PURPOSE: Insulin-like growth factor(IGF-I) and IGF binding protein(IGFBP)-3 is thought to play an important role in fetal erythropoiesis. The objective of this study was to establish a relation between IGF-I, free IGF-I, IGFBP-1, and -3 with hemoglobin level in healthy term, 3-month, and 12-month old infants. METHODS: Healthy term infants(n=20)were enrolled at birth, as well as 3 months3 were measured by specific immunoradiometric assay(IRMA) kit. RESULTS: The mean level of hemoglobin was 15.6+/-1.4g/dL, IGF-I was 14.5+/-7.0ng/mL and IGFBP-3 was 1205.2+/-292.1ng/mL at birth. Serum IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and hemoglobin concentrations were correlated positively at birth(P<0.01), and a positive correlation was observed between hemoglobin and free IGF-I(P<0.05). The mean level of hemoglobin was 10.7+/-0.8g/dL, IGF-I was 27.3+/-11.1 ng/mL and IGFBP-3 was 1674.1+/-399.1ng/mL at three months of age. No correlation was observed between hemoglobin and IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and free IGF-I. The mean level of hemoglobin was 10.6+/-0.8g/dL, IGF-I was 45.5+/-13.9ng/mL and IGFBP-3 was 2124.5+/-401.8ng/mL at 12 months of age. CONCLUSION: Our results show that blood hemoglobin is positively correlated to serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations, indirectly indicating the involvement of mediators of growth hormone on the regulation of physiologic hemoglobin concentration at birth.
Erythropoiesis ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Infant* ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Parturition

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate possible menopause related changes in circulating insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) levels and their relationship with insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) plasma levels, osteocalcin(Ost) and urinary deoxypyridinoline(Dpd) in either surgical menopause or natural menopause, METHOD: Seventy-two postmenopausal women (surgical menopause 48, natural menopause 24) were invited to participate in this study. In all subjects plasma IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were measSURED by radioimmunoassay and Ost and Dpd were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). RESULTS: No difference was found between mean IGFBP-3 plasma levels in the two groups studied(3,522 +/- 926 vs 3,854 +/- 569 ng/ml), while mean IGF-1 levels were significantly lower in natural menopause as compared with surgical menopause (natural 126 +/- 44 vs surgical 163 +/- 66 ng/ml, p=0.007). No difference was found between mean Ost levels in the two groups studied (natural menopause 8.0 +/- 2.9 vs surgical menopause 8,9 +/- 2.1 ng/ml, p=0.113) and mean Dpd levels in the two studied (natural menopause 6.8 +/- 2.3 vs surgical menopause 7.8 +/- 3.4 mM, p=0.213). CONCLUSION: IGF-1 was significantly lower in natural menopause as compared with surgical menopause, but no significant difference was found in IGFBP-3, Ost, and Dpd levels
Biomarkers* ; Carrier Proteins* ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin* ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins* ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Menopause* ; Osteocalcin* ; Plasma ; Radioimmunoassay

PURPOSE: We performed this study to evaluate the mean serum levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, insulin-like growth factor binding protein(IGFBP)-2 and IGFBP-3 in healthy Korean children according to age and sex. METHODS: Ninety two healthy children, consisting of 42 boys and 50 girls, were classified into five groups according to age:neonate; infancy; early childhood; late childhood; and adolescence. We measured serum levels of IGF-I, IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and analysed the serum levels according to sex and age group. RESULTS: For boys, the mean serum levels of IGF-I(ng/mL) in neonate, infancy, early childhood, late childhood and adolescence were 41.1+/-3.6, 70.9+/-33.7, 103.5+/-97.2, 89.8+/-46.5 and 51.4+/-27.8, respectively. Those of IGFBP-2(ng/mL) were 8.2+/-3.4, 5.8+/-0.4, 9.3+/-4.0, 9.5+/-1.1 and 7.0+/-0.5, respectively. Those of IGFBP-3(ng/mL) were 559.2+/-215.2, 1,333.3+/-692.5, 2,254.6+/-1,513.8, 2,447.1+/-1,464.2, 1,533.6+/-807.4, respectively. For girls, the mean serum levels of IGF-I(ng/mL) according to five age groups were 53.3+/-9.5, 99.3+/-45.8, 69.6+/-51.1, 106.2+/-67.0 and 145.1+/-127.8, respectively. Those of IGFBP-2 (ng/mL) were 9.1+/-7.4, 5.3+/-0.9, 6.9+/-2.0, 10.5+/-3.0 and 7.9+/-1.3, respectively. Those of IGFBP-3(ng/ mL) were 858.2+/-433.4, 1,834.8+/-851.3, 1,404.3+/-570.2, 2,203.5+/-899.4 and 2,029.3+/-1,316.7, respectively. There were significant positive correlations observed between IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels(r=0.589, P= 0.000). CONCLUSION: IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels increased as children get older. The peak level of IGFBP-3 was observed in late childhood for both boys and girls, suggesting a current trend of children reaching peak growth velocity before adolescence. The IGFBP-2 level was higher in neonates compare to infancy, suggesting that IGFBP-2 is an important substance for fetal growth.
Adolescent ; Child* ; Female ; Fetal Development ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3* ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I

