help button home button Endocrine Society Endocrinology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Hoeflich, A.
Right arrow Articles by Wolf, E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Hoeflich, A.
Right arrow Articles by Wolf, E.
Endocrinology Vol. 142, No. 5 1889-1898
Copyright © 2001 by The Endocrine Society


ARTICLES

Growth Inhibition in Giant Growth Hormone Transgenic Mice by Overexpression of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-Binding Protein-2

Andreas Hoeflich, Sabine Nedbal, Werner F. Blum, Michael Erhard, Harald Lahm, Gottfried Brem, Helmut J. Kolb, Rüdiger Wanke and Eckhard Wolf

Institutes of Molecular Animal Breeding (A.H., S.N., H.L., E.W.), Animal Physiology (M.E.), and Veterinary Pathology (R.W.), Ludwig-Maximilian University, 81377 Munich, Germany; Lilly Germany GmbH (W.F.B.), 61350 Bad Homburg, Germany; Institute of Clinical Chemistry (H.J.K.), Clinic Harlaching, 81545 Munich, Germany; and Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics (G.B.), University of Veterinary Sciences, 1210 Vienna, Austria

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Prof. Dr. Eckhard Wolf, Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding/Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Feodor-Lynen-Strasse 25, 81377 Munich, Germany. E-mail: ewolf{at}lmb.uni-muenchen.de


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
To clarify the role of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) in postnatal growth regulation, we crossed hemizygous CMV-IGFBP-2 transgenic mice with hemizygous PEPCK-bGH transgenic mice, which are characterized by serum GH levels in the range of 2 µg/ml. Four genetic groups were obtained: animals carrying both transgenes (GB), the GH (G) or the IGFBP-2 transgene (B), and nontransgenic controls (C). Male offspring were analyzed for serum levels of IGF-I, for serum and tissue levels of IGFBP-2, and for body and organ growth. Serum IGF-I levels were 2- to 3-fold increased (P < 0.001) in the GH-overexpressing groups, with no difference between G and GB mice. Serum IGFBP-2 levels were 4- to 9-fold (P < 0.001) increased both in B and GB vs. C and G mice. Western immunoblot analysis did not reveal differences in tissue IGFBP-2 levels between B and GB mice. IGFBP-2 levels were highest in pancreas, followed by skeletal muscle, heart, kidney, brain, skin, and spleen. No elevation of IGFBP-2 was found in the liver. Body weight gain of G and GB mice was significantly increased vs. C and B mice, resulting in almost 2-fold increased body weights at the age of 15 weeks. However, there was a significant reduction in body weight of GB vs. G mice (17%; P < 0.001) and of B vs. C mice (13%; P < 0.05). This was primarily caused by a marked reduction of carcass weight (GB vs. G, 27%; B vs. C, 21%; P < 0.001). Measurements of nose-rump-length, organ (brain, heart, spleen, liver, pancreas, kidney), and tissue weights (skin, carcass, abdominal fat) in 5- and 15-week-old mice revealed several indications that the growth-inhibiting effect of IGFBP-2 overexpression was more marked in high-GH/IGF-I mice: 1) At 5 weeks of age, GB mice displayed a significant reduction of all growth parameters except for the weight of abdominal fat, when compared with G mice, whereas only brain weight was significantly reduced in B vs. C mice. 2) In 15-week-old animals, a significant reduction in all growth parameters, except for spleen and abdominal fat weights, was seen in GB vs. G mice, whereas only nose-rump-length and the weights of carcass and brain were significantly reduced in B vs. C mice. Our study demonstrates, for the first time, the potential of IGFBP-2 to inhibit GH-stimulated growth in giant transgenic mice, providing further evidence for an inhibitory effect of this IGFBP in vivo.


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR (IGF)-BINDING protein (IGFBP)-2 is particularly prominent in late fetal and neonatal serum, but it is also found at significant levels in adult serum. Serum and tissue levels of IGFBP-2 are subject to complex physiological regulation (for review, see 1). We have recently shown that IGFBP-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels are increased by exogenous IGFs already during preimplantation embryonic development (2). Elevated IGFBP-2 levels were found in the milk of transgenic rabbits overexpressing IGF-I in the mammary gland (3) and in the serum of transgenic mice overexpressing IGF-II under the control of the PEPCK promoter (4), demonstrating up-regulation of IGFBP-2 expression by IGFs. Increased hepatic IGFBP-2 mRNA and serum IGFBP-2 levels were observed in mice that are small because of long-term selection for low body weight (5). In addition, IGFBP-2 has been shown to be up-regulated in a variety of pathological conditions, such as interstitial lung disease, liver cirrhosis, or chronic renal failure (for review, see 6). However, until recently, it was unclear whether elevation of IGFBP-2 has intrinsic effects or merely represents an epiphenomenon without direct consequences for growth and metabolism.

Effects of IGFBP-2 overexpression have been studied in a variety of in vitro models, with a wide spectrum of consequences, from growth inhibition (7, 8, 9, 10) to growth stimulation (11, 12 ; for review, see 6). Overexpression of IGFBP-2 in transfected 293 human embryonic kidney cells reduced cell proliferation. The same effect was seen for IGF-responsive colon carcinoma cell lines cultured in conditioned media containing high levels of IGFBP-2. In both systems, the proliferation-inhibiting effect of IGFBP-2 could be overcome by addition of exogenous IGFs, Long R3 IGF-I being markedly more effective than IGF-I (8). On the other hand, long-term overexpression of IGFBP-2 in transfected mouse adrenocortical tumor cells (Y-1) was associated with increased cell proliferation and tumorigenic potential. These effects were independent of exogenous IGFs (12).

To understand the function of IGFBP-2 in vivo, the IGFBP-2 gene has been inactivated in mice by gene targeting. However, only minor phenotypic changes, i.e. increased liver weights and reduced spleen weights, in adult males were observed. In this model, the serum activities of IGFBP-1, IGFBP-3, and IGFBP-4 were increased, eventually compensating for the lack of IGFBP-2 (13, 14).

To investigate the consequences of elevated IGFBP-2 in vivo, we generated transgenic mice overexpressing IGFBP-2 under the control of the CMV-promoter. These mice displayed reduced postweaning body weight gain, which was mostly caused by a reduction in carcass weight, identifying IGFBP-2, for the first time, as a growth inhibitor in vivo (15). Because the phenotype of IGFBP-2 transgenic mice was, in many aspects, opposite to that of IGF-I-overexpressing transgenic mice, we concluded that IGFBP-2 might inhibit IGF-I effects.

To further clarify this point, we studied consequences of IGFBP-2 overexpression under conditions of increased levels of GH and IGF-I. Transgenic mice overexpressing homologous or heterologous GH provide unique models for studying long-term effects of elevated GH and IGF-I. These models have been extensively studied, with respect to body (16, 17), skeletal (18, 19, 20), and organ growth (16, 21, 22, 23, 24). In addition to markedly stimulated growth, long-term GH overproduction in transgenic mice causes a spectrum of pathological lesions, which develop primarily in kidney and liver (for review, see 25, 26, 27) and result in a dose-dependent shortened life-span (28).

