The insulin-like growth factor axis and risk of liver disease in hepatitis C virus/HIV-co-infected women

Year: 2008

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) I stimulates the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC), the primary source of extracellular matrix accumulation in liver fibrosis. In contrast, insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) 3, the most abundant IGFBP in circulation, negatively modulates HSC mitogenesis. To investigate the role of the IGF axis in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver disease among high-risk patients, we prospectively evaluated HCV-viremic/HIV-positive women. DESIGN: A cohort investigation. METHODS: Total IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were measured in baseline serum specimens obtained from 472 HCV-viremic/HIV-positive subjects enrolled in the Women's Interagency HIV Study, a large multi-institutional cohort. The aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), a marker of liver fibrosis, was assessed annually. RESULTS: Normal APRI levels (< 1.0) at baseline were detected in 374 of the 472 HCV-viremic/HIV-positive subjects tested, of whom 302 had complete liver function test data and were studied. IGF-I was positively associated [adjusted odds ratio comparing the highest and lowest quartiles (AORq4-q1), 5.83; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17-29.1; Ptrend = 0.03], and IGFBP-3 was inversely associated (AORq4-q1, 0.13; 95% CI 0.02-0.76; Ptrend = 0.04), with subsequent (incident) detection of an elevated APRI level (> 1.5), after adjustment for the CD4 T-cell count, alcohol consumption, and other risk factors. CONCLUSION: High IGF-I may be associated with increased risk and high IGFBP-3 with reduced risk of liver disease among HCV-viremic/HIV-positive women.

Source: AIDS

DOI: 10.1097/qad.0b013e3282f22cdf

Authors: Howard D Strickler, Andrea A Howard, Marion Peters, Melissa Fazzari, Herbert Yu, Michael Augenbraun, Audrey L French, Mary Young, Stephen Gange, Kathryn Anastos, Andrea Kovacs

Institutions: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, University of California, San Francisco, Yale University, Maimonides Medical Center, John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Southern California

Language: English

Topic: Hepatitis C virus research

Subfield: Hepatology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Center for Research Resources, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

OpenAlex ID: W2052425383