The insulin-like growth factor-I(IGF-I) is a hormone that has growth stimulation and metabolic effects. Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) were known to be the most important factors that affect bioavailability of IGF. Thereby, the changes of IGFBPs may affect the bioavailability of IGF-I. Because growth hormone/IGF system may be affected by dialysis therapy, the changes of GH, IGF-1, IGFBPs levels after dialysis therapy can affect the bioavailability of IGF. To evaluate the changes of serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 after long-term dialysis therapy, we measured the serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels in the patients on hemodialysis and on peritoneal dialysis. Eight patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis, 10 patients undergoing hemodialysis, and age-matched 10 normal control patients were studied. In patients on hemodialysis, the mean serum level of IGF-I before hemodialysis was 90.6+/-9.0 nanogram/mL, and after long-term hemodialysis was 130.9+/-31.0 nanogram/milliliter. The mean serum level of IGFBP-3 before hemodialysis was 14,549+/-7,815 microgram/liter, and after long-term hemodialysis was 5,726+/-883 microgram/liter. There were no significant changes of serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels after long-term hemodialysis therapy. In patients on peritoneal dialysis, the mean serum level of IGF-I before peritoneal dialysis was 169.8+/-20.5 nanogram/milliliter, and after long-term peritoneal dialysis was 242.6+/-37.6 nanogram/mL. The mean serum level of IGFBP- 3 before peritoneal dialysis was 10,272+/-885 microgram/liter, and after ling-term peritoneal dialysis was 8,604+/-1,721 microgram/liter. There were no significant changes of serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels after long-term peritoneal dialysis. We found that the level of IGF-1 before hemodialysis was lower then that of normal control group and the level of IGFBP-3 before hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis was higher then that of normal control group. Our results suggested that the blood levels of growth hormone, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 may not be significantly affected by long-term dialysis therapy.
Biological Availability ; Dialysis* ; Growth Hormone* ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Renal Dialysis

In the thyroid tissue, thyrotrophin(TSH) and IGF-I played major role of the goitrogen. But the evidences and precise mechanism of these two factors were not known so much. Actually local secretion of thyroid IGF-I was originated from its fibroblasts mainly. We guessed major roles of IGFs in the thyroid tissue were local paracrine effect of thyroid cells proliferation and differentiation which concert with TSH. Recently, some reporters described the source of thyroid IGF-I were partly from thyroid follicular cells and its action were synergistic with TSH. We measured TSH, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 from sera and thyroid cystic fluids in 36 patients with simple thyroid cyst and examined into correlation between TSH, IGF-I and IGFBP-3.1) According to cyst/serum TSH ratio, we classified two groups(Group I; c/s TSH <1, n=19. Group II; c/s TSH >1, n=17). This classification criteria means that cystic TSH level were increased than that of serum or not.2) The serum TSH, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels are not difference between group I and II.3) Cystic TSH were dependent on the serum TSH in Group I, but negative correlation in Group II. In Group II, cystic TSH was significant increased.4) Serum IGF-I were positive correlation in each Group5) In Group II, cystic IGF-I was not exceed than those of serum IGF-I, but some cystic IGFBP-3 were more increased than those of serum.6) In Group II, cystic IGFBP-3 increased than serum TSH, and cystic IGFBP-3 was positive correlation with cystic TSH and cystic IGF-I.As these data suggested that cystic TSH and cystic IGF-I levels may influence cystic IGFBP-3 level. The main effect for maintenance of cyst was mediated by cystic TSH and cystic IGFBP-3. But the cystic IGFBP-3 has major role for thyroid cyst than cyst TSH.
Classification ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Thyroid Gland

