Abstract
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is known to accelerate proliferation and differentiation of multiple cell types. We previously reported that growth hormone deficient (GHD) children have decreased urinary EGF excretion compared to normal children and the excretion of EGF increases with growth hormone (GH) administration. We developed a heterologous, double antibody radioimmunoassay (RIA) based on mEGF to estimate plasma concentrations of EGF in humans. The detection limit of the assay was 0.10 ng/ml. Using this method, mean concentration of EGF in plasma from adults was 4.8±1.7 ng/ml and the mean concentration in normal children was 8.4±0.3 ng/ml. Plasma and urinary EGF in GHD children before and during treatment (0.08 U GH/kg t.i.w.) are shown in the table below:
These data suggest that the plasma concentrations of EGF do not change with GH treatment of GHD children despite increases in urinary excretion. We conclude that the increased urinary excretion of EGF could reflect increased urinary clearance of this factor rather than increased production.
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Frindik, J., Kemp, S. & Elders, M. ROLE OF GROWTH HORMONE ON PLASMA EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR CONCENTRATIONS. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 247 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00480
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00480