day 24, P = 0.05). Basal plasma leptin and IGF-I levels are not correlated; however, chronic administration of recombinant IGF-I is associated with an early and sustained decrease in plasma leptin levels. IGF-I may have an inhibitory effect on leptin secretion in humans.

Effects of insulin-like growth factor administration and bone marrow transplantation on thymopoiesis in aged mice.

There has been considerable interest in using hormone replacement therapy to rejuvenate the involuted thymus during aging. GH and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), a mediator of GH actions, have been of particular interest because of their thymopoietic effects and the fact that their serum concentrations decline during aging. However, treatment of aging rodents with either GH or IGF-I does not restore thymus cellularity to levels present in young animals, suggesting that additional defects might limit the magnitude of their effects. In particular, deficiencies have been reported to accumulate in the bone marrow T cell precursor compartment during aging. In view of this, 18-month-old mice were administered either recombinant IGF-I, bone marrow cells from young mice, or a combination of IGF-I and young bone marrow cells. Thymus cellularity in the latter group of mice was significantly higher than in animals treated with hormone or bone marrow transplantation alone, suggesting that optimal therapies for restoring thymus cellularity must address both endocrine and hematopoietic defects that accumulate during aging. Results from in vitro studies using fetal thymic organ cultures suggest that IGF-I acts by potentiating thymic colonization by bone marrow T cell precursors and/or that the hormone affects some other event soon after thymus colonization.

Increased protein synthesis after acute IGF-I or insulin infusion is localized to muscle in mice.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of acute administration of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) or insulin on in vivo protein synthesis in muscle and other organs in fasted mice and to compare this response with that produced by feeding. Recombinant IGF-I (3.3 nmol prime, 3.33 nmol/h) or insulin (0.056 nmol/h) was infused intravenously for 60 min along with glucose to prevent hypoglycemia. Fractional rates of tissue protein synthesis (FSR) were determined by injection of [2H5]phenylalanine (25 mg/100 g body wt, 40% enriched). Both IGF-I and insulin caused a 25% increase in FSR of heart (P < 0.001) and soleus muscle (P < 0. 05) and a 65% increase in gastrocnemius and plantaris muscle (both P < 0.001), thus restoring rates to those seen in fed animals. A fivefold lower dose of IGF-I also stimulated protein synthesis in gastrocnemius muscle and heart (both P < 0.05) but not in soleus muscle. No significant effects of IGF-I on FSR were detected in liver, kidney, spleen, proximal small intestine, colon, lung, or brain. The results indicate that the ability of an overnight fast to decrease protein synthesis and the acute effects of insulin and IGF-I to stimulate protein synthesis are restricted to skeletal and cardiac muscles.

Modulation of the insulin-like growth factor-I system by N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-retinamide in human breast cancer cell lines

The potent mitogenic activity of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) on breast epithelium is inhibited by retinoic acid in oestrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer cell lines. We studied and compared the effects of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-retinamide (4-HPR) in terms of growth inhibition and modulation of the IGF-I system in ER+ (MCF-7) and oestrogen receptor-negative (ER-) (MDA-MB231) breast cancer cell lines. Treatment with 1-10 microM 4-HPR for up to 96 h induced a dose- and time-dependent inhibition of proliferation in both breast cancer cell lines. Induction of apoptosis was much more evident in MCF-7 than in MDA-MB231 cells (30-40% compared with 0-5% respectively at 5 microM for 48 h). Exogenous human recombinant IGF-I (hr-IGF-I)-stimulated cell proliferation was abolished by 1 microM 4-HPR in MCF-7 cells. Immunoreactive IGF-I-like protein concentration in conditioned medium was reduced by 38% in MCF-7 and by 90% in MDA-MB231 cell lines following treatment for 48 h with 5 microM 4-HPR. Western ligand blot analysis showed a reduction of IGF-binding protein 4 (BP4) and BP5 by 67% and 87%, respectively, in MCF-7, whereas IGF-BP4 and -BP1 were reduced by approximately 20% in MDA-MB231 cells. Exposure to 5 microM 4-HPR for 48 h inhibited [125I]IGF-I binding and Scatchard analysis revealed a decrease of more than 50% in maximum binding capacity (Bmax) and a reduced receptor number/cell in both cancer cell lines. Steady-state type I IGF-receptor mRNA levels were reduced by approximately 30% in both tumour cell lines. We conclude that 4-HPR induces a significant down-regulation of the IGF-I system in both ER+ (MCF-7) and ER- (MDA-MB231) breast cancer cell lines. These findings suggest that, in our model, interference with the ER signalling pathway is not the only mechanism of breast cancer growth inhibition by 4-HPR.

