High Molecular Complexes of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I in Human Saliva

Insulin-like growth factor-I is one of the most important growth factors involved in oral biology. It circulates in plasma in a form of complex with binding proteins—IGFBPs and acid labile subunit—ALS. It was decided to assess the content of IGF-I in human saliva in relation to other proteins, and the expression and content of its binding proteins and ALS of healthy people of different gender and age. Research material was mixed resting saliva obtained from 70 healthy volunteers, which were divided into seven groups, taking into account age and gender. For qualitative and quantitative evaluation of IGF-I complexes with IGFBP-5 and ALS there were used: western immunoblot and ELISA assay. It was shown that human saliva contained IGF-I mainly in the form of macromolecular complexes. Expression and content of IGFBP-5 and ALS were affected by gender and age.