The role of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding protein-2 in the insulin-mediated decrease in IGF-I bioactivity.

Background: Insulin interacts with the GH-IGF system by a reciprocal regulation of IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP) and GH, which in turn regulate insulin sensitivity via bioactive IGF-I. This network is linked to metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases.

Objective: We evaluated the effect of glucose and insulin on IGFBP-1-4, particularly IGFBP-2, in the regulation of bioactive IGF-I and its relation to insulin resistance.

Methods: The study was conducted at an endocrinology center. Methods: Twenty-four healthy subjects (12 men; aged 21-72 yr; body mass index 25.9 +/- 0.9 kg/m(2)) and 19 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT; eight men; aged 26-71 yr; body mass index 28.9 +/- 1.2 kg/m(2)) were prospectively studied using oral glucose tolerance test and hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp.

Results: During the clamp, insulin decreased IGF-I bioactivity in both IGT subjects and controls (-16.2 +/- 2.8 and -13.9 +/- 3.3%, respectively; P < 0.01). In addition, insulin increased IGFBP-2 and GH and decreased IGFBP-1 and -4 but did not alter total IGF-I, IGF-II, or IGFBP-3 levels. During the oral glucose tolerance test, GH and IGFBP-1 were markedly suppressed. Subjects with IGT showed more pronounced insulin resistance and lower GH, IGFBP-1, and IGFBP-2 levels (P < 0.05). In multiple regression analysis, IGFBP-2 was an independent predictor of insulin sensitivity (beta = 0.36, P < 0.05) and IGF-I bioactivity (beta = -0.5, P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Our data indicate that insulin acutely decreases IGF-I bioactivity through differential modulation of IGFBPs. Furthermore, IGFBP-2 plays a central role in the insulin-IGF system cross talk and is closely linked to insulin resistance, thereby providing a further explanation for its association with the metabolic syndrome.