Background: The serum levels of total insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 reflect endogenous growth hormone (GH) secretion in healthy children. Free form of IGF-I which is suggested to have more potent biological action than complex form of IGF-I. The aim of this study is to investigate the serum levels of free IGF-I and its clinical value in healthy children. METHODS: Serum levels of total IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were determined in 494 healthy children (248 boys and 246 girls) by RIA and IRMA. Serum level of free IGF-I was determined in 206 healthy children (103 boys and 103 girls) by IRMA. RESULTS: The free IGF-I level increased with age in both sex. The free IGF-I level increased continuously between 7 and 15 years of age in boys, but decrement was noted after 14 years of age in girls. Serum total IGF-I level also increased with age in similar pattern of that of free IGF-I. There were no significant differences of mean values of the ratio of free IGF-I/total IGF-I in relation to age in both sex. And there were significant correlations between the level of free IGF-I and total IGF-I and the ratio of total IGF-I/IGFBP-3, respectively. CONCLUSION: In healthy children, serum free IGF-I increased with age in both sex and high free IGF-I level may play an important role in pubertal growth spurt. Our results suggest that the increased serum free IGF-I level in puberty may reflect changes in total IGF-I rather than IGFBP-3. But free IGF-I does not have more clinical value than total IGF-I because of no significant differences of mean values of the ratio of free IGF-I/total IGF-I in relation to age.
Carrier Proteins ; Child ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Puberty

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of growth hormone(GH) secretion on serum concentration of leptin, we evaluated the differences in serum concentration of leptin between patients with growth hormone deficiency(GHD) and GH normal short stature in prepubertal male children, and the relationship between GH and serum leptin level. Also, we analyzed the correlation between serum concentrations of leptin and insulin-like growth factor-I(IGF-I), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3(IGFBP-3), total cholesterol(TC), free fatty acid(FFA) and body mass index(BMI). METHODS: Eight cases with GHD and 10 cases with GH normal short stature were included in this study. Patients were all male, prepubertal children with mean age 10.6 years. Blood samples were collected in these patients by L-dopa GH provocation test. Statistical analysis of the comparisons of serum leptin level and correlation of multiple variables were performed using PC-SAS program. Significance was defined as P<0.05. RESULTS: The mean serum concentration of leptin in GHD(12.27+/-10.63ng/mL) was significantly higher than in GH normal short stature(5.39+/-3.21ng/mL)(P=0.0344). Serum concentration of leptin was negatively correlated to GH(y=-7.7x+43.3, r=-0.23, P=0.0109). Serum concentration of leptin was positively correlated to BMI(y=2.5x-33.3, r=0.75, P=0.0003). Serum concentration of leptin was not correlated to IGF-I, IGFBP-3, TC and FFA. CONCLUSION: Serum concentration of leptin was siginificantly increased in patients with GHD compared to GH normal short stature and was negatively correlated to GH.
Child ; Growth Hormone* ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Leptin* ; Levodopa ; Male

PURPOSE: The aim of present study was to compare the mean serum levels of Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) according to the Korean standard growth chart especially in children with idiopathic short stature. METHODS: Serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were determined in 454 children (252 boys and 202 girls; ages 7-15 yr), grouped into two, according to their height below 10 percentile (idiopathic short stature) and 25-50 percentile based on growth chart- 1998 reported by Korean Society of Pediatrics. Serum levels of IGF-I were measured by RIA method and serum levels of IGFBP-3 were measured by IRMA method. RESULTS: Mean serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were lower in below 10 percentile group compared with those of 25-50 percentile group in both sexes. In some age groups, the differences between two groups revealed statistical significance. The difference of serum levels according to growth channel showed more prominence in IGF-I compared than IGFBP-3. Significant statistical correlations were demonstrated in all study groups between serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels according to the age, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results strongly suggest that mean serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in children with idiopathic short stature were lower than those of control group.
Child ; Growth Charts ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Pediatrics

