Assessment of Immune Cells Number and Function, Haemorheology and Gene Expression Following Short-term Administration of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone to Healthy Males

Abstract

Introduction: Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) has been extensively used by healthy young males and athletes in the attempt to improve body mass and sports performance. The expression of GH receptors (GHR) has been reported previously by dual fluorochrome flow cytometry on human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). In the human,rat, and dog immune systems the presence of GH and GH mRNA, as well as their cellular distribution in the spleen, thymus, bone marrow, tonsils, lymph nodes, liver and in leucocytes has been reported in the literature. Although many studies have addressed the ability of the immune system to control pituitary GH secretion, no studies have been reported on the effect of the immune activation due to rhGH in healthy population. The in vitro growth-promoting effect of hGH upon human erythroid precursors was previously proven to be mediated by paracrine IGF-I. However, the effects of rhGH on the blood rheology of healthy population are still to be evaluated. Hence this PhD is composed of three main investigations.

Date of Award	6 Sept 2012
Original language	English
Supervisor	Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik (Supervisor) & Mieke L. Van Driel (Supervisor)