ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of GH on proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells and observe the features of IGF-IGFBP3 pathway in the host after GH administration. Methods Pancreatic cancer cells (SW-1990,PANC-1 and P3) during exponential growth stage were harvested and cultured in medium containing growth hormone (50 ng/ml). After 24, 48 and 72 hours, cells were counted using a Coulter Counter. Thirty-five Athymic nude Balb/c mice were inoculated with SW-1990cells. When tumors became palpable after inoculation, animals were randomized to receive GH points (1 h, 2 h, 6 h, 24 after the last injection), plasma samples were gathered for subsequent ELISA determination and liver was rapidly incised for immune blotting analysis. Results The results revealed that GH stimulated cell growth in vitro. GH elevated levels of IGF-Ⅰ , Ⅱ at the 1st , 2nd , 6th hour after the last injection. GH augmented the expression of IGFBP3 in the liver of the host in vivo (1 h, 2 h, 6 h, 24 h, respectively). Conclusion Such proteins as IGF- Ⅰ and Ⅱ might be associated with mechanism of last effect of GH on tumor host. The up-regulation of IGFBP3 by GH administration in the host may help to explain the phenomena that GH doesn't accelerate growth of pancreatic tumor in vivo.