Abstract
In animals insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) stimulates collagen production by fibroblasts and is expressed in tendons together with its binding protein 4 (IGFBP-4). However, the presence of IGF-I and IGFBP-4 in human tendon tissue is not described. Tissue IGF-I content was examined by immunoflourometric assay, real-time PCR, and immunohistochemistry used to localize and determine expression of IGF-I and IGFBP-4 in 6 postmortem human Achilles tendons. Tendon tissue concentrations of IGF-I were found to be 0.53 +/- 0.10 ng/g. Furthermore, we demonstrated that IGF-I and IGFBP-4 are localized around the tendon fibroblasts and that mRNA for IGF-I and IGFBP-4 can be determined in human tendon tissue. The present study adds support for the roles of IGF-I and IGFBP-4 in the regulation of tendon adaptive responses to mechanical loading.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Connective Tissue Research |
Volume | 47 |
Issue number | 4 |
Pages (from-to) | 200-206 |
Number of pages | 7 |
ISSN | 0300-8207 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2006 |
Keywords
- Achilles Tendon
- Adult
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
- Gene Expression
- Humans
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 4
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
- Male
- RNA, Messenger
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction