Growth hormone replacement decreases plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinases (2 and 9) and vascular endothelial growth factor in growth hormone-deficient individuals

• Published in: Circulation (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2004-05, Vol.109 (20), p.2405-2410
• Main Authors: RANDEVA, Harpal S, LEWANDOWSKI, Krzysztof C, KOMOROWSKI, Jan, MURRAY, Robert D, O'CALLAGHAN, Chris J, HILLHOUSE, Edward W, STEPIEN, Henryk, SHALET, Stephen M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Blood vessels and receptors; Cardiology. Vascular system; Coronary heart disease; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growth Hormone - deficiency; Growth Hormone - therapeutic use; Heart; Humans; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - analysis; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 - blood; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - blood; Medical sciences; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - blood; Vertebrates: cardiovascular system
• ISSN: 0009-7322; 1524-4539
• DOI: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000129763.51060.77

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are implicated in cardiovascular disease. Growth hormone (GH) deficiency is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. We assessed whether GH replacement, in GH-deficient adults, has any effect on plasma levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), known to activate MMPs. The study comprised 66 GH-deficient adults, 37.8+/-14.7 years of age (37 female). Plasma MMP-2 and MMP-9, VEGF, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were measured at baseline (V1), at 12 months (V2), and at 24 months of GH treatment (V3). IGF-1 levels rose under GH replacement (mean+/-SD): V1, 151.6+/-91.9 microg/mL; V2, 270.2+/-114.8 microg/mL; and V3, 266.2+/-109.8 (V1 versus V2; P