Effects of Exogenous Growth Hormone on Growth Hormone-Insulin-Like Growth Factor Axis of Human Gastric Cancer Cell

Aim: To study effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor axis (GH-IGFs) of human gastric cancer cell in vivo in order to reveal part mechanism of growth effects of rhGH on gastric cancer. Methods: Nude mice were randomly divided into control group, cisplatin (DDP) group, rhGH group and DDP + rhGH group after human gastric cancer xenograft model of node mice was successfully founded and drugs were used for 6 days. We investigated volume of tumor, inhibitory rate of tumor and cell cycle by slide gauge and flow cytometry. In addition, We also respectively investigated insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) of blood serum of nude mice, IGF-ImRNA, insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) mRNA and IGFBP-3 mRNA of xenograft of nude mice by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on the first day of completing use of drugs later. Results: Tumor grew obviously slowly and tumor inhibitory rate obviously rose in DDP group and DDP + rhGH group compared with control group and rhGH group (p p p < 0.05). Expressions of IGF-I mRNA and IGF-IR mRNA were not obviously different in all groups. But expression of IGFBP-3 mRNA obviously increased in rhGH group, DDP group and DDP + rhGH group compared with control group;meanwhile, expression of IGFBP-3 mRNA also obviously increased in DDP + rhGH group compared with control group, DDP group and rhGH group. Conclusion: Our results indicated rhGH in short-time use did not improve proliferation of human gastric cancer cells and its mechanism was possible that rhGH in short-time use raised simultaneously IGF-I and IGFBP-3 of blood serum and increased IGFBP-3 mRNA, but degraded ratio of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 of blood serum in human gastric cancer cells.

Aqueous extract of Protaetia brevitarsis larvae increases mTOR-mediated growth rate in zebrafish larvae

Objective:To evaluate the effects of an aqueous extract of Protaetia brevitarsis(AEPB)on the growth of zebrafish and preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells.Methods:The effects of AEPB on the linear growth and the expression of growth-related genes in zebrafish and MC3T3-E1 cells were assessed using various molecular techniques.Furthermore,the involvement of the mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)pathway in AEPB-induced growth was investigated by employing the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin.Results:AEPB administration led to a significant and dose-dependent increase in zebrafish larvae growth over time.Additionally,AEPB treatment upregulated the expression of growth hormone-1(GH-1),insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1),growth hormone receptor-1(GHR-1),and cholecystokinin-a(CCKA)in zebrafish.Similarly,AEPB stimulated the expression and release of IGF-1 and accelerated mTOR expression in MC3T3-E1 cells.In addition,rapamycin hindered AEPB-induced linear growth in zebrafish larvae and suppressed the expression of growth-promoting genes by inhibiting mTOR activation.Conclusions:AEPB shows growth-promoting effects by upregulating growth-related genes and activating the mTOR signaling pathway.Further investigations are warranted to elucidate its mechanisms of action and explore its potential application in the development of growth-enhancing supplements for various purposes.

Effects of parenteral nutrition with and without GH on the GH/IGF-1 axis after hepatectomy in hepatocellular carcinoma with liver cirrhosis

Postoperative hepatic insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1)production may be severely disturbed in patients with liver cirrhosis.Complex alterations in the GH/IGF-1 axis are thought to play an important role in the protein catabolism that complicates major surgical procedures.The aim of this study was to explore the effects of parenteral nutrition(PN)with and without growth hormone(GH)on the GH/IGF-1 axis after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)with cirrhosis and evaluate the potential roles of recombinant human GH(rhGH)therapy.Twenty-four patients with HCC with cirrhosis who underwent hepatectomy were randomly divided into two groups:a PN group(n=12)and an rhGH+PN group(n=12).Liver function,serum GH,IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were measured before the operation and at postoperative days(POD)1 and 6.Insulin-like growth factor-1 and IGFBP-3 mRNA in the liver tissue was detected by RT-PCR.The liver Ki67 immunohistochemistry staining was studied.At the same time,12 patients with cholelithiasis or liver hemangioma who underwent operation served as normal control group.On POD 6,serum prealbumin,GH,IGF-1,IGFBP-3,hepatic IGF-1 mRNA,IGFBP-3 mRNA and liver Ki67 LI were higher in the rhGH+PN group than in the PN group.There was no significant difference in the 6-and 12-month tumor-free survival rate and the median tumor-free survival time between the PN group and the rhGH+PN group(P>0.05).These data indicate that rhGH+PN could ameliorate the changes in the GH/IGF-1 axis after hepatectomy for HCC in the setting of cirrhosis.