Immune function during GH treatment in GH‐deficient adults: an 18‐month randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐blinded trial

Abstract

GH deficiency was associated with changes in lymphocyte subsets and impaired unstimulated and stimulated natural killer cell activity, but these remained abnormal during 18 months of GH replacement therapy. Extra-pituitary GH gene expression in, e.g. lymphoid tissues may serve as an autocrine/paracrine factor in immunomodulation and explain the clinical normal immune function in adult GH-deficient patients.

Assessment of immune function after short-term administration of recombinant human growth hormone in healthy young males

“…The IL-10 cells may inhibit the production of Th1 cytokines (Moore, de Waal Malefyt, Coffman, & O'Garra, 2001) leading to the prevalence of Th2 cells. IGF-I may induce a shift from the production of Th1 The rhGH therapy is a recognised procedure for enhancing immune function in GH deficient populations (Crist et al, 1987;Sneppen et al, 2002;Serri et al, 1999;Andiran and Yordam, 2007), and our data suggest that a dose of 1mg/day for seven days may potentiate immune function of healthy young males through the significant increase in the release of IL10 by CD4 + T lymphocytes.…”

“…In contrast, in experiments with 24 month old Wistar rats, rhGH replacement therapy (2 mg/kg daily for 10 weeks) significantly improved several lymphocyte functions such as NK cell activity (Baeza, et al, 2008). Interestingly, a previous study confirmed that both total NK cell count and particularly CD16 + NK cell subtype were reduced in GHD patients compared to controls (Sneppen et al, 2002). However, the studies presenting significant results on NK cell were performed for a period of at least ten weeks, suggesting the time course of GH replacement may be a key factor.…”

“…An 18 month randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial study (n=110) showed that both NK cells total number, and subtype NK cells (CD16 + ) were reduced in GHD patients compared to controls. (Sneppen, et al, 2002).…”

Hypopituitarism and Hepatitis E Genotype 3 Infection - First Case Report and Review on Immunocompetence in Hypopituitarism

“…Best characterized and well known to every physician is the effect of [endogenous] cortisone on immune function [12]. However, studies in humans with isolated defects in pituitary hormone secretion or with panhypopituitarism are rare, have conflicting results and do not necessarily link an abnormal findings to clinical pathology [4,5,7,[13][14][15]. Furthermore, many studies have small patient numbers and no control group [13,15] and focus on the impact of GH [growth Hormone] excess [16] or deficiency.…”

“…Laboratory analysis of liver function 3/17: pathological were the levels of gamma GT, alanine aminotransferase [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. At discharge, the patient was in good clinical condition.…”