Dose-dependent stimulation of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 by lanreotide, a somatostatin analog

It was recently reported that octreotide, besides its many, almost obligatory, inhibitory actions, stimulates the release of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1. The present study sought to exclude the possibility that the inescapable preceding somatostatin analog-induced reduction in serum insulin participated in the observed effect. We, therefore, administered sc two clinically relevant doses (5 and 80 micrograms/kg) of lanreotide, another somatostatin octapeptide analog, which induced identical 60% initial suppressions of serum insulin. In spite of this, clear dose-dependent increases in insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 were observed, starting between 1-2 h after administration of lanreotide, and levels were still elevated several-fold 5 h after administration of 80 micrograms/kg lanreotide. In addition, we found that infusion of amino acids had no discernible effect on binding protein-1 release. The changes found in immunoreactive binding protein-1 were confirmed employing Western ligand blotting. The data indicate that the lanreotide-induced increase in binding protein-1 levels in serum is not due to the changes in circulating insulin. The magnitude and duration of the increase raise the possibility that the stimulation may have clinically relevant implications in somatostatin analog treatment.