To study effects of elevated IGFBP-2, in the context of GH excess, we crossed hemizygous CMV-IGFBP-2 transgenic mice with hemizygous PEPCK-bGH transgenic mice, generating four groups of offspring harboring either the CMV-IGFBP-2 (B) or the PEPCK-bGH transgene (G), both transgenes (GB), and nontransgenic controls (C). Analysis of a large panel of growth parameters revealed that elevated IGFBP-2 can indeed partially block GH-stimulated growth processes. Interestingly, the growth-inhibiting activity of IGFBP-2 was even more pronounced in high-GH/IGF-I mice than in mice with normal GH and IGF-I levels.


    Materials and Methods
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Generation of transgenic mice and animal husbandry
IGFBP-2 transgenic mice were generated by microinjection of an expression vector containing the murine IGFBP-2 complementary DNA (cDNA) (kindly donated by Dr. S. Drop, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) and the CMV-promoter for transcriptional control of the transgene as described before (28). IGFBP-2 transgenic mice were identified by real-time PCR using the SYBR Green technology (PE Applied Biosystems, Weiterstadt, Germany). PCR conditions were according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Primers used were as follows: mIGFBP-2 sense: 5' GCG CGG GTA CCT GTG AAA 3'; mIGFBP-2 antisense: 5' TCC CTC AGA GTG GTC GTC ATC 3'. Genomic DNA used for the PCR analysis was isolated from tail tips of 3-week-old offspring using the Puregene genomic DNA purification system (Biozym, Hess. Oldendorf, Germany).

PEPCK-bGH transgenic mice, originally generated on a C57BL/6 x SJL genetic background (29), were kindly provided by Dr. T. E. Wagner, Edison Biotechnology Center, Ohio University, Athens, OH. Hemizygous PEPCK-bGH transgenic mice used in this study were derived from the 12th generation of sequential crossing with NMRI outbred mice (Charles River Laboratories, Inc.-Wiga, Sulzfeld, Germany). PEPCK-bGH transgenic mice were identified by PCR using 5' CGG ACC GTG TCT ATG AGA AGC 3' sense and 5' GGA AAG GAC AGT GGG AGT GG 3' antisense oligonucleotides (30).

Female hemizygous CMV-IGFBP-2 transgenic mice were mated with male hemizygous PEPCK-bGH transgenic mice to generate four different genetic groups of offspring, of which only male mice were investigated in the present study: animals harboring both transgenes (GB), the GH (G) or the IGFBP-2 (B) transgene, and nontransgenic controls (C).

All mice were maintained under standard (nonbarrier) conditions and had free access to a standard diet (V1534; Ssniff, Soest, Germany) and tap water.

Measurement of serum bGH, IGFBPs, and IGF-I
Blood samples were obtained from 15-week-old mice by puncture of the retroorbital sinus in ether anesthesia. Serum was separated by centrifugation, and IGFBP-2 and IGF-I concentrations were quantified by specific RIAs as described previously (31, 32, 33). For all assays, dilution curves of mouse serum samples were linear and paralleled those of human standards. Serum GH was quantified by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay specific for bGH (34). Serum samples were analyzed for IGF-binding activity by Western ligand blot (WLB) analysis as previously described (15). Data were analyzed by ANOVA as described below.

IGFBP-2 levels in different tissues
IGFBP-2 levels in different tissues were determined by Western immunoblot analysis as described previously (15). Briefly, tissue samples were homogenized in extraction buffer [10 mM Na2HPO4, pH 7.0; 0.2% (wt/vol) SDS; 10% (vol/vol) glycerin] using a cell homogenizer (ART, Mühlheim, Germany). Thirty micrograms of protein were boiled (5 min) and separated under reducing conditions on a 5% stacking/12% separating SDS-polyacrylamide gel using the Mini Protean II system (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Munich, Germany). Separated proteins were transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane (Millipore Corp., Eschborn, Germany). The blots were blocked with 1% fish gelatin. IGFBP-2 was identified using a specific antiserum raised in rabbit (15). Bound antibodies were detected with peroxidase-coupled antibodies against rabbit IgG (Dianova Germany, Hamburg, Germany) using an ECL detection kit (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Freiburg, Germany). Three mice per genetic group were analyzed at 5 and 15 weeks of age.

Analysis of body and organ growth
Body weight of all mice was recorded, in weekly intervals, to the nearest 0.1 g. To estimate average growth of the individual groups, data were transformed to a weighing age of n x 7 days, by linear interpolation, as described previously (17). At the age of 15 weeks, mice were ether-anesthetized and killed by bleeding from the retroorbital sinus. In addition, mice from each genetic group were analyzed at the age of 5 weeks. Nose-rump-length (NRL) was measured as the distance between nose and base of the tail, as described before (17). The weight of mesentery and fat tissue surrounding the genital organs and kidneys, which is correlated with total body fat content, was determined as the amount of abdominal fat tissue. For the analysis, organs were removed, blotted dry, and weighed to the nearest milligram. Carcasses were weighed, after removal of the organs, without skin, head, and tail. Data for body growth and organ/tissue weights were analyzed by ANOVA, taking the effect of group into account. Means were compared by using LSD post hoc tests [SPSS, Inc. (Chicago, IL) program package]. To compare the effects of IGFBP-2 transgene expression, under conditions of normal vs. increased GH/IGF-I levels, relative differences between B and C mice, as well as GB and G mice, were calculated for all parameters. Therefore, values recorded for B and GB mice were divided by the corresponding means calculated for C and G mice, respectively. The relative effects (percent difference in body weight, organ/tissue weights, or NRL) of IGFBP-2 overexpression in a high (GB vs. G) and a normal (B vs. C) GH/IGF-I background were compared using Student’s t test.

Histology
Livers from 6 G, 6 GB, 3 B, and 6 C mice were selected for histological analysis. Immediately after determination of liver weight, the organ was fixed by immersion in 10% neutral buffered formalin for 48 h at room temperature. Approximately 3-mm-thick slices of the left, the median, and the right lobes were routinely processed and were embedded in paraffin wax. Histological sections were cut at 4 µm and stained with hematoxylin and eosin according to standard methods. Histological analyses were carried out on coded slides to avoid knowledge of the nature of the experimental group.


    Results
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Circulating levels of GH, IGF-I, and IGFBPs
Mean serum concentrations of GH were in the range of 2 µg/ml in the groups carrying the PEPCK-bGH transgene and were not affected by IGFBP-2 overexpression in the double transgenic mice. The endogenous GH in C and B mice was not detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay used in our study (Fig. 1AGo).



View larger version (20K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 1. Serum concentrations of bGH (panel A), IGFBP-2 (panel B), and IGF-I (panel C) in mice carrying the PEPCK-bGH transgene (G; n = 12), the CMV-IGFBP-2 transgene (B; n = 7), both transgenes (GB; n = 10), and nontransgenic controls (C; n = 14). The figure shows means and SDs. Means marked by different superscripts (a, b) are significantly (at least P < 0.05) different; n.d., not detectable.