A Cell-based Potency assay for Insulin-like Growth Factor-I

The authors developed a cell-based bioassay for determining the potency of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) using HU-3 human megakaryoblastic cell line. Cell proliferation was measured using the alamarBlue™fluorescence method. The addition of IGF-I resulted in a dose-dependent growth response after 48 hours under serum-free conditions. The effective range was 0·1–25 ng/ml with half-maximal response at approximately 2 ng/ml IGF-I. The assay is simple, requiring just three steps, performed in 96-well microtitre plates and is able to detect changes in activity of truncated analogues of IGF-I (such as des–Gly–IGF-I, des–Gly–Pro–IGF-I and des–Gly–Pro–Glu–IGF-I) as well as IGF-I samples that had been subjected to proteolytic or disulfide reduction treatments. This assay is precise, with interassay variability of less than 10% and accurate, with percentage recoveries of nearly 100%. The relative efficacies of other insulin-related peptides in stimulating cell growth of the cell line were examined. IGF-II was 5-fold less potent than IGF-I and insulin had little or no proliferative activity. In addition, the growth-promoting activity correlated well with IGF-I stimulation of glucose consumption in this system. In conclusion, the HU-3 human megakaryoblastic cell line constitutes a simple system for measuring the biological activity of recombinant IGF-I in quality control set-up. The safety, convenience and precision of the assay make it an attractive alternative to radioactive and other colorimetric methods.

Effect of insulin-like growth factor-I treatment on serum androgens and testicular and penile size in males with Laron syndrome (primary growth hormone resistance).

Serum gonadotrophins. androgens, insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) were determined before and during long-term treatment with recombinant IGF-I of seven males with Laron syndrome, and the changes correlated with changes in testicular volume and penile size. The subjects were four boys below the age of 5, two boys aged 10 and 14 but prepubertal and one 28-year-old fully sexually developed adult. IGF-I was administered by a once daily subcutaneous injection of 150 microg/kg per day to the boys and 120 microg/kg per day to the adult patient. In the very young boys no change in serum gonadotrophins, androgens, gonads or genitals was registered. In the two older boys and the adult patient, there was a progressive rise in luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone. Concomitantly, there was an increase in size of the testes and penile length. The two boys started puberty. As very high serum IGF-I levels were registered in the adult patient, the daily dose was progressively decreased to 70 microg/kg per day. Stopping the IGF-I administration in this patient, according to the protocol, led to a return to pretreatment serum levels and testicular and penile size. This report shows for the first time a direct effect of IGF-I on sex hormones and sex organs in the male.

Recombinant insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) production in Super-CHO results in the expression of IGF-I receptor and IGF binding protein 3.

Previously, we described the genetic construction Super- CHO, a cell line capable of autocrine growth under fully defined protein-free conditions. Super-CHO cells constitutively express insulin growth factor-I (IGF-I) and transferrin in sufficient amounts to support long-term, stable growth without the addition of exogenous growth factors, thus making it an ideal host for the production of recombinant biopharmaceuticals. although IGF-I has been successfully expressed in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, the long term effects of recombinant IGF-I expression have not been explored. In particular, the expression of the endogenous IGF-I receptor in response to IGF-I production has not been reported. We report here the transcriptional induction of the type I IGF receptor gene in Super-CHO. In addition, we examined the conditioned medium for the presence of IGF-I binding proteins. Ligand blot analysis reveals the presence of IGF binding proteins present in the medium conditioned by Super-CHO cells as well as CHO cells incubated in the presence of IGF-I. Furthermore, immunoaffinity reveals that Super-CHO expresses IGF binding protein-3 in response to IGF-I production. These results suggest the autocrine growth of Super-CHO involves a complex interaction of cell type specific factors which regulate its utility of IGF-I.

Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Improves Development of 8-Cell Rat Embryos In Vitro and Subsequent Development In Vivo.

The present study examined the role for insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in preimplantation development in rats. The 8-cell stage rat embryos were cultured with 0 (control), 0.02, 0.2, or 2.0 nM human recombinant (hr) IGF-I for 36 h. Morphological development of embryos to the blastocyst stage was stimulated by hrIGF-I at all examined concentrations. Human recombinant IGF-I at ≥ 0.2 nM increased the number of live cells in the inner cell mass (ICM), the embryonic lineage, of resulting blastocysts by increasing total cell number and decreasing the rate of dead cells in the ICM. Levels of protein synthesis by blastocysts cultured with ≥ 0.2 nM hrIGF-I increased to the same levels as that of in vivo grown counterparts. When blastocysts were transferred to a receptive uterus, the rates of implantation and fetal development to day 18 of pregnancy in the 0.2 and 2.0 nM hrIGF-I groups were greater than those of the control group. In conclusion, hrIGF-I at ≥ 0.2 nM may promote development of 8-cell rat embryos to blastocysts that are fully-potent to postimplantational development.

Effect of Recombinant Human Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I on Expression of Glucose Transporters, GLUT 2 and GLUT 4, in Streptozotocin-Diabetic Rat

We investigated the effect of recombinant insulin-like growth factor-I (rhIGF-I) on the expression of glucose transporters, GLUT 2 in the liver and GLUT 4 in the heart, in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. GLUT 2 and its mRNA in the liver was elevated, whereas GLUT 4 and its mRNA in the heart were decreased in STZ-diabetic rats. A two-week treatment with rhIGF-I mostly restored the expression of GLUT 2 and GLUT 4 to normal rat level. We demonstrated that the effect of IGF-I on the expressions of GLUTs was almost the same as that of insulin.

Growth Hormone: A Physiological Fountain of Youth?

During childhood and early adult life, growth hormone (GH), secreted by the anterior pituitary, is involved in the growth of bones and muscles and other organs as well. Aging is characterized by a decrease in muscle mass and bone strength and an increase in adipose, similar to the effects of pathological hyposecretion of GH in the young. Aging is also accompanied by a gradual decrease in the output of GH, like the drying of an internal fountain, until in the eighth decade of life, it is secreted at less than one-fifth of the youthful level. The GH hypothesis of aging posits that with the availability of human recombinant growth hormone and human recombinant insulin-like growth factor-I, which mediates most of the effects of GH, the GH hypothesis has become testable. Initial experiments involving short term administration of GH in a group of elderly men did indeed show modest improvement in lean body mass and adipose tissue. These studies are sometimes—and incorrectly—taken as proof of the correctness of...

Ligand Blot Analysis of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-Binding Proteins using Biotinylated Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I

A nonradioactive method for the detection of insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBPs) was developed utilizing human recombinant insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) biotinylated with N-hydroxysuccinimido-biotin. Human plasma samples were separated by 15% SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and proteins were transferred to nitrocellulose by Western blotting. The nitrocellulose sheets were incubated overnight with IGF-I-biotin at 4°C. The next day streptavidin-peroxidase was added for 1 h, and IGFBPs were visualized by an enhanced chemiluminescence system. Five characteristic bands with molecular weights of 41 and 39 (IGFBP-3), 34 (IGFBP-2), 30 (IGFBP-1) and 24 kD (IGFBP-4) were detected. Binding was specific for IGFs, since unlabeled IGF-I inhibited IGF-I-biotin binding. IGFBP ligand blots with biotinylated IGF-I and ¹²⁵I-IGF-I yielded comparable results. The suitability of the new assay for clinical purposes was demonstrated by several clinical examples. In summary, a rapid, reliable, nonradioactive assay for qualitative analysis of IGFBPs has been developed.