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Clinical significance of growth hormone-binding protein measurements in children
R Horikawa1, T Tanaka, N Katsumata
1Endocrine Research Laboratory, National Children's Medical Research Center, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
Serum growth hormone-binding protein (GHBP) levels are low in neonates and increase with age in healthy children. Lower GHBP in short children suggests potential growth hormone resistance.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Growth Hormone Axis
Background:
- Growth hormone (GH) is crucial for normal development.
- Understanding the GH axis is vital for diagnosing growth disorders.
- Serum GH-binding protein (GHBP) is a key component of the GH axis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of GH and its downstream axis in normal growth.
- To analyze GHBP levels in children with normal stature and growth disorders.
- To explore potential etiologies of growth impairment related to GH utilization.
Main Methods:
- Serum GHBP levels were measured using ligand-mediated immunofunctional assay (LIFA).
- Study included 512 healthy children, 146 neonates, 153 short children, and 27 GH-deficient patients.
- Analysis assessed diurnal variation, age-related changes, and differences between groups.
Main Results:
- Serum GHBP showed no significant diurnal variation.
- GHBP levels were low in neonates, rising within 6 months and increasing gradually toward midpuberty in normal children.
- GHBP levels were lower, though not significantly, in short normal children and GH-deficient patients compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- GHBP levels exhibit a distinct pattern during childhood development.
- Lower GHBP in short children and those with GH deficiency may indicate resistance to or reduced efficacy of GH utilization.
- This suggests GH resistance as a potential cause of pediatric growth disorders.
Abstract:
To investigate the role of growth hormone (GH) and its downstream axis in normal growth and growth disorders, we measured serum GH-binding protein (GHBP) levels in children by ligand-mediated immunofunctional assay (LIFA). Samples were taken from 512 healthy children of normal stature, 146 healthy neonates, 153 short but otherwise normal children, and 27 patients with GH deficiency. Serum GHBP showed no significant diurnal variation. Serum GHBP levels were low in neonates, acutely rose within 6 months, and gradually increased toward midpuberty in normal children (r = 0.2, P < 0.01, assessed among subjects over 1 year old). Neither significant sexual dimorphism nor rapid pubertal changes were observed. In normal short children and patients with GH deficiency, GHBP was lower than normal, but not significant. These data suggest that one of the etiologies for growth disorder in children could be resistance to, or low efficacy for, utilization of GH.