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Age-related changes of serum progastrin-releasing peptide levels during childhood
1Department of Pediatrics, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Japan.
Insights
Serum ProGRP(31-98) levels are highest in newborns and decrease significantly by age five, indicating Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) is a crucial growth factor in early human development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) is recognized as a significant tissue-specific growth factor.
- Understanding GRP's role in pediatric development is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the physiological significance of GRP in growing children.
- To assess the time course of serum ProGRP(31-98) levels in children.
Main Methods:
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure serum ProGRP(31-98).
- 118 serum samples, including cord blood, were analyzed.
- Informed consent was obtained for all samples.
Main Results:
- Serum ProGRP(31-98) levels were highest in cord blood and neonatal samples.
- Levels rapidly declined by 1 year of age.
- Levels gradually decreased to adult levels by 5 years of age.
Conclusions:
- The time-dependent changes in serum ProGRP(31-98) suggest GRP's importance as a physiological growth factor.
- GRP plays a vital role in fetal and neonatal tissue growth.
- This study highlights GRP's significance in early human development.
Abstract:
Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) has attracted much attention in recent years because it has become recognized as a significant tissue-specific growth factor. To investigate the physiological significance of this peptide in growing children, the time course of serum ProGRP(31-98) level, a precursor hormone of GRP, in children was assessed. A total of 118 serum samples including cord blood was examined with informed consent by using a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system to measure serum ProGRP(31-98). The serum ProGRP(31-98) level was highest in cord blood and neonatal samples, rapidly declined by 1 year of age and then gradually declined to the adult level by 5 years of age. This time-dependent change of serum ProGRP(31-98) level suggests the importance of GRP as a physiological growth factor in fetal and neonatal tissues.