Stimulation of hepatic insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 and -3 gene expression by octreotide in rats

It has recently been demonstrated in various clinical experiments that native somatostatin and its long-acting analogues increase circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) within 1-2 h, independent of effects on circulating insulin or glucose levels. Using human hepatoma cells in vitro the somatostatin analogue, octreotide, has been shown to increase IGFBP-1 mRNA within 24 h indicative of a direct stimulatory effect of octreotide on IGFBP-1 synthesis. In order to ascertain whether octreotide acutely stimulates IGFBP-1 mRNA in vivo, placebo or two doses of octreotide were injected subcutaneously into three groups of rats. One hour after saline or octreotide administration, liver, kidney and serum were obtained for the measurement of IGFBPs-1 to -6 mRNA in tissue and IGFBPs and IGF-I in serum. Octreotide increased liver IGFBP-1 (562%) and IGFBP-3 (23%) mRNA expression with a concomitant rise in the circulating 30 kDa (106%) and 38-42 kDa (23%) IGFBPs. No detectable changes were seen in other liver IGFBP transcripts, other circulating IGFBPs or in any of the kidney IGFBP transcripts. Serum IGF-I increased by 37% in the animals receiving the high octreotide dose. No concomitant changes were observed in glucose or insulin levels. These data show that octreotide acutely stimulates hepatic IGFBP-1 and -3 mRNA in vivo in rats. The stimulating effect on IGFBP-3 presents a possible hitherto unknown form of regulation of IGFBP-3 whilst the effect on IGFBP-1 indicates that the stimulatory effect of octreotide on circulating IGFBP-1 described in clinical trials may be due to increased hepatic production. The present findings may be of importance in the clinical use of octreotide.