Immune dyscrasia in adult growth hormone deficiency: Evaluation of hemolytic complement activity (CH50) and IgG subclasses

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy Vol. 131; p. 110757
• Main Authors: Vergani, Edoardo, Bruno, Carmine, Napodano, Cecilia, Gulli, Francesca, Stefanile, Annunziata, Piunno, Gaia, Basile, Umberto, Mancini, Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01.11.2020
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Arginine - administration & dosage; Body Mass Index; Case-Control Studies; CH50; Complement Hemolytic Activity Assay; Complement System Proteins - immunology; Female; Free light chains; GHD; Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone - administration & dosage; Human Growth Hormone - deficiency; Human Growth Hormone - immunology; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - immunology; Immunoglobulins; Low grade chronic inflammation; Male; Middle Aged; Luteinizing; GHD; Immunoglobulins; Monocyte; Growth; Follicle-stimulating; Low grade chronic inflammation; Free light chains; Oxidative; Complement; Standard; Free; Estradiol; Glucose-6-phosphate; Testosterone; Thyroid-stimulating; Primary; Adult; Insulin-like; Low-grade; CH50
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110757

[Display omitted] •Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency (aGHD) is marked by low grade chronic inflammation.•aGHD is characterized by low IgG production, particularly IgG1 and IgG2.•CH50 is higher in aGHD than healthy subjects, even though still in normal range.•Lower IgG production is coupled with increased free light chains secretion in aGHD.•Besides the dyscrasia in IgG production, no worse immune response can be described. CH50 is a screening assay for the activation of the classical complement pathway, the immunoglobulins-mediated one, activated in several inflammatory diseases. Adult growth hormone deficiency (aGHD) is recognized as a chronic inflammatory condition, although poorly evaluated under the profile of inflammatory biomarkers. The aim of this case-control observational study is to analyze CH50 and immunoglobulins G (IgG) subclasses production in aGHD, comparing this condition to healthy controls. 38 subjects were included and divided as follows: aGHD (n = 18, 6 females and 12 males); healthy controls (n = 20, 10 females and 10 males). GHD was diagnosed with dynamic test using Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone (GHRH 50 μg i.v. + arginine 0,5 g/Kg), with a peak GH response < 9 μg/L when BMI was <30 kg/m2 or < 4 μg/L when BMI was >30 kg/m2. The two groups were evaluated for hormonal and metabolic parameters, CH50 and IgG subtypes. IgG1 and IgG2 were significantly higher in controls than in aGHD, while IgG3 and IgG4 showed a trend to higher levels in controls, although not significant. Furthermore, CH50 levels were significantly higher in aGHD. These data substantiate the hypothesis of a dyscrasia in IgG subclasses production in aGHD. As IgG levels decrease, CH50 levels do not.