Key result
Childhood overweight and obesity were associated with increased serum GHBP levels and decreased adipose tissue expression of GHR, IGF-1, and IGFBP-3, which correlated with adipose tissue dysfunction.
Why the study?
It was unclear whether circulating GH axis components are altered with childhood overweight/obesity, whether this relates to adipose tissue expression or increased fat mass, and how their expression associates with adipose tissue function.
Observational (n=306)
No
Obesity-related elevations in serum GHBP and IGF-1 in children are likely not caused by increased adipose tissue mass, but GHBP is closely related to liver fat content.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May implicate hepatic fat over adipose mass in childhood GHBP changes; extends GH/IGF axis insights but leaves practice implications open.
Components of the growth hormone (GH) axis, such as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), IGF-1 binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), GH receptor (GHR) and GH-binding protein (GHBP), regulate growth and metabolic pathways. Here, we asked if serum levels of these factors are altered with overweight/obesity and if this is related to adipose tissue (AT) expression and/or increased fat mass. Furthermore, we hypothesized that expression of GHR, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 is associated with AT function. Serum GHBP levels were increased in children with overweight/obesity throughout childhood, while for IGF-1 levels and the IGF-1/IGFBP-3 molar ratio obesity-related elevations were detectable until early puberty. Circulating levels did not correlate with AT expression of these factors, which was decreased with overweight/obesity. Independent from obesity, expression of GHR, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 was related to AT dysfunction,and increased insulin levels. Serum GHBP was associated with liver fat percentage and transaminase levels. We conclude that obesity-related elevations in serum GHBP and IGF-1 are unlikely to be caused by increased AT mass and elevations in GHBP are more closely related to liver status in children. The diminished AT expression of these factors with childhood obesity may contribute to early AT dysfunction and a deterioration of the metabolic state.
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Kempf et al. (2022) conducted an observational in Childhood obesity (n=306). Overweight and obesity vs. Lean children was evaluated on Serum GHBP levels (β 0.364, p=<0.001). Childhood overweight and obesity were associated with increased serum GHBP levels and decreased adipose tissue expression of GHR, IGF-1, and IGFBP-3, which correlated with adipose tissue dysfunction.
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