Revisiting the Relationship Between Blood Pressure and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1

• Published in: Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. 1979) Vol. 63; no. 5; pp. 1070 - 1077
• Main Authors: Schutte, Aletta Elisabeth, Volpe, Massimo, Tocci, Giuliano, Conti, Elena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 01.05.2014
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Blood Pressure - physiology; Cardiology. Vascular system; Endocrinopathies; Female; Humans; Hypertension - physiopathology; Hypothalamus. Hypophysis. Epiphysis (diseases); Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 - physiology; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - physiology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Non tumoral diseases. Target tissue resistance. Benign neoplasms; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases - physiology; Signal Transduction - physiology; Endocrinopathy; Hypertension; Senescence; Ageing; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Acromegaly; Cardiovascular disease; Insulin like growth factor 1; Vasodilation; Vasomotricity; Pituitary diseases; Arterial pressure; Blood pressure; Hemodynamics; Circulatory system; aging; Cardiology; acromegaly; vasodilation; hypertension
• ISSN: 0194-911X; 1524-4563; 1524-4563
• DOI: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.113.03057

Conflicting evidence exists on the relationship between blood pressure (BP) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). We reviewed available articles and pooled extrapolated regression coefficients for the association between BP and total IGF-1 as reported in the literature and included additional data from 912 individuals from the general population. We identified 20 studies including 11 704 subjects. We also measured total IGF-1, insulin-like binding protein-3, and BP in 912 black and white men and women from South Africa (aged 20–70 years). When plotting positive and negative weighed regression coefficients (29 data points) against IGF-1, we found a significant positive relationship ( r =0.31; P <0.001; n=11 704) intercepting the 0 point at 191 ng/mL IGF-1, suggesting an inverse BP/IGF-1 relationship in low IGF-1 conditions, and a positive relationship in overtly high IGF-1 conditions. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the relationship between BP and IGF-1 is dependent on, or related to, IGF-1 concentrations, as an expression of direct or reverse causality. Low IGF-1 bioavailability (associated with aging and vascular deterioration), resistance to IGF-1, and the complex interplay between IGF-1 and other vasoactive hormones could mask the vasoprotective functions of IGF-1 in cross-sectional studies or could modify their functions in prospective studies.