부산대학교 도서관

There is evidence that muscle forms part of endocrine networks, secreting/or responding to circulating agents such as leptin and interleukin6 as well as the classical hormone insulin. To gain further insight into the possible role of these hormones and cytokines in muscle degenerative diseases, we investigate their concentrations in sera from patients with muscular dystrophy and mitochondrial encephalomyopathy. In 13 patients with muscular dystrophy, in eight patients with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, and in 8 agematched healthy control subjects, the concentrations of leptin, insulin, insulinlike growth factor I, insulinlike growth factor binding protein3 (IGFBP3), interleukin 6 and interleukin 8 in sera were determined. The only statistically significant difference between patient groups and controls was lower IGFBP3 levels in patients with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy. Save the IGFBP3, the other hormones and cytokines measured do not appear to be involved in the pathophysiology of these myopathies, at least in an endocrine, as opposed to a paraor autocrine, role.