Our objective was to study the effect of the growth hormone - insulin-like growth
factor axis on the development of the immune system in children. We used radio receptor
analysis, dot blot, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemical techniques to determine the expression and
distribution of growth hormone and growth hormone receptors, insulin-like growth factors,
receptors and binding proteins in the thymus, lymph nodes and peripheral blood lymphocytes
of children and adults. Our results showed that almost all components of the growth
hormone-insulin-like growth factor axis were expressed in immune organs and cells,
but the levels of expression varied. Growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor I,
and insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins 1 - 6 were produced by immune cells
in autocrine or paracrine ways. The expression of growth hormone receptors on peripheral
blood lymphocytes was to be age-related. The growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor
axis may help regulate the development and function of the immune system in children.
Key words
Somatotropin - Somatomedins - Immune System - Development - Children
