Variation in plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3: genetic factors.

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) play key roles in cell proliferation and apoptosis. Whereas relatively stable within individuals, IGFs vary substantially between individuals, and a large component of this variation may be determined by genetic factors. Several polymorphisms in IGF genes have been identified, although their functional significance is not clear. We evaluated the association of polymorphisms in IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 and circulating levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in 323 population-based control subjects enrolled in a case-control study of colorectal cancer from September 1999 through February 2002. Total IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were measured using ELISA assays, and all subjects were genotyped for a microsatellite polymorphism in IGF-1 and a single nucleotide polymorphism in IGFBP-3. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the association of genotype with circulating IGFs. IGF-1 levels were unrelated to either polymorphism. IGFBP-3 was significantly associated with IGFBP-3 genotype, with IGFBP-3 levels increasing from CC (1,895 ng/mL) --> GC (2,029 ng/mL) --> GG (2,182 ng/mL), (p-trend < 0.001). Having an IGF-1 genotype other than homozygous for the 19-repeat allele was associated with higher IGFBP-3 levels (1,945 versus 2,052 ng/mL). Furthermore, both IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 genotypes modified the relationship between postmenopausal hormone use and IGFs. This analysis provides evidence that common variation in IGF genes may contribute to the variation in circulating levels observed between individuals.