 
Serum IGFBP-2 levels were 4- to 9-fold (P < 0.001) increased both in B and GB mice, compared with C and G mice (Fig. 1BGo). The activities of other serum IGFBPs were determined by WLB analysis, which showed an increased signal for proteins of 39/43 kDa (IGFBP-3) and of 24 kDa (nonglycosilated IGFBP-4) in the PEPCK-bGH transgenic groups. The increase in immunoreactive IGFBP-2 in the B and GB groups was confirmed by WLB, demonstrating functional activity of the transgene-encoded IGFBP-2 (Fig. 2Go).



View larger version (78K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 2. WLB analysis of serum samples from mice carrying the PEPCK-bGH transgene (G), the CMV-IGFBP-2 transgene (B), both transgenes (GB), and nontransgenic controls (C).

 
Serum IGF-I levels were 2- to 3-fold increased (P < 0.001) in the GH-overexpressing groups, with no difference between G and GB mice (Fig. 1CGo).

IGFBP-2 levels in different tissues
Western immunoblot analysis did not reveal obvious differences in tissue IGFBP-2 levels between 15-week-old B and GB mice. IGFBP-2 levels were highest in pancreas, followed by skeletal muscle and heart, kidney, brain, skin, and spleen. No elevation of IGFBP-2 was found in the liver (Fig. 3Go). Analysis of tissue samples from 5-week-old mice led to similar results (data not shown).



View larger version (58K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 3. Western immunoblot analysis of IGFBP-2 levels in different tissues from mice carrying the PEPCK-bGH transgene (G), the CMV-IGFBP-2 transgene (B), both transgenes (GB), and nontransgenic controls (C). For comparison of the blots, 30 µg protein extract of skeletal muscle from a B mouse was loaded on each gel (lane S).

 
Body weight gain and body dimensions
As expected, body weight gain was markedly stimulated by expression of the PEPCK-bGH transgene. This effect became significant at the age of 5 weeks and resulted in an almost 2-fold increased body weight at the age of 15 weeks (Fig. 4AGo). Body weight of B vs. C mice was reduced (13%, P < 0.05), confirming our first report on the consequences of IGFBP-2 overexpression in transgenic mice (15). However, the growth-inhibiting effect of IGFBP-2 was also evident on the background of GH overexpression and increased levels of IGF-I. Body weight of GB vs. G mice was reduced by 17% (P < 0.001).



View larger version (28K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 4. Body weight gain (panel A), NRL (panel B), and relative NRL (rNRL; panel C) of mice carrying the PEPCK-bGH transgene (G; n = 13), the CMV-IGFBP-2 transgene (B; n = 7), both transgenes (GB; n = 10), and nontransgenic controls (C; n = 15). To calculate rNRL, NRL was divided by the cube root of body weight, to keep the same dimension. The figures show means and SDs. In panels B and C, means marked by different superscripts (a, b, c, d) are significantly (at least P < 0.05) different within age class.

 
In accordance with the findings for body weight, the nose-rump-length (NRL) of the G mice was significantly increased vs. C and B mice, at both the ages of 5 and 15 weeks (Fig. 4BGo). IGFBP-2 overexpression in GB mice abolished the effect of the PEPCK-bGH transgene on NRL in 5-week-old mice and reduced it significantly (P < 0.001) in 15-week-old animals. In addition, there was a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in NRL in 15-week-old B vs. C mice. The NRL-body weight1/3-ratio was not different between the groups at 5 weeks of age. Although the relative NRL was significantly (P < 0.05) increased in 15-week-old G mice, IGFBP-2 overexpression in GB mice completely reduced normalized body size in the condition of GH excess (Fig. 4CGo), strongly supporting an enhanced IGFBP-2 effect in the context of high levels of GH and IGF-I.

Organ and tissue weights
These parameters were investigated in 5-week-old mice because this was the age when the first significant differences in body weight were observed. The absolute weights of spleen (127%), liver (70%), skin (41%), kidneys (35%), heart (33%), and pancreas (23%) were already significantly (at least P < 0.05) increased in G vs. C mice (Table 1Go). The carcass weight of G mice was, as a tendency, increased (13%, P = 0.158), compared with C mice.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 1. Absolute organ and tissue weights of 5-week-old mice carrying the PEPCK-bGH transgene (G), the CMV-IGFBP-2 transgene (B), both transgenes (GB), and nontransgenic controls (C)

 
Overexpression of IGFBP-2 in GB mice markedly reduced the effect of elevated GH on the weights of all organs and tissues, most of which were not different from those measured in controls (C). The reduction was most prominent for the weights of spleen, pancreas, and kidneys (Fig. 5AGo). Pancreas weights of GB mice were even lower than those of C mice. Liver weights of GB mice were also significantly reduced vs. G mice (P < 0.001) but were still higher (P < 0.05) than in C and B mice. Interestingly, a reduction (P < 0.05) in brain weight was seen in B and GB mice vs. C and G mice. These data show that elevated IGFBP-2 potently reduces effects of GH overexpression at the age of 5 weeks.



View larger version (23K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 5. Reduction (%) of body weight, body dimensions, and organ/tissue weights by IGFBP-2 overexpression in the context of normal GH levels (B vs. C; white bars) and in the context of GH excess (GB vs. G; black bars) in 5-week-old (panel A) and 15-week-old mice (panel B). The levels of body weight reduction are indicated by a dotted line (B vs. C) and a solid line (GB vs. G), respectively. The relative effects (percent difference in body weight, organ/tissue weights or NRL) of IGFBP-2 overexpression in a high (GB vs. G) and a normal (B vs. C) GH/IGF-I background were compared using Student’s t tests. Significant differences (P < 0.05) are indicated by an asterisk.

 
Relative to body weight, the weights of skin, abdominal fat, and heart were not different between the genetic groups (Table 2Go). Whereas the relative weights of carcass and brain were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in G and GB vs. C and B mice, GH overexpression resulted in an overproportionate increase of spleen and liver weights. These effects were similar to those observed in 15-week-old mice (see below). However, in contrast to the older age class, relative pancreas weights were not yet increased in 5-week-old GH-overexpressing mice but were reduced (P < 0.05) in GB mice vs. all other groups. The relative kidney weight was increased (P < 0.01) in B mice vs. all other groups.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 2. Relative organ and tissue weights of 5-week-old mice carrying the PEPCK-bGH transgene (G), the CMV-IGFBP-2 transgene (B), both transgenes (GB), and nontransgenic controls (C)

 
At the age of 15 weeks, all organ and tissue weights were significantly increased in G vs. C and B mice (P < 0.05 for abdominal fat; P < 0.001 for all other parameters; Table 3Go). However, coexpression of the CMV-IGFBP-2 transgene in GB mice reduced the effect of GH excess on the weights of carcass (27%, P < 0.001), kidneys (21%, P < 0.001), pancreas (17%, P < 0.05), liver (15%, P < 0.001), brain (12%, P < 0.001), heart (12%, P < 0.05), spleen (11%, P = 0.07), and skin (9%, P < 0.05; Fig. 5BGo). In contrast, a significant reduction in B vs. C mice was seen only for the weights of carcass (21%, P < 0.001) and brain (15%, P < 0.001).


