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Developmental regulation of circulating insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins in normal pregnancies and in

M S Lewitt1, F P Scott, N M Clarke

  • 1Department of Endocrinology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.

Progress in Growth Factor Research
|January 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and binding proteins (IGFBPs) show developmental changes in fetal circulation, with ALS limiting ternary complex formation. Maternal and fetal IGFs/IGFBPs were similar in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Perinatal Medicine
  • Reproductive Biology

Background:

  • Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) are crucial for fetal growth and development.
  • Dysregulation of IGFs and IGFBPs has been linked to the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the developmental regulation of IGFs and IGFBPs in maternal serum, neonatal serum, and amniotic fluid during normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies.
  • To investigate the role of IGFs, IGFBPs, and ALS in fetal circulation and their potential involvement in pre-eclampsia.

Main Methods:

  • Serum and amniotic fluid samples were collected from normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies.
  • Levels of IGFs, IGFBPs (including IGFBP-1, -2, -3, -6), and the ternary complex components (IGF-I, IGFBP-3, ALS) were measured.
  • Developmental regulation with gestational age was analyzed.

Main Results:

  • In neonatal cord serum, IGFBP-1, -2, and -6 decreased with increasing gestational age.
  • Conversely, the ternary complex, IGF-I, IGFBP-3, and ALS increased with gestational age.
  • ALS was identified as a limiting factor for ternary complex formation in fetal circulation, with a portion of IGFBP-3 unable to form the complex.
  • IGFs and IGFBPs in maternal and fetal circulation did not differ significantly between normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies.

Conclusions:

  • IGF system components exhibit distinct developmental regulation patterns in fetal circulation.
  • ALS plays a critical role in regulating IGF ternary complex formation in the fetus.
  • The study found no significant differences in maternal or fetal IGFs and IGFBPs between normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies, suggesting other mechanisms may be involved in pre-eclampsia pathophysiology.

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