Plasma IGF-1 is negatively correlated with body mass in a comparison of 36 mammalian species.

Abstract

In mammals, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is positively correlated with adult body mass, in comparisons made within a given species. In mice, IGF-1 deficiency is associated with dwarfism, whereas IGF-1 overproduction in transgenic animals causes gigantism. Surprisingly, the opposite is true in an inter-species context. We collected published plasma total IGF-1 data for adults of 36 mammalian species and analyzed it with respect to body mass. In contrast to the intra-species observation, this analysis revealed a significant negative correlation of plasma IGF-1 with body mass. Interestingly, IGF-1 is negatively correlated with longevity, and suppression of IGF-1 signalling in worms, flies and mice increases lifespan. Smaller mouse strains, for example, tend to have lower plasma IGF-1 levels and to be longer-lived. However, when plasma total IGF-1 was analyzed relative to the maximum lifespans of the 36 species examined here, there was no statistically significant correlation. Low plasma IGF-1 levels in larger mammalian species may be physiologically significant, considering the roles of this hormone in metabolism, tissue regeneration, and cancer incidence.

• Authors: Jeffrey A Stuart, Melissa M Page
• Journal: Mechanisms of ageing and development (Mech Ageing Dev) Vol. 131 Issue 9 Pg. 591-8 (Sep 2010) ISSN: 1872-6216 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 20736031 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Insulin-Like Growth Factor I

Topics

• Animals
• Body Composition
• Body Mass Index
• Body Weight
• Female
• Humans
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (biosynthesis, metabolism)
• Longevity
• Male
• Mice
• Phylogeny
• Regeneration
• Species Specificity
• Time Factors