Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 and insulin‐like growth factor binding protein‐3: impact on early haematopoietic reconstitution following allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Abstract

Objectives The aim of the study was to investigate whether high endogenous levels of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) and its binding protein‐3 (IGFBP‐3) were related to a faster reconstitution of different blood cell populations in the early phase after allogeneic myeloablative haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Methods We measured IGF‐1 and IGFBP‐3 by chemiluminescence during the first three weeks after transplantation in 35 adult patients undergoing myeloablative HSCT and calculated area under the curve divided by time (AUC/t) for each patient. Results Circulating levels of IGF‐1 and IGFBP‐3 correlated with counts of reticulocytes (rs = 0.44, p = .011 and r = 0.41, p = .017, respectively) and thrombocytes (rs = 0.38, p = .030 and rs = 0.56, p = .0008) three weeks post‐transplant. Furthermore, high IGFBP‐3 levels correlated with absolute lymphocyte counts 3 weeks post‐HSCT (rs = 0.54, p = .012) and were associated with shorter time to neutrophil engraftment (rs = −0.35, p = .043). Both IGF‐1 and IGFBP‐3 levels were associated with the number of circulating natural killer cells one month after HSCT (rs = 0.42, p = .032 and rs = 0.57, p = .0026). Conclusion These data indicate that high levels of IGF‐1 and IGFBP‐3 relate to a faster haematopoietic reconstitution after HSCT and suggest a biological influence of these mediators in haematopoietic homeostasis in these patients.