Insulin-like growth factor I preserves host lean tissue mass in cancer cachexia

1992 ◽  
Vol 262 (3) ◽  
pp. R426-R431 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. H. Ng ◽  
C. S. Rock ◽  
D. D. Lazarus ◽  
L. Stiaino-Coico ◽  
L. L. Moldawer ◽  
...  

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) has been implicated in the regulation and maintenance of skeletal muscle protein balance and thus may be of potential benefit in attenuating the cancer-cachectic process. To examine this hypothesis, 47 sham or tumor-implanted Fischer 344 rats were randomized to receive either continuous subcutaneous IGF-I (220 or 400 micrograms/day) or saline as control. In the tumor-bearing (TB) population, IGF-I-treated groups showed a dose-dependent increase in host weight gain (P less than 0.05), final carcass weight (P less than 0.05), and gastrocnemius muscle weights (P less than 0.05) and protein contents (0.50 +/- 0.02, 0.40 +/- 0.01, and 0.52 +/- 0.03 g/100 g host wt, for non-TB saline, TB saline, and TB 400 mg IGF-I groups, respectively; P less than 0.01, IGF-I vs. saline). Similar increases in muscle RNA and DNA contents (P less than 0.01) were induced by IGF-I treatment (P less than 0.05). IGF-I treatment in this rat sarcoma model significantly reduced the proportion of aneuploid cells in the tumor (aneuploid-to-diploid ratio: TB saline 1.1 +/- 0.2 vs. TB IGF-I 0.5 +/- 0.1; P less than 0.05). IGF-I treatment attenuated host muscle protein and lean tissue depletion without stimulation of tumor growth. The tumor aneuploid population was reduced in response to IGF-I treatment. Thus IGF-I may be a potential therapeutic agent in cancer-induced cachexia.

1994 ◽  
Vol 267 (2) ◽  
pp. E331-E336 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Fryburg

The effect of a 6-h intra-arterial infusion of recombinant human (rh) insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) on forearm muscle metabolism was studied in 19 postabsorptive subjects. Forearm glucose, lactate, and phenylalanine (Phe) balances, as well as estimates of protein degradation (Phe Ra) and synthesis (Phe Rd) were measured before and at 3 and 6 h into an infusion of rhIGF-I at a dose of 1.8 (n = 6), 6.0 (n = 8), or 10.0 (n = 5) micrograms.kg-1.h-1. In response to intra-arterial IGF-I, deep venous IGF-I rose by 55, 141, and 315%, respectively (all P < 0.01), and forearm blood flow accelerated by 75 (1.8 microgram), 213 (6.0 micrograms), and 159% (10.0 micrograms; all P < 0.02). No change in forearm glucose uptake was observed at the lowest dose, whereas four- to sixfold increases were observed at both the 6 and 10 micrograms.kg-1.h-1 doses (both P < 0.02). Forearm Phe balance shifted positively at all three doses by 27 +/- 6, 48 +/- 7, and 51 +/- 9 nmol.min-1 x 100 ml-1, respectively (all P < 0.01). At all three doses, Phe Rd increased comparably by 49-74% (all P < 0.05). At the 6.0 and 10.0 but not the 1.8 microgram.kg-1.h-1 dose, Phe Ra decreased by approximately 45% (P < 0.02). Forearm muscle metabolism was also studied in the contralateral non-IGF-infused arm at these three doses. Despite increases in deep venous IGF-I up to 517 ng/ml due to recirculating IGF-I (10.0 micrograms.kg-1.h-1 dose), contralateral forearm muscle glucose, lactate, or Phe handling did not change. In conclusion, intra-arterial IGF-I exhibits growth hormone-like effects at all doses tested, whereas the insulin-like effects are observed at higher doses; these effects appear dependent on the route of administration.


