Premium
Expression of insulin‐like growth factor‐I in lesional and non‐lesional skin of patients with morphoea
Author(s) -
Fawzi M.M.T.,
Tawfik S.O.,
Eissa A.M.,
ElKomy M.H.M.,
AbdelHalim M.R.E.,
Shaker O.G.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2008.08592.x
Subject(s) - pathogenesis , connective tissue , medicine , fibrosis , skin biopsy , pathology , connective tissue disease , scleroderma (fungus) , biopsy , immunohistochemistry , growth factor , insulin like growth factor , autoimmune disease , disease , receptor , inoculation
Summary Background Morphoea (scleroderma) is a chronic disorder characterized by circumscribed sclerotic plaques with the hallmark of increased fibroblast activation and fibrosis. Through its effect on connective tissue cells and immune cells, insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐I has been found to play a role in some autoimmune connective tissue diseases and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several fibrotic disorders. Objectives To evaluate the role of IGF‐I in the pathogenesis of morphoea. Methods The study was carried out on 15 patients with morphoea and nine healthy controls. Two 5‐mm punch skin biopsies were taken from every patient (one from lesional and one from non‐lesional skin) and a single biopsy was taken from the normal skin of each control. A 10‐mL blood sample was also taken from each patient and control. Quantitative detection of tissue and serum levels of IGF‐I was done using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay technique. Results IGF‐I in lesional skin was significantly higher than in non‐lesional and control skin ( P = 0·001 and P = 0·021, respectively). Moreover, a significantly higher level of IGF‐I was detected in patient serum when compared with control serum ( P < 0·001). A direct significant correlation existed between lesional and non‐lesional skin level ( r = 0·618, P = 0·014), and between lesional skin level and Rodnan score ( r = 0·538, P = 0·039). Conclusions Despite the small sample size, this study suggests that IGF‐I plays an important role in the pathogenesis of fibrosis, characteristic of morphoea. Studies on a larger number of patients with morphoea as well as on patients with systemic sclerosis are recommended. Furthermore, therapeutic trials using IGF‐I antagonist (octreotide) are highly recommended in patients with morphoea.