Insulin-like growth factor-1 effects on kidney development in preterm piglets

Area of Science:

• Neonatal physiology
• Developmental biology
• Renal medicine

Background:

• Preterm birth can hinder fetal kidney development, increasing the risk of acute kidney injury in newborns.
• Preterm infants often have lower levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), a crucial hormone for organ growth.
• The preterm pig model was used to investigate IGF-1's role in kidney maturation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if IGF-1 supplementation can enhance kidney maturation in preterm pigs.
• To assess the effects of IGF-1 on renal morphology, gene expression, and injury markers.

Main Methods:

• Cesarean-delivered preterm pigs received systemic IGF-1 or vehicle control for up to 19 days.
• Collected blood, urine, and kidney tissue for comprehensive analysis.
• Compared outcomes with age-matched, term-born pigs as a reference.

Main Results:

• Preterm pigs showed impaired kidney development compared to term pigs.
• IGF-1 treatment improved kidney morphology and upregulated key developmental genes.
• IGF-1 reduced microscopic lesions, inflammation, and injury markers, especially within the first week of life.

Conclusions:

• Preterm birth significantly impairs kidney maturation in pigs.
• Exogenous IGF-1 partially reverses these impairments, supporting preterm kidney development.
• Early IGF-1 therapy may be beneficial for preterm infants at risk of acute kidney injury.