Does insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) gene polymorphism affect acne?

Does insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) gene polymorphism affect acne?

Introduction: Acne vulgaris is the most typical disorder affecting adolescents. Heritability is 80% in first-degree relatives. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) is structurally and functionally related to insulin. It consists of about 195 amino acids located on the cytogenetic band 12q23.2. Studies have shown an association between IGF-1 signaling which plays a role in acne by affecting IGF-1 levels and androgen metabolism. Variability in levels shows genetic regulation. There is a functional relationship between IGF (CA19) polymorphism and IGF-1 levels. Studies have shown varied incidences of polymorphism which needs further probing. Objectives: To determine IGF gene polymorphism frequency in acne in the Pakistani population and compare this between cases and controls. Methodology: Case-control study in Dermatology Department, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. Two hundred and seventy patients and 80 age and gender-matched controls were recruited by non-probability purposive sampling. Blood was drawn after an overnight fast for genomic DNA extraction and IGF-1 levels. PCR determined IGF-1 gene polymorphism. Forward primers were labeled with FAM (6-carboxyfluorescein) to analyze the PCR product. The frequency of polymorphisms and IGF-1 levels was compared between cases and controls. Quantitative variables were expressed as median and percentiles as data were non-normal. Comparisons were done by the Mann-Whitney U test and correlations by Spearman’s correlation. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: IGF-1 levels differed significantly between cases and controls. I87/x was the most frequent polymorphism in both patients and controls. In cases, the most frequent polymorphism was the (187/187) homozygous allele; in controls, it was the 187 heterozygous allele (187/x). The frequency of some polymorphisms was significantly higher in cases compared to controls. Gene polymorphism was significantly associated with serum IGF-1 levels. These findings will help in establishing a genetic and endocrine basis for acne and can be used in pharmacogenomics.

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