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Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptors in human spinal cord: changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

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Summary

Neurotrophic factors are important for neuronal survival and maintenance in the adult nervous system. The regional distribution of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) receptors in human spinal cords from controls and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients was studied by immunohistochemistry and quantitative autoradiography. When comparing125I-IGF-1 binding in the different spinal levels of normal spinal cord the same distribution pattern was found in which the binding was highest in the central canal > dorsal horn > ventral horn > white matter. In the ALS cases although a general upregulation of IGF-1 receptors was observed throughout the spinal cord, significant increases were observed in the cervical and sacral segments compared to controls. IGF-1 receptor immunoreactivity showed a similar pattern to that for125I-IGF-1 binding, with immunoreactivity being found in the gray matter of the spinal cord and enhanced immunoreactivity occuring in ALS patients compared to controls. In agreement with the distribution of IGF-1 receptors, IGF-1 immunoreactivity was found within the gray matter of the spinal cord. The cartography of IGF-1 receptors in the normal spinal cord as well as the change of these receptors in diseased spinal cord may be of importance in future treatment strategies of ALS.

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Author notes

  1. A. Adem

    Present address: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Huddinge Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Sweden

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Huddinge Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Sweden

    B. Winblad

  2. Department of Neurology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

    J. Ekblom, P. G. Gillberg & S. M. Aquilonius

  3. Department of Medical Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

    S. S. Jossan

  4. Department of Microbiology, The Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, USA

    L. H. Wang

  5. Department of Pathology, Karolinska Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

    A. Höög & V. Sara

Authors
  1. A. Adem
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  2. J. Ekblom
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  3. P. G. Gillberg
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  4. S. S. Jossan
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  5. A. Höög
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  6. B. Winblad
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  7. S. M. Aquilonius
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  8. L. H. Wang
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  9. V. Sara
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Adem, A., Ekblom, J., Gillberg, P.G. et al. Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptors in human spinal cord: changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J. Neural Transmission 97, 73–84 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01277964

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01277964

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