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Changes in serum leptin levels during r-hGH treatment in growth hormone-deficient children
1Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030.
Insights
Recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) treatment significantly lowers elevated serum leptin levels in children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). This study demonstrates r-hGH
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Hormone Therapy
- Metabolic Research
Background:
- Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) impacts various metabolic processes.
- Leptin, a key metabolic hormone, plays a role in energy balance and adiposity.
- Understanding the interplay between growth hormone and leptin is crucial for GHD management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) on serum leptin levels in prepubertal children with GHD.
- To compare leptin levels in GHD children with those in normal prepubertal children.
- To examine the relationship between leptin levels and body mass index (BMI) during treatment.
Main Methods:
- Serum leptin concentrations were measured using enzyme immunoassay.
- 12 prepubertal children with GHD were studied before and at 1, 3, and 6 months after r-hGH treatment.
- 34 normal prepubertal children served as a control group.
Main Results:
- Pretreatment serum leptin levels in GHD children (3.08 +/- 2.41 ng/ml) were significantly higher than in normal children (1.22 +/- 0.34 ng/ml).
- r-hGH treatment led to a significant decrease in serum leptin levels in GHD children at 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment (P < 0.001).
- Leptin levels normalized towards those observed in the control group after r-hGH administration.
Conclusions:
- Recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) exerts a suppressive effect on leptin expression in children with GHD.
- r-hGH therapy can normalize elevated leptin levels associated with GHD.
- These findings highlight a significant interaction between growth hormone and leptin regulation in pediatric metabolic health.
Abstract:
To observe the effect of growth hormone on serum leptin levels, serum leptin concentrations were measured by enzyme immunoassay in 12 prebuttal children with growth hormone deficiency 1, 3 and 6 months before and after the treatment with recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH). For comparison, 34 normal prepubertal children were also investigated. Relationship between leptin levels and body mass index (BMI) was observed at the same time. Our results showed that serum leptin level in normal prepubertal children was 1.22 +/- 0.34 ng/ml; the pretreatment serum leptin levels in GHD children was 3.08 +/- 2.41 ng/ml, which was significantly different from those 1, 3 and 6 months after GH treatment (i.e. 1.64 +/- 1.37 ng/ml, 1.57 +/- 1.40 ng/ml and 1.35 +/- 0.89 ng/ml respectively) (all P < 0.001). Our results suggested that r-hGH has a suppressive effect on leptin expression.
