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Hormone replacement therapy in children with growth hormone deficiency: impact on immune profile

Javier Caballero-Villarraso1,2, Rocío Aguado2,3, M Dolores Cañete2

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Clinical Analyses Service, Córdoba, Spain.

Archives of Physiology and Biochemistry
|June 20, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Growth hormone (GH) treatment in children with GH deficiency positively impacts cellular immunity. However, it led to decreased immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels after six months.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Immunology
  • Growth Hormone Therapy

Background:

  • Growth hormone (GH) plays a role in immune system function.
  • Understanding GH's impact on immunity is crucial for treating GH deficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate immune profile changes in pre-pubertal children with GH deficiency after GH treatment.
  • To compare immune parameters between treated and untreated children.

Main Methods:

  • A two-phase study involving case-control and before-and-after comparisons.
  • Analysis of humoral immunity (immunoglobulins, complement) and cell-mediated immunity (lymphocyte subsets, NK cells).
  • Measurement of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) and IGF-binding Protein 3 (IGFBP-3).

Main Results:

  • GH-treated children showed increased CD3+, CD4+, CD19+, NK cells, and CD4+/CD8+ ratio, with lower CD8+ counts compared to untreated children.
  • No significant changes in immunoglobulins or complement levels were observed between groups in the first phase.
  • After 6 months of GH treatment, a decrease in IgG and IgM, alongside an increase in IGF-1 and monocytes, was noted in previously untreated children.

Conclusions:

  • GH treatment alters cellular and humoral immune profiles in children with GH deficiency.
  • Further research is needed to understand the long-term implications of these immune changes.

Keywords:
Growth hormonecomplement systemgrowth factorsimmunoglobulinslymphocytes

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