1991 ◽  
Vol 128 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. M. Tomas ◽  
S. E. Knowles ◽  
P. C. Owens ◽  
L. C. Read ◽  
C. S. Chandler ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The ability of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) to protect against losses of body protein during periods of dietary nitrogen restriction has been evaluated in young rats. Recombinant human IGF-I was administered by osmotic pumps at dose rates of 0, 1·2 or 2·9 mg/kg per day over a 7-day period beginning with the transfer of animals from an 18% to a 4% protein diet. A fourth group received the potent truncated IGF-I analogue, des(1–3)IGF-I, at a dose of 1·2 mg/kg per day over a comparable 7-day period. Plasma IGF-I levels were reduced by 60% following nitrogen restriction, a reduction that was partly prevented by IGF-I administration, especially at the higher dose, but not measurably by des(1–3)IGF-I. The major IGF-binding protein circulating in blood, IGFBP-3, demonstrated a similar pattern of change. A significant (P<0·05) protection of body weight was achieved in the low dose IGF-I and des(1–3)IGF-I groups, but only after differences in food intake had been eliminated by analysis of covariance. Nitrogen balances were not significantly different unless analysis of covariance was used to adjust for the nitrogen intakes, whereupon all treatment groups showed improved balance, especially the animals treated with the low IGF-I dose and des(1–3)IGF-I (both P<0·01). The rate of muscle protein breakdown calculated from the urinary excretion of 3-methylhistidine was not significantly altered by the treatments, but fell progressively throughout the 7 days. The fractional rate of muscle protein synthesis measured on the final day was increased by 31, 26 and 21% respectively by the low and high doses of IGF-I and by des(1–3)IGF-I. Organ weights (g/kg body weight) showed no effects of IGF-I treatment except for 16% increases in the weight of kidneys in the high dose IGF-I and the des(1–3)IGF-I groups. Carcass analyses demonstrated higher water and lower fat contents (all P< 0·01) in the same groups. These results suggest that exogenous IGF-I and especially des(1–3)IGF-I can partly protect body protein reserves during nitrogen restriction. Journal of Endocrinology (1991) 128, 97–105


1993 ◽  
Vol 291 (3) ◽  
pp. 781-786 ◽  
Author(s):  
F M Tomas ◽  
S E Knowles ◽  
P C Owens ◽  
C S Chandler ◽  
G L Francis ◽  
...  

The effects of graded doses of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and two variants which bind poorly to IGF-binding proteins were investigated in 160 g streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The two variants were the truncated form, des(1-3)IGF-I, and another with arginine at residue 3 and an N-terminal extension, termed LR3-IGF-I. The peptides were infused via mini-osmotic pumps. Reference groups received either vehicle or insulin (30 i.u. per day). Treatment led to a marked dose-dependent increase in growth rate and nitrogen balance. The highest dose (695 micrograms/day) of IGF-I increased body weight by 48.1 +/- 1.7 g/7 days, compared with 11.0 +/- 2.8 g/7 days for the vehicle-treated group. The two variants were 2.5-3 times more potent than IGF-I in restoring growth. The insulin-treated group gained more weight (64.5 +/- 1.6 g/7 days), but the added gain was fat (92.5 +/- 4.8 g of fat/kg carcass wet wt., compared with 32.2 +/- 2.1 for all other groups) rather than protein. All peptides increased muscle protein-synthesis rates and RNA levels by up to 50%, with IGF-I the least potent. These high doses of IGFs did not decrease either the glucosuria or the daily excretion rate of N tau-methyl-histidine (N tau-MH). On the other hand, insulin treatment markedly decreased both glucosuria (from 82.7 +/- 5.4 to 4.5 +/- 3.3 mmol/day) and N tau-MH excretion (from 9.3 +/- 0.3 to 7.1 +/- 0.4 mumol/day per kg). This experiment shows that, although IGF-I and variants can restore growth in diabetic rats, other insulin-dependent metabolic processes in liver, muscle and adipose tissue are not restored.


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