PURPOSE: The insulin like growth factors (IGFs) circulate complexed to IGF-binding proteins(IGFBPs). IGFBP-3 is the major circulating IGFBP and is found primarily as a 150 kDa complex which contains an acid labile subunit(ALS), IGFBP-3, and IGF-I or IGF-II and is considered to be growth hormone(GH) dependent. In this study, we measured serum IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and 150 kDa levels in sera of growth hormone deficient children(GHD) before and after GH treatment respectively to clarify the utility of these factors as a diagnostic marker for GHD and to observe the alterations of these factors according to GH treatment. METHODS: Measurement of serum IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and 150 kDa complex were performed in 10 children with complete growth hormonr deficiency(cGHD), in 6 children with partial growth hormone deficiency(pGHD) and in 10 normal healthy subjects. Serum IGF-I was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). IGF-I was seperated from IGFBPs by Sephadex G-50 acid chromatography. Serum IGFBP-3 was assessed by Western ligand blot(WLB) analysis as described by Hossenlopp with minor modifications. To evaluate alterations of different molecular size classes of IGF-BP complexes according to GH treatment, WLB was done after neutral size-exclusion chromatography using Sephacryl S-200. RESULTS: 1) The serum IGF-I level in children with GHD was significantly lower than that of control subjects(96.2+/-40.1 ng/ml vs 147.5+/-37.9 ng/ml)(p<0.01). 2) The serum IGF-I level in children with cGHD was significantly lower than that of normal subjects (p<0.01). But four of the 10 children with cGHD the IGF-I levels were distributed within the range of -2 S.D.. The serum IGF-I level in children with pGHD was also lower than that of normal subjects but there was no statistical significance between two groups(P>0.05). 3) The serum IGFBP-3 level is markedly decreased in 9 of 10 children with cGHD, but only in 2 of 6 children with pGHD which was measured by WLB method. 4) The serum IGF-I level after GH treatment was increased significantly in children with GHD(138.7+/-49.2 ng/ml vs 78.7+/-23.4 ng/ml)(p<0.01). The serum IGFBP-3 level was also increased after GH treatment as similar pattern. 5) The marked decrement of serum IGFBP-3 level in children with cGHD was explained as the result of decline in the 150 kDa IGFBP complex, and after GH treatment 150 kDa complex was increased; in the 150 kDa IGFBP complex, free IGF-I binding sites were increased. CONCLUSIONS: The serum levels of IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and 150 kDa complex in children with cGHD were decreased significantly, but in children with pGHD these changes were not observed as prominant as cGHD. These findings suggest that the measurments of serum IGF-I, IGFBP-3 level may be useful not only in the diagnosis of GHD but also differentiate cGHD from pGHD and the serum IGFBP-3 level may be more sensitive for diagnosing GHD even though each test by itself has a limited diagnostic accuracy as a single test.
Binding Sites ; Child* ; Chromatography ; Diagnosis ; Growth Hormone* ; Humans ; Insulin* ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; Radioimmunoassay ; Somatomedins

BACKGROUND: Sex steroid hormones are believed to play an important role in the genesis and growth of uterine myoma. Several studies suggest a possible role of insulin-like growth factor(IGF) as a mediator of estradiol in uterine myama. We have recently demonstrated that some IGF binding proteins(IGFRPs) messenger ribonucleic acid(mRNA) expressions in myoma are dependent on the in vivo esttogen status. The purposes of this study are to evaluate the in vitro effects of sex steroid hormones including estrogen on the IGFBPs gene expression in tissues from uterine myoma and adjacent normal myometrium. METHODS: Tissues from myoma and adjacent normal myometrium of patients with uterine myoma during early proliferative phase of menstrual cycle were cultured in the absence(control) and presence of 17b-estradiol(10M/L) or/and progesterone(10M/L) for 3 days. The IGFBPs mRNA expressions in these explants were analyzed by Nothern blot using specific human complementary deoxyribonucleic acid(cDNA) probes. RESULTS: The addition of 17b-estradiol, progesterone alone and in combination to conditioned media of explants from myoma and adjacent normal myornetrium did not result in any changes in the expression of IGFBP-2, IGFBP-4, IGFBP-5, and IGFBP-6 mRNA. With progesterone addtion, lGFBP-3 rnRNA expression was significantly reduced in myoma explant but not in adjacent ncemal myometrium explant. There was no significant change in the IGFBP-3 mRNA expression with 17b-estradiol and with the combination of both 17b-estradiol and progesterone. CONCLUSION: 17b-estradiol does not affect IGFBPs gene expression in the myoma and adjacent normal myometrium explant regardless of the presence of progesterone in vitro. However progesterone alone induces a decrease in IGFBP-3 synthesis in myoma explant.
Animals ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Estradiol ; Estrogens ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; Humans* ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 4 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 5 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 6 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins ; Leiomyoma* ; Menstrual Cycle ; Mice ; Myoma ; Myometrium* ; Progesterone ; RNA, Messenger*