The potential role of insulin-like growth factor 1, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 and bone mineral density in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus in Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels have been found to correlate with measurements of bone mineral density (BMD) in liver diseases. This study investigated the relationship between IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) and BMD in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus. This study was conducted for 30 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection (16 patients without and 14 patients with cirrhosis) and 11 healthy controls. Serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 and BMD of the proximal femur and lumbar spine were measured in all subjects. Osteoporosis of the proximal femur and lumbar spine was found in 42.9% and 21.4%, respectively, of the patients with cirrhosis. Patients with liver cirrhosis and osteoporosis of the proximal femur and lumbar spine had lower IGF-1 (P<0.001, P=0.04, P=0.04 respectively). BMD of the proximal femur was lower in cirrhotic patients compared with controls (P<0.01). Patients with liver cirrhosis had lower IGFBP-3 than patients without cirrhosis and controls (P<0.001). Patients with osteoporosis of the proximal femur had lower IGFBP-3 than those without osteoporosis (P<0.01). IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were lower in patients with liver cirrhosis. IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 may play a role in hepatic osteoporosis.

The insulin-like growth factor-1 and expression of its binding protein-3 in chronic hepatitis C and hepatocellular carcinoma

“…In our studies, examination of serum IGF-1 concentration confirmed previous reports which observed lower concentrations in CH-C or in HCV-related liver cirrhosis, as compared to the control (25,26,29,31,32,48). Patients with chronic HCV infection manifested GH insufficiency and persistent GH resistance of hepatocytes, which may also promote a decrease in liver production of IGF-1 (48).…”

“…Other studies on the significance of this component of IGF axis in chronic hepatitis were focused mainly on alcohol-or HBV-related liver injuries (28,47). Although the lowered concentration of IGFBP-3 was also documented in patients with CH-C, as compared to the control (30,31), no correlation was detected with the clinicopathological data (grading, staging, transaminase levels) (30) or negative correlations were demonstrated with age and AST activity, and positive correlations with serum albumin and prothrombin concentration (31).…”

“…There are also data on elevated levels of S-IGF-1 and lowered levels of S-IGFBP-3 as compared to the control in chronic viral hepatitis (HCV or HBV) (30). Lower levels of S-IGFBP-3 were observed in liver steatosis (22), CH-C and liver cirrhosis (18,23,28,31). Serum levels of IGF-1 <30 ng/ml, IGF-2 <200 ng/ml and IGFBP-3 <6 ng/ml indicated a negative prognosis for patients with liver cirrhosis (28).…”

“…A systematic slow reduction in the IGF-1 level up to the 80th year of age is noted (15). Discordant data are available on a correlation between serum IGFBP-3 (S-IGFBP-3) and age of patients (14,(16)(17)(18). Concentrations of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 are stable during the day even if GH, secreted in a pulsatory way, remains to be the principal factor stimulating production and secretion of the two proteins.…”

Czynność osi GH/IGF-I, stężenie hormonów kalciotropowych we krwi oraz gęstość mineralna kości u młodych osób z przewlekłym wirusowym zapaleniem wątroby

“…Moreover, these phenomena were accompanied by increased daily secretion of GH in the study group (88.3 ng/mL vs. 48.04 ng/mL, p < 0.001). This trend has been observed by different authors [33,46,47]. We noted a positive correlation linking BMD and IGF-I and IGFBP-3.…”