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 3. Absolute organ and tissue weights of 15-week-old mice carrying the PEPCK-bGH transgene (G), the CMV-IGFBP-2 transgene (B), both transgenes (GB), and nontransgenic controls (C)

 
As a proportion of body weight, the weights of heart and kidneys were not different among the genetic groups (Table 4Go). However, the GH transgenic groups (G, GB) displayed an overproportionate increase in the weights of liver (P < 0.001), skin (P < 0.001), spleen (P < 0.001 vs. C; P < 0.05 vs. B), and pancreas (P < 0.01 vs. C; P < 0.05 vs. B). In contrast, the relative weights of brain (P < 0.001) and carcass (P < 0.01) were significantly reduced in G and GB vs. C and B mice. Effects of the CMV-IGFBP-2 transgene were also seen on relative organ weights. The relative weight of the carcass was decreased (P < 0.001), whereas the relative weight of the skin was increased (P < 0.05) in GB vs. G mice. Furthermore, B mice displayed reduced relative carcass weights (P < 0.001) but increased relative spleen and liver weights (P < 0.05), compared with C mice. As a proportion of body weight, the abdominal fat weight was, as a tendency, reduced in G vs. C mice and in GB vs. B mice. A significant (P < 0.05) difference was found between B and G mice.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 4. Relative organ and tissue weights of 15-week-old mice carrying the PEPCK-bGH transgene (G), the CMV-IGFBP-2 transgene (B), both transgenes (GB), and nontransgenic controls (C)

 
To provide further evidence for an enhanced growth inhibitory effect of IGFBP-2 in giant GH transgenic mice, we compared the relative effects (percent difference in body weight, organ/tissue weights, or NRL) of IGFBP-2 overexpression in a high (GB vs. G) and a normal (B vs. C) GH/IGF-I background, using Student’s t tests.

In 5-week-old mice, the reduction in spleen, pancreas, kidney, and skin weights, as well as NRL of GB vs. G mice, was significantly (P < 0.05) greater than the effect observed in B vs. C mice. A tendency (P < 0.1) of an enhanced inhibitory effect of IGFBP-2 overexpression in giant GH transgenic mice was seen for body weight and the weights of heart, abdominal fat, liver, and brain (Fig. 5AGo).

In 15-week-old mice, the relative reduction in liver weights of GB vs. G mice was significantly (P < 0.05) greater than in B vs. C mice, and a tendency (P < 0.1) of an augmented IGFBP-2 effect in high-GH/IGF-I mice was seen for kidney weight and NRL. Opposite effects of IGFBP-2 overexpression were seen for spleen weight, which was, as a tendency, reduced in GB vs. G mice but increased in B vs. C mice (Fig. 5BGo).

Histology of the liver
Because overexpression of IGFBP-2 markedly reduced growth effects of GH excess, we studied pathological alterations of the liver that are a well known consequence of GH excess in transgenic mice. Histologically, liver lesions were consistently found in both 15-week-old G and GB mice, and the pattern of histological liver alterations was similar in these groups (Fig. 6Go). The most striking feature was the presence of abnormally large hepatocytes with karyomegaly. The megalocytic change was restricted to hepatocytes and was commonly more pronounced in the centrilobular areas. Significant enlargement and pleomorphism of almost all the hepatocytes and their nuclei were observed in two out of six G mice and in one out of six GB mice. Hypertrophic liver cell nuclei frequently demonstrated pseudoinclusions resulting from enfolding of the nuclear membrane by cytoplasmic material. Further changes consistently observed in livers from G and GB mice, respectively, included single liver cell necroses and mild degrees of oval cell proliferation. Livers from B and C mice (Fig. 6Go) were indistinguishable by light microscopy and demonstrated slight variation in the size of liver cell nuclei and low numbers of lymphoid cells in scattered portal tracts.



View larger version (138K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 6. Representative histological sections of liver tissue from mice carrying the PEPCK-bGH transgene (G), the CMV-IGFBP-2 transgene (B), both transgenes (GB), and nontransgenic controls (C).

 

    Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
According to previous findings in vitro (7, 8, 9, 10) and in vivo (3, 5, 15), IGFBP-2 is likely to be an inhibitor of IGF actions. The present study was performed to clarify: 1) whether IGFBP-2 has an inhibitory effect on growth also in the context of GH excess and increased levels of IGF-I; and 2) whether this effect is general or tissue-/organ-specific.

Serum GH levels of both G and GB mice were in the range of 2 µg/ml, which is consistent with our previous reports on PEPCK-bGH transgenic mice (28, 35) and indicates that phenotypic differences between G and GB mice are not attributable to altered PEPCK-bGH transgene expression by coexpression of the CMV-IGFBP-2 transgene in GB mice. Conversely, GH overexpression did not affect the expression of the CMV-IGFBP-2 transgene, as shown by similar tissue levels of IGFBP-2 in B and GB mice (Fig. 3Go). Serum IGFBP-2 levels of B and GB mice, investigated in the present experiment, were higher than those observed in our previous study (15). This is most likely attributable to the different genetic background produced by our crossing experiment.

GH overproduction caused a marked increase in all organ weights except for the brain. In 15-week-old mice, the increase was proportionate to body weight for kidney and heart but overproportionate for skin, pancreas, liver, and spleen. An overproportionate growth of liver and spleen, but not of skin and pancreas, was seen in 5-week-old G mice, demonstrating organ- and time-specific sensitivity of different organs to GH excess. The weights of carcass and especially of brain were less increased than total body weight both in 5- and 15-week-old G mice.

The effects seen for elevated IGFBP-2 in the absence of GH overexpression largely confirmed our previous study. However, presumably because of the higher IGFBP-2 expression levels, the weight of the brain and the NRL were significantly reduced in B vs. C mice, in addition to the previously described significant reduction in carcass weight (15).

Interestingly, the growth-inhibiting effect of IGFBP-2 overexpression was even more marked in high-GH/IGF-I mice, as indicated by several observations: 1) At 5 weeks of age, GB mice displayed a significant reduction of all growth parameters except for the weight of abdominal fat, compared with G mice; whereas only brain weight was significantly reduced in B vs. C mice (Table 1Go); 2) In 15-week-old animals, a significant reduction in all growth parameters, except for spleen and abdominal fat weights, was seen in GB vs. G mice; whereas only NRL and the weights of carcass and brain were significantly reduced in B vs. C mice (Table 3Go); 3) IGFBP-2 overexpression in GB mice completely reduced normalized body size (NRL-body weight1/3-ratio) in the condition of GH excess (Fig. 4CGo); and 4) A direct comparison of the relative effects (percent difference in body weight, organ/tissue weights or NRL) of IGFBP-2 overexpression in a high (GB vs. G) and a normal (B vs. C) GH/IGF-I background showed statistically significant differences in both 5- and 15-week-old mice (Fig. 5Go, A and B).

Theoretically, there are three major routes to explain the enhanced inhibitory activity of IGFBP-2 in giant GH transgenic mice: 1) IGFBP-2 blocks IGF-I-mediated effects of GH excess; 2) IGFBP-2 impairs direct effects of GH overexpression; or 3) IGFBP-2 inhibits growth in a GH/IGF-I independent manner, but this effect is via yet-unknown mechanisms augmented in high-GH/IGF-I mice.

Several reasons argue for an IGF-I-dependent mechanism of growth inhibition by IGFBP-2 overexpression in giant GH transgenic mice. The essential role of IGF-I, to stimulate growth in vivo, has been shown by elegant studies in transgenic and knockout mouse models. Whereas overexpression of IGF-I in GH-deficient transgenic mice restored normal somatic growth (36), treatment with GH was inefficient in stimulating growth of IGF-I-deficient mice (37). Furthermore, the growth of organs that were particularly affected by IGFBP-2 overexpression has previously been shown to be regulated by IGF-I. For instance, the weights of the spleen, pancreas, and kidneys were most markedly reduced in 5-week-old GB vs. G mice. In IGF-I-overexpressing transgenic mice, spleen and pancreas were among the organs showing the greatest increase in weight (38). Furthermore, a specific increase in weights of spleen and kidney was observed in GH-deficient rats treated with IGF-I (39, 40, 41). In contrast, markedly reduced serum IGF-I levels in mice lacking hepatic Igf1 gene expression were associated with significantly reduced kidney weights, in spite of elevated GH levels (42).

The weight of the carcass, which consists mainly of skeletal muscle tissue, was most markedly reduced by IGFBP-2 overproduction in 15-week-old mice, both in the absence and presence of the PEPCK-bGH transgene. In hypophysectomized rats, skeletal muscle was the tissue that showed the greatest increase (9.7-fold) in IGF-I mRNA levels after GH treatment (43). Furthermore, transgenic mice overexpressing IGF-I displayed an increase in body weight by 1.3-fold, which was primarily explained by increased muscle and/or connective tissue growth (38). In contrast, lack of IGF-I expression in Igf1 knockout mice results in generalized muscle hypoplasia (44) and dystrophy that is most prominent in the diaphragm (45), causing a high incidence of perinatal death attributable to respiratory failure. These findings underline the importance of IGF-I for muscle development and growth.

A role of IGF-I for the growth of the heart has been demonstrated by cardiac-specific overexpression, in transgenic mice, of a human IGF-I cDNA under the control of the {alpha}myosin heavy chain promoter. These mice developed cardiomegaly because of an increased number of cells in the heart (46). Also, for brain, IGF-I seems to be an important growth factor. Increased brain weights were found in IGF-I-overexpressing transgenic mice (38, 47), even in the near absence of GH (36). In contrast, reduced brain growth was a common finding in several transgenic mouse models overexpressing IGFBP-1 (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 ; for review, see 55), which seems to inhibit IGF-dependent cellular growth and differentiation (1, 56).

However, there are also indications that IGFBP-2 might inhibit direct growth effects of GH excess or act as a growth inhibitor independent of GH or IGF-I. A number of studies suggested that liver growth is directly stimulated by GH and does not depend on IGF-I. First, transgenic mice overexpressing a human IGF-I cDNA under the control of the mouse metallothionein I promoter were characterized by 3-fold-increased IGF-I peptide levels in the liver but did not show increased liver growth (38). Second, expression of the same transgene in mice lacking somatotrophic cells completely normalized linear growth and weights of most organs but not the weight of the liver, which was still lower than in pituitary-intact controls (36). Third, liver-specific inactivation of the Igf1 gene in mice eliminated IGF-I production in the liver and decreased circulating IGF-I levels by 75%; however (possibly as a consequence of elevated GH levels), the weight of the liver was increased in these animals (42, 57). Our study demonstrated a significant reduction of liver weight in GB vs. G mice, at both the ages of 5 and 15 weeks, suggesting that IGFBP-2 overexpression inhibits liver growth by partially blocking the GH stimulus or directly via a yet-unknown mechanism. The latter is supported by the fact that male mice lacking IGFBP-2 expression displayed increased liver weights (14). However, relative liver weights of G and GB mice were not different, both being disproportionately increased, compared with C and B mice. Therefore, the reduction of absolute liver weight in GB vs. G mice might be a general size effect, i.e. the expected organ size change, given a certain overall weight change and a particular coefficient of growth allometry (for review, see 21). Importantly, characteristic pathological lesions observed in GH transgenic mice (16, 25, 26, 58) were also seen in GH/IGFBP-2 double transgenic mice. The influence of IGFBP-2 on long-term effects of GH on liver growth and pathology, including tumorigenesis (59, 60), deserves further investigation.

The effects of elevated IGFBP-2, to reduce body and organ growth, parallel those observed in transgenic mice overexpressing IGFBP-1 in several aspects. In phosphoglycerate kinase promoter-rat IGFBP-1 transgenic mice, the birth weight was significantly reduced, to approximately 83–92% of the weight of wild-type animals (49). The growth retardation persisted in the postnatal period, particularly after weaning. Except for brain weight (which was disproportionately reduced) and spleen weight (which was heavier), the absolute weights of individual organs were reduced in transgenic mice, but similar to those of control mice when considered as a function of body weight. The specific increase in spleen weight, in this transgenic model, has been discussed as a consequence of IGF-independent effects of elevated IGFBP-1. Overexpression of human IGFBP-1 under the control of the {alpha}1 antitrypsin promoter in transgenic mice resulted in growth retardation within the first weeks of postnatal life. Body weight of adult mice was negatively correlated with plasma IGFBP-1 concentration (50). In contrast, no major effects on total body weight were observed in MT-hIGFBP-1 transgenic mice (61). These different findings may be attributable to differences in level and tissue specificity of transgene expression in the various models (for review, see 55). Other alterations, such as altered glucose homeostasis and impaired female fertility, which were seen in part of the IGFBP-1-overexpressing transgenic mouse models (49, 50, 62), were not obvious in CMV-IGFBP-2 transgenic mice (15), although detailed analyses of metabolic and reproductive functions in this model remain to be done.

In summary, our study demonstrates that IGFBP-2 is an inhibitor of normal and GH-stimulated growth of mice, and that growth inhibition by IGFBP-2 overexpression is more effective in high-GH/IGF-I mice. This may be attributable to inhibition of indirect (IGF-I-mediated) or direct effects of GH excess by elevated IGFBP-2 or may represent a direct effect of IGFBP-2 that might be potentiated in high-GH/IGF-I mice. The crossing experiment used for this study provides a unique model system to understand tissue-specific effects and interactions between members of the GH/IGF system and to identify, by expression profiling, other factors involved in growth regulation of specific organs.


    Acknowledgments
 
We thank Dr. Ingrid Renner-Müller for veterinary management, Petra Renner for expert animal care, and Petra Demleitner and Norman Rieger for excellent technical assistance.

Received January 2, 2000.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 

  1. Rajaram S, Baylink DJ, Mohan S 1997 Insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins in serum and other biological fluids: regulation and functions. Endocr Rev 18:801–831[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  2. Prelle K, Stojkovic M, Boxhammer K, Motlik J, Ewald D, Arnold GJ, Wolf E 2001 IGF-I and long R3IGF-I differently affect development and messenger RNA abundance for IGF-binding proteins and type I IGF receptors in in vitro produced bovine embryos. Endocrinology 142:1309–1316
  3. Wolf E, Jehle PM, Weber MM, Sauerwein H, Daxenberger A, Breier BH, Besenfelder U, Frenyo L, Brem G 1997 Human insulin-like growth factor-I produced in the mammary glands of transgenic rabbits: yield, receptor binding, mitogenic activity, and effects on IGF-binding proteins. Endocrinology 138:307–313[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  4. Wolf E, Kramer R, Blum WF, Föll J, Brem G 1994 Consequences of postnatally elevated insulin-like growth factor-II in transgenic mice: endocrine changes and effects on body and organ growth. Endocrinology 135:1877–1886[Abstract]
  5. Hoeflich A, Schmidt P, Föll J, Rottmann O, Weber MM, Kolb HJ, Pirchner F, Wolf E 1998 Altered growth of mice divergently selected for body weight is associated with complex changes in the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor system. Growth Horm IGF Res 8:113–123[CrossRef][Medline]
  6. Wolf E, Lahm H, Wu M, Wanke R, Hoeflich A 2000 Effects of IGFBP-2 overexpression in vitro and in vivo. Pediatr Nephrol 14:572–578[CrossRef][Medline]
  7. Feyen JH, Evans DB, Binkert C, Heinrich GF, Geisse S, Kocher HP 1991 Recombinant human [Cys281]insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2 inhibits both basal and insulin-like growth factor I-stimulated proliferation and collagen synthesis in fetal rat calvariae. J Biol Chem 266:19469–19474[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  8. Höflich A, Lahm H, Blum W, Kolb H, Wolf E 1998 Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 potently inhibits cell proliferation in human embryonic kidney fibroblasts and of IGF-responsive colon carcinoma cell lines. FEBS Lett 434:329–334[CrossRef][Medline]
  9. Bradshaw SL, D’Ercole AJ, Han VK 1999 Overexpression of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 in C6 glioma cells results in conditional alteration of cellular growth. Endocrinology 140:575–584[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  10. Menouny M, Binoux M, Babajko S 1997 Role of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 and its limited proteolysis in neuroblastoma cell proliferation: modulation by transforming growth factor-beta and retinoic acid. Endocrinology 138:683–690[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  11. Menouny M, Binoux M, Babajko S 1998 IGFBP-2 expression in a human cell line is associated with increased IGFBP-3 proteolysis, decreased IGFBP-1 expression and increased tumorigenicity. Int J Cancer 77:874–879[CrossRef][Medline]
  12. Hoeflich A, Fettscher O, Lahm H, Blum WF, Kolb HJ, Engelhardt D, Wolf E, Weber MM 2000 Overexpression of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 results in increased tumorigenic potential in Y-1 adrenocortical tumor cells. Cancer Res 60:834–838[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  13. Pintar JE, Schuller A, Cerro JA, Czick M, Grewal A, Green B 1995 Genetic ablation of IGFBP-2 suggests functional redundancy in the IGFBP family. Prog Growth Factor Res 6:437–445[CrossRef][Medline]
  14. Wood TL, Rogler LE, Czick ME, Schuller AGP, Pintar JE 2000 Selective alterations in organ sizes in mice with a targeted disruption of the insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 gene. Mol Endocrinol 14:1472–1482[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  15. Hoeflich A, Wu M, Mohan S, Föll J, Wanke R, Froehlich T, Arnold GJ, Lahm H, Kolb HJ, Wolf E 1999 Overexpression of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 in transgenic mice reduces postnatal body weight gain. Endocrinology 140:5488–5496[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  16. Brem G, Wanke R, Wolf E, Buchmüller T, Müller M, Brenig B, Hermanns W 1989 Multiple consequences of human growth hormone expression in transgenic mice. Mol Biol Med 6:531–547[Medline]
  17. Wolf E, Wanke R, Hermanns W, Brem G, Pirchner F, von Butler-Wemken I 1991 Growth characteristics of metallothionein-human growth hormone transgenic mice as compared to mice selected for high eight-week body weight and unselected controls. I. Body weight gain and external body dimensions. Growth Dev Aging 55:225–235[Medline]
  18. Wolf E, Rapp K, Brem G 1991 Expression of metallothionein-human growth hormone fusion genes in transgenic mice results in disproportionate skeletal gigantism. Growth Dev Aging 55:117–127[Medline]
  19. Shea BT, Hammer RE, Brinster RL, Ravosa MR 1990 Relative growth of the skull and postcranium in giant transgenic mice. Genet Res 56:21–34[Medline]
  20. Oberbauer AM, Currier TA, Nancarrow CD, Ward KA, Murray JD 1992 Linear bone growth of oMtla-oGH transgenic male mice. Am J Physiol 262:E936–E942
  21. Shea BT, Hammer RE, Brinster RL 1987 Growth allometry of the organs in giant transgenic mice. Endocrinology 121:1924–1930[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  22. Cecim M, Bartke A, Yun JG, Wagner TE 1993 Growth allometry of transgenic mice expressing the mouse metallothionein-I/bovine growth hormone gene. Transgene 1:125–132
  23. Blackburn A, Schmitt A, Schmidt P, Wanke R, Hermanns W, Brem G, Wolf E 1997 Actions and interactions of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-II: body and organ growth of transgenic mice. Transgenic Res 6:213–222[CrossRef][Medline]
  24. Wanke R, Milz S, Rieger N, Ogiolda L, Renner-Müller I, Brem G, Hermanns W, Wolf E 1999 Overgrowth of the skin in growth hormone transgenic mice depends on the presence of male gonads. J Invest Dermatol 113:967–971[CrossRef][Medline]
  25. Wanke R, Hermanns W, Folger S, Wolf E, Brem G 1991 Accelerated growth and visceral lesions in transgenic mice expressing foreign genes of the growth hormone family. An overview. Pediatr Nephrol 5:513–521[CrossRef][Medline]
  26. Wanke R, Wolf E, Hermanns W, Folger S, Buchmüller T, Brem G 1992 The GH-transgenic mouse as an experimental model for growth research: clinical and pathological studies. Horm Res [Suppl 3] 37:74–87
  27. Wanke R, Wolf E, Brem G, Hermanns W 1996 Physiology and pathology of growth—studies in GH transgenic mice. J Anim Breed Genet 113:445–456
  28. Wolf E, Kahnt E, Ehrlein J, Hermanns W, Brem G, Wanke R 1993 Effects of long-term elevated serum levels of growth hormone on life expectancy of mice: lessons from transgenic animal models. Mech Ageing Dev 68:71–87[CrossRef][Medline]
  29. McGrane MM, de Vente J, Yun J, Bloom J, Park E, Wynshaw-Boris A, Wagner T, Rottman FM, Hanson RW 1988 Tissue-specific expression and dietary regulation of a chimeric phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase/bovine growth hormone gene in transgenic mice. J Biol Chem 263:11443–11451[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  30. Wolf E, Wanke R, Schenck E, Hermanns W, Brem G 1995 Effects of growth hormone overproduction on grip strength of transgenic mice. Eur J Endocrinol 133:735–740[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  31. Blum WF, Horn N, Kratzsch J, Jorgensen JOL, Juul A, Teale D, Mohnike K, Ranke MB 1993 Clinical studies of IGFBP-2 by radioimmunoassay. Growth Regul 3:100–103[Medline]
  32. Blum WF, Breier BH 1994 Radioimmunoassays for insulin-like growth factors and their binding proteins. Growth Regul [Suppl 1] 4:11–19
  33. Bang P, Baxter RC, Blum WF, Breier BH, Clemmons DR, Hall K, Hintz RL, Holly JMP, Rosenfeld RG, Zapf J 1995 Valid measurements of total IGF concentrations in biological fluids. Recommendations from the 3rd International Symposium on Insulin-like Growth Factors. Endocrinology 136:816–817[CrossRef][Medline]
  34. Erhard MH, Kellner J, Schmidhuber S, Schams D, Lösch U 1994 Identification of antigenic differences of recombinant and pituitary bovine growth hormone using monoclonal antibodies. J Immunoassay 15:1–19[Medline]
  35. Blackburn A, Dressendörfer RA, Blum WF, Erhard M, Brem G, Strasburger CJ, Wolf E 1997 Interactions of insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) and growth hormone (GH) in vivo: circulating levels of IGF-I and IGF-binding proteins in transgenic mice. Eur J Endocrinol 137:701–708[Abstract]
  36. Behringer RR, Lewin TM, Quaife CJ, Palmiter RD, Brinster RL, D’Ercole AJ 1990 Expression of insulin-like growth factor I stimulates normal somatic growth in growth hormone-deficient transgenic mice. Endocrinology 127:1033–1040[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  37. Liu J-L, LeRoith D 1999 Insulin-like growth factor I is essential for postnatal growth in response to growth hormone. Endocrinology 140:5178–5184[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  38. Mathews LS, Hammer RE, Behringer RR, D’Ercole AJ, Bell GI, Brinster RL, Palmiter RD 1988 Growth enhancement of transgenic mice expressing human insulin-like growth factor I. Endocrinology 123:2827–2833[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  39. Glasscock GF, Hein AN, Miller JA, Hintz RL, Rosenfeld RG 1992 Effects of continuous infusion of insulin-like growth factor I and II, alone and in combination with thyroxine or growth hormone, on the neonatal hypophysectomized rat. Endocrinology 130:203–210[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  40. Guler HP, Zapf J, Scheiwiller E, Froesch ER 1988 Recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I stimulates growth and has distinct effects on organ size in hypophysectomized rats. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 85:4889–4893[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  41. Skottner A, Clark RG, Fryklund L, Robinson ICAF 1989 Growth responses in a mutant dwarf rat to human growth hormone and recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I. Endocrinology 124:2519–2526[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  42. Sjogren K, Liu JL, Blad K, Skrtic S, Vidal O, Wallenius V, LeRoith D, Tornell J, Isaksson OG, Jansson JO, Ohlsson C 1999 Liver-derived insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is the principal source of IGF-I in blood but is not required for postnatal body growth in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 96:7088–7092[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  43. Murphy LJ, Bell GI, Duckworth ML, Friesen HG 1987 Identification, characterization, and regulation of a rat complementary deoxyribonucleic acid which encodes insulin-like growth factor-I. Endocrinology 121:684–691[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  44. Liu J-P, Baker J, Perkins AS, Robertson EJ, Efstratiadis A 1993 Mice carrying null mutations of the genes encoding insulin-like growth factor I (Igf-1) and type 1 IGF receptor (Igf1r). Cell 75:59–72[Medline]
  45. Powell-Braxton L, Hollingshead P, Warburton C, Dowd M, Pitts-Meek S, Dalton D, Gillett N, Stewart TA 1993 IGF-I is required for normal embryonic growth in mice. Genes Dev 7:2609–2617[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  46. Reiss K, Cheng W, Ferber A, Kajstura J, Li P, Li B, Olivetti G, Homcy CJ, Baserga R, Anversa P 1996 Overexpression of insulin-like growth factor-1 in the heart is coupled with myocyte proliferation in transgenic mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 93:8630–8635[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  47. Carson MJ, Behringer RR, Brinster RL, McMorris FA 1993 Insulin-like growth factor I increases brain growth and central nervous system myelination in transgenic mice. Neuron 10:729–740[CrossRef][Medline]
  48. Gutierrez-Ospina G, Calikoglu AS, Ye P, D’Ercole AJ 1996 In vivo effects of insulin-like growth factor-I on the development of sensory pathways: analysis of the primary somatic sensory cortex (S1) of transgenic mice. Endocrinology 137:5484–5492[Abstract]
  49. Rajkumar K, Barron D, Lewitt MS, Murphy LJ 1995 Growth retardation and hyperglycemia in insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 transgenic mice. Endocrinology 136:4029–4034[Abstract]
  50. Gay E, Seurin D, Babajko S, Doublier S, Cazillis M, Binoux M 1997 Liver-specific expression of human insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 in transgenic mice: repercussions on reproduction, ante- and perinatal mortality and postnatal growth. Endocrinology 138:2937–2947[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  51. D’Ercole AJ, Dai Z, Xing Y, Boney C, Wilkie MB, Lauder JM, Han VK, Clemmons DR 1994 Brain growth retardation due to the expression of human insulin like growth factor binding protein-1 in transgenic mice: an in vivo model for the analysis of IGF function in the brain. Brain Res Dev Brain Res 82:213–222[Medline]
  52. Ye P, Carson J, D’Ercole AJ 1995 Insulin-like growth factor-I influences the initiation of myelination: studies of the anterior commissure of transgenic mice. Neurosci Lett 201:235–238[CrossRef][Medline]
  53. Ye P, Carson J, D’Ercole AJ 1995 In vivo actions of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on brain myelination: studies of IGF-I and IGF binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) transgenic mice. J Neurosci 15:7344–7356[Abstract]
  54. Ni W, Rajkumar K, Nagy JI, Murphy LJ 1997 Impaired brain development and reduced astrocyte response to injury in transgenic mice expressing IGF binding protein-1. Brain Res 769:97–107[CrossRef][Medline]
  55. Schneider MR, Lahm H, Wu M, Hoeflich A, Wolf E 2000 Transgenic mouse models for studying the functions of insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins. FASEB J 14:629–640[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  56. Kelley KM, Oh Y, Gargosky SE, Gucev Z, Matsumoto T, Hwa V, Ng L, Simpson DM, Rosenfeld RG 1996 Insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBPs) and their regulatory dynamics. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 28:619–637[CrossRef][Medline]
  57. Yakar S, Liu JL, Stannard B, Butler A, Accili D, Sauer B, LeRoith D 1999 Normal growth and development in the absence of hepatic insulin-like growth factor I. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 96:7324–7329[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  58. Orian JM, Lee CS, Weiss LM, Brandon MR 1989 The expression of a metallothionein-ovine growth hormone fusion gene in transgenic mice does not impair fertility but results in pathological lesions in the liver. Endocrinology 124:455–463[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  59. Orian JM, Tamakoshi K, Mackey IR, Brandon MR 1990 New murine model for hepatocellular carcinoma: transgenic mice expressing metallothionein-ovine growth hormone fusion genes. J Natl Cancer Inst 82:393–398[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  60. Wolf E, Wanke R 1997 Growth hormone overproduction in transgenic mice: phenotypic alterations and deduced animal models. In: van Zutphen LFM, van der Meer M (eds) Welfare Aspects of Transgenic Animals. Springer, Heidelberg, pp 26–47
  61. Dai Z, Xing Y, Boney CM, Clemmons DR, D’Ercole AJ 1994 Human insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (hIGFBP-1) in transgenic mice: characterization and insights into the regulation of IGFBP-1 expression. Endocrinology 135:1316–1327[Abstract]
  62. Huang H, Rajkumar K, Murphy LJ 1997 Reduced fecundity in insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 transgenic mice. Biol Reprod 56:284–289[Abstract]



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Exp. Biol. Med.Home page
M. Bielohuby, J. Roemmler, J. Manolopoulou, I. Johnsen, M. Sawitzky, J. Schopohl, M. Reincke, E. Wolf, A. Hoeflich, and M. Bidlingmaier
Chronic Growth Hormone Excess Is Associated with Increased Aldosterone: A Study in Patients with Acromegaly and in Growth Hormone Transgenic Mice
Experimental Biology and Medicine, August 1, 2009; 234(8): 1002 - 1009.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
M. Bielohuby, M. Sawitzky, I. Johnsen, D. Wittenburg, F. Beuschlein, E. Wolf, and A. Hoeflich
Decreased p44/42 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphorylation in Gender- or Hormone-Related But Not during Age-Related Adrenal Gland Growth in Mice
Endocrinology, March 1, 2009; 150(3): 1269 - 1277.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
D. Kiepe, A. Van Der Pas, S. Ciarmatori, L. Standker, B. Schutt, A. Hoeflich, U. Hugel, J. Oh, and B. Tonshoff
Defined Carboxy-Terminal Fragments of Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF) Binding Protein-2 Exert Similar Mitogenic Activity on Cultured Rat Growth Plate Chondrocytes as IGF-I
Endocrinology, October 1, 2008; 149(10): 4901 - 4911.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J EndocrinolHome page
J. G Miquet, L. Gonzalez, M. N Matos, C. E Hansen, A. Louis, A. Bartke, D. Turyn, and A. I Sotelo
Transgenic mice overexpressing GH exhibit hepatic upregulation of GH-signaling mediators involved in cell proliferation
J. Endocrinol., August 1, 2008; 198(2): 317 - 330.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
V. E. DeMambro, D. R. Clemmons, L. G. Horton, M. L. Bouxsein, T. L. Wood, W. G. Beamer, E. Canalis, and C. J. Rosen
Gender-Specific Changes in Bone Turnover and Skeletal Architecture in Igfbp-2-Null Mice
Endocrinology, May 1, 2008; 149(5): 2051 - 2061.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
J. L. Martin and R. C. Baxter
Expression of Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein-2 by MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells Is Regulated through the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/AKT/Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Pathway
Endocrinology, May 1, 2007; 148(5): 2532 - 2541.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
C. Moerth, M. R. Schneider, I. Renner-Mueller, A. Blutke, M. W. Elmlinger, R. G. Erben, C. Camacho-Hubner, A. Hoeflich, and E. Wolf
Postnatally Elevated Levels of Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF)-II Fail to Rescue the Dwarfism of IGF-I-Deficient Mice except Kidney Weight
Endocrinology, January 1, 2007; 148(1): 441 - 451.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Mol EndocrinolHome page
K. W Frommer, K. Reichenmiller, B. S Schutt, A. Hoeflich, M. B Ranke, G. Dodt, and M. W Elmlinger
IGF-independent effects of IGFBP-2 on the human breast cancer cell line Hs578T.
J. Mol. Endocrinol., August 1, 2006; 37(1): 13 - 23.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Endocr. Rev.Home page
V. C. Russo, P. D. Gluckman, E. L. Feldman, and G. A. Werther
The Insulin-Like Growth Factor System and Its Pleiotropic Functions in Brain
Endocr. Rev., December 1, 2005; 26(7): 916 - 943.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Biol. Chem.Home page
I. S. Thorey, B. Hinz, A. Hoeflich, S. Kaesler, P. Bugnon, M. Elmlinger, R. Wanke, E. Wolf, and S. Werner
Transgenic Mice Reveal Novel Activities of Growth Hormone in Wound Repair, Angiogenesis, and Myofibroblast Differentiation
J. Biol. Chem., June 18, 2004; 279(25): 26674 - 26684.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
C. Palermo, P. Manduca, E. Gazzerro, L. Foppiani, D. Segat, and A. Barreca
Potentiating role of IGFBP-2 on IGF-II-stimulated alkaline phosphatase activity in differentiating osteoblasts
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, April 1, 2004; 286(4): E648 - E657.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Endocr. Rev.Home page
S. M. Firth and R. C. Baxter
Cellular Actions of the Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins
Endocr. Rev., December 1, 2002; 23(6): 824 - 854.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
FASEB J.Home page
A. HOEFLICH, M. M. WEBER, T. FISCH, S. NEDBAL, C. FOTTNER, M. W. ELMLINGER, R. WANKE, and E. WOLF
Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP-2) separates hypertrophic and hyperplastic effects of growth hormone (GH)/IGF-I excess on adrenocortical cells in vivo
FASEB J, November 1, 2002; 16(13): 1721 - 1731.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
J. V. Silha and L. J. Murphy
Minireview: Insights from Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein Transgenic Mice
Endocrinology, October 1, 2002; 143(10): 3711 - 3714.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
EndocrinologyHome page
E. L. K. Goh, T. Zhu, W.-Y. Leong, and P. E. Lobie
c-Cbl Is a Negative Regulator of GH-Stimulated STAT5-Mediated Transcription
Endocrinology, September 1, 2002; 143(9): 3590 - 3603.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
E. Tonner, M. C. Barber, G. J. Allan, J. Beattie, J. Webster, C. B. A. Whitelaw, and D. J. Flint
Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5 (IGFBP-5) induces premature cell death in the mammary glands of transgenic mice
Development, January 10, 2002; 129(19): 4547 - 4557.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Cancer Res.Home page
A. Hoeflich, R. Reisinger, H. Lahm, W. Kiess, W. F. Blum, H. J. Kolb, M. M. Weber, and E. Wolf
Insulin-like Growth Factor-binding Protein 2 in Tumorigenesis: Protector or Promoter?
Cancer Res., December 1, 2001; 61(24): 8601 - 8610.
[Full Text] [PDF]


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Hoeflich, A.
Right arrow Articles by Wolf, E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Hoeflich, A.
Right arrow Articles by Wolf, E.


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals