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Impaired growth hormone receptor signaling during non-catch-up growth in rats born small for gestational age

Yuefang Huang1, Minlian Du, Siqi Zhuang

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.

Hormone Research in Paediatrics
|April 17, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Growth hormone (GH) resistance in non-catch-up growth (NCG) small for gestational age (SGA) rats is linked to impaired Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling. This involves reduced JAK/STAT activation and increased suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS-2) and CIS expression.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric endocrinology
  • Molecular signaling pathways
  • Developmental biology

Background:

  • Non-catch-up growth (NCG) in children born small for gestational age (SGA) is often associated with growth hormone (GH) resistance.
  • The underlying molecular mechanisms for this GH resistance remain largely unknown.
  • Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling is crucial for GH signal transduction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of JAK/STAT signaling in the GH resistance observed in SGA rats exhibiting NCG.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms contributing to GH resistance in this specific pediatric growth condition.

Main Methods:

  • NCG-SGA rat model induced via uterine artery ligation.
  • GH treatment administered to NCG-SGA and control age-appropriate gestational age (AGA) rats.
  • Analysis of hepatic JAK/STAT pathway components (JAK2/STAT5 phosphorylation, GH receptor, SOCS-2, CIS) and IGF-1 mRNA expression.

Main Results:

  • GH treatment failed to promote significant growth in NCG-SGA rats, unlike in AGA controls.
  • NCG-SGA rats showed blunted serum IGF-1 and IGF-1 mRNA responses to GH.
  • Impaired GH-induced JAK2/STAT5 phosphorylation and elevated SOCS-2 and CIS expression were observed in NCG-SGA rats.

Conclusions:

  • GH resistance in NCG-SGA rats is characterized by impaired JAK/STAT signaling.
  • Upregulation of SOCS-2 and CIS expression contributes to GH resistance in NCG-SGA.
  • These findings highlight potential molecular targets for addressing growth failure in SGA infants.
Abstract

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