Alternative Splicing of IGF1 Gene as a Potential Factor in the Pathogenesis of Peyronie's Disease.

BACKGROUND/AIM Peyronie's disease (PD) is a fibrotic entity for which the pathogenetic mechanism remains unclear and if resulting in severe deformity, its treatment is only surgical. In this study we investigated the possible role of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) expression in the pathogenesis of PD. MATERIALS AND METHODS Tissue samples were obtained from plaques of 24 patients with PD. The expression of IGF1 isoforms was investigated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence. RESULTS All IGF1 isoform gene expression (Ea, Eb and Ec) were found significantly decreased in the affected tunica albuginea, compared to normal tunica albuginea, with Ec showing the greatest decrease. Staining of tissue sections with an antibody against IGF1Ec confirