Intrauterine Growth Retardation (IUGR) as a Novel Condition of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) Deficiency

Abstract

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is an anabolic hormone with several biological activities, such as proliferation, mitochondrial protection, cell survival, tissue growth and development, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antifibrogenic and antiaging. This hormone plays an important role in embryological and postnatal states, being essential for normal foetal and placental growth and differentiation. During gestation, the placenta is one of the major sources of IGF-1, among other hormones. This intrauterine organ expresses IGF-1 receptors and IGF-1 binding proteins (IGFBPs), which control IGF-1 activities. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is the second most frequent cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality, defined as the inability to achieve the expected weight for gestational age. Different studies have revealed that IUGR infants have placental dysfunction and low circulating levels of insulin, IGF-1, IGF-2 and IGFBPs. Such data suggest that IGF-1 deficiency in gestational state may be one of the major causes of foetal growth retardation. The aim of this review is to study the epidemiology, physiopathology and possible causes of IUGR. Also, it intends to study the possible role of the placenta as an IGF-1 target organ. The purpose is to establish if IUGR could be considered as a novel condition of IGF-1 deficiency and if its treatment with low doses of IGF-1 could be a suitable therapeutic strategy.

Is insulin-like growth factor-1 involved in Parkinson’s disease development?

“…IGF-1 described roles include tissue growth and development, insulin-like activity, proliferation, pro-survival, anti-aging, antioxidant and neuroprotective, among others. Also, IGF-1 is a major relevant hormone in embryological and postnatal states [50]. Although it is mainly produced by the liver for endocrine activities, virtually every tissue is able to secrete IGF-1 for autocrine and/or paracrine purposes [51].…”

“…Until now, the best-known conditions of IGF-1 deficiency in humans are growth hormone insensitivity (GHI), advanced liver cirrhosis and aging, including cardiovascular and neurological diseases associated to aging [52]. More recently, intrauterine growth restriction [53] and metabolic syndrome [54] seem to be other forms of IGF-1 deficiency. Besides these conditions, several diseases have been recently proposed to be either consequence or cause of both systemic or local IGF-1 deficiency [52].…”

Association between male Infertility and seminal plasma levels of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1

“…Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 deficiency is associated with intrauterine growth restriction, implying the major role of IGF‐1 in normal foetal and placental growth and differentiation (Martín‐Estal, de la Garza, & Castilla‐Cortázar, ). More specifically, IGF‐1 deficiency has been shown to exert an effect on sperm count (Colombo & Naz, ) and a correlation between low sperm concentration and serum IGF‐1 levels has been reported, although no correlation was found between sperm concentration and seminal plasma IGF‐1 levels (Lee, Park, Lee, & Seo, ).…”

Catch-up Growth in Intrauterine Growth-restricted Piglets Associated with the Return of Pancreatic and Intestinal Functions via Porcine Glucagon-like peptide-2 Microspheres

“…This condition may be due to both decreased insulin production by the reduced number of pancreatic islet cells and the decreased concentrations of growth hormone [18]. Mickiewicz et al [19] demonstrated that plasma GLP-2 in IUGR pigs tended to be low after birth but increased to values higher than those of the non- IGF-1 deficiency in the gestational state may be one of the major causes of fetal growth restriction [20]. IGF-1 initiates signaling pathways by binding to the IGF-1R, and is involved in numerous biological events, such as cell proliferation, migration, and inhibition of apoptosis [21].…”