This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hansen, T. K. Articles by Christiansen, J. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hansen, T. K. Articles by Christiansen, J. S.

GH Strongly Affects Serum Concentrations of Mannan-Binding Lectin: Evidence for a New IGF-I Independent Immunomodulatory Effect of GH

Medical Department M (Endocrinology and Diabetes) (T.K.H., R.D., A.F., J.O.L.J., J.S.C.), Aarhus University Hospital, DK-8000 Aarhus C; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology (S.T.), University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus C; Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology (A.M.R.), Hvidovre University Hospital, DK-2650 Hvidovre, Denmark; and Department of Endocrinology (P.T.), Christie Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom M20 4BX

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Troels Krarup Hansen, M.D., Medical Department M (Endocrinology and Diabetes), Aarhus University Hospital, Norrebrogade 42-44, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. E-mail: tkh{at}dadlnet.dk

Abstract

Studies in animals and humans indicate that GH and IGF-I modulate immune function. Recently, it was reported that GH therapy increased the mortality in critically ill patients. The excessive mortality was almost entirely attributable to septic shock or multiorgan failure, suggesting that a GH-induced modulation of immune function was involved. In the present study, we examined whether GH or IGF-I influences the serum concentrations of mannan-binding lectin (MBL). MBL is a plasma protein of the innate immune system that initiates the complement cascade and activates inflammation after binding to carbohydrate structures on microbial surfaces.

We performed a cross-over study of 16 healthy men examined during a control period, and during treatment with either GH or IGF-I for 6 d. The levels of MBL were more than doubled during GH treatment, whereas no changes were observed in the IGF-I group or during the control period (P < 0.001). IGF-I levels were elevated similarly during treatment with GH and IGF-I. Subsequently, we studied 30 healthy persons and 25 GH-deficient (GHD) patients randomized to treatment with GH or placebo in a double-blinded manner, and further included samples from 23 patients with active acromegaly examined before and after treatment with octreotide or the GH-receptor antagonist pegvisomant for 3 months. Baseline concentrations of MBL were lower in GHD patients and higher in acromegalic patients than in healthy subjects (P < 0.02). Treatment with GH doubled the MBL concentrations in healthy subjects and almost quadrupled the concentrations in GHD patients; whereas in acromegalic patients, the levels of MBL were reduced to approximately two thirds of the initial values during treatment with octreotide or pegvisomant.

Our results demonstrate that treatment with GH, but not IGF-I, significantly increases MBL concentrations. The clinical consequences of this new link between the endocrine and the immune system remain to be elucidated.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C Joaquin, E Aguilera, M L Granada, M C Pastor, I Salinas, N Alonso, and A Sanmarti Effects of GH treatment in GH-deficient adults on adiponectin, leptin and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A. Eur. J. Endocrinol., April 1, 2008; 158(4): 483 - 490. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F.E. van de Geijn, A. Roos, Y.A. de Man, J.D. Laman, C.J.M. de Groot, M.R. Daha, J.M.W. Hazes, and R.J.E.M. Dolhain Mannose-binding lectin levels during pregnancy: a longitudinal study Hum. Reprod., February 1, 2007; 22(2): 362 - 371. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. K. Hansen, M.-A. Gall, L. Tarnow, S. Thiel, C. D. Stehouwer, C. G. Schalkwijk, H.-H. Parving, and A. Flyvbjerg Mannose-binding lectin and mortality in type 2 diabetes. Arch Intern Med, October 9, 2006; 166(18): 2007 - 2013. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. L. D. Riis, T. K. Hansen, S. Thiel, C. H. Gravholt, S. Gjedde, L. C. Gormsen, J. O. L. Jorgensen, J. Weeke, and N. Moller Thyroid hormone increases mannan-binding lectin levels Eur. J. Endocrinol., November 1, 2005; 153(5): 643 - 649. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Ibanez, A. Fucci, C. Valls, K. Ong, D. Dunger, and F. de Zegher Neutrophil Count in Small-for-Gestational Age Children: Contrasting Effects of Metformin and Growth Hormone Therapy J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2005; 90(6): 3435 - 3439. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Hovind, T. K. Hansen, L. Tarnow, S. Thiel, R. Steffensen, A. Flyvbjerg, and H.-H. Parving Mannose-Binding Lectin as a Predictor of Microalbuminuria in Type 1 Diabetes: An Inception Cohort Study Diabetes, May 1, 2005; 54(5): 1523 - 1527. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Saevarsdottir, O. O. Oskarsson, T. Aspelund, G. Eiriksdottir, T. Vikingsdottir, V. Gudnason, and H. Valdimarsson Mannan binding lectin as an adjunct to risk assessment for myocardial infarction in individuals with enhanced risk J. Exp. Med., January 3, 2005; 201(1): 117 - 125. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. K. Hansen, L. Tarnow, S. Thiel, R. Steffensen, C. D. Stehouwer, C. G. Schalkwijk, H.-H. Parving, and A. Flyvbjerg Association Between Mannose-Binding Lectin and Vascular Complications in Type 1 Diabetes Diabetes, June 1, 2004; 53(6): 1570 - 1576. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. K. Hansen, S. Fisker, R. Dall, T. Ledet, J. O. L. Jorgensen, and L. M. Rasmussen Growth Hormone Increases Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 Expression: in Vivo and in Vitro Evidence J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2004; 89(2): 909 - 916. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. K. Hansen, S. Thiel, S. T. Knudsen, C. H. Gravholt, J. S. Christiansen, C. E. Mogensen, and P. L. Poulsen Elevated Levels of Mannan-Binding Lectin in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2003; 88(10): 4857 - 4861. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]