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Influence of growth hormone on circulating fibroblast growth factor 21 levels in humans
Author(s) -
Lundberg J.,
Höybye C.,
KrusenstjernaHafstrøm T.,
Bina H. A.,
Kharitonenkov A.,
Angelin B.,
Rudling M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.625
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1365-2796
pISSN - 0954-6820
DOI - 10.1111/joim.12112
Subject(s) - medicine , growth hormone , endocrinology , fibroblast growth factor , hormone , growth factor , receptor
Objective Findings from animal studies indicate that growth hormone ( GH ) may stimulate the production of the putative metabolic regulator fibroblast growth factor 21 ( FGF 21). We investigated whether circulating FGF 21 levels are altered in patients with GH deficiency and characterized how levels of this growth factor are influenced by acute and long‐term administration of GH , and the potential relationship between FGF 21 and nonesterified fatty acids ( NEFA s). Design and setting GH ‐deficient patients ( n = 9) were studied prior to and during 1 year of replacement with GH . Healthy subjects ( n = 8) received an intravenous bolus of GH with or without concomitant oral glucose. Healthy subjects and patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia ( n = 23) were monitored following increasing doses of GH for 3 weeks. The main outcome measures were serum FGF 21 and NEFA levels. Studies were performed at two academic centres. Results GH ‐deficient patients had FGF 21 levels within the normal range, and GH replacement did not influence circulating FGF 21 or NEFA concentrations. Acute GH administration to healthy control subjects did not change FGF 21 levels, whereas an oral glucose load increased serum FGF 21 by 25% and reduced NEFA levels by 48%. Similar effects were seen on administration of glucose together with GH . However, FGF 21 levels increased dose dependently up to 3.7‐fold in control subjects treated with GH for 3 weeks; simultaneously NEFA levels were increased by 47%. Conclusions GH is not critical for the maintenance of basal serum FGF 21 levels in humans, but circulating FGF 21 levels increase following administration of GH to healthy individuals. There is no correlation between plasma NEFA and circulating FGF 21 levels.