Growth Hormone, Hypothalamic Inflammation, and Aging.

Licio A Velloso, Jose Donato

Laboratory of Cell Signalling‑Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil. · pubmed

Paper

Abstract

While inflammation is a crucial response in injury repair and tissue regeneration, chronic inflammation is a prevalent feature in various chronic, non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cancer and in cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Long-term inflammation considerably affects disease prevalence, quality of life, and longevity. Our research indicates that the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor 1 (GH/IGF-1) axis is a pivotal regulator of inflammation in some tissues, including the hypothalamus, which is a key player in systemic metabolism regulation. Moreover, the GH/IGF-1 axis is strongly linked to longevity, as GH- or GH receptor-deficient mice live approximately twice as long as wild-type animals and exhibit protection against aging-induced inflammation. Conversely, GH excess leads to increased neuroinflammation and reduced longevity. Our review studies the associations between the GH/IGF-1 axis, inflammation, and aging, with a particular focus on evidence suggesting that GH receptor signaling directly induces hypothalamic inflammation. This finding underscores the significant impact of changes in the GH axis on metabolism and on the predisposition to chronic, non-communicable diseases.

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Research summary

The paper discusses the role of the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor 1 (GH/IGF-1) axis in regulating inflammation and its implications for longevity. It highlights the connection between chronic inflammation and aging, as well as the effects of GH on lifespan in animal models. While the findings contribute to understanding the mechanisms linking inflammation and aging, the research appears to be more of a solid review rather than presenting groundbreaking new insights. Thus, it has a limited but notable impact on the field of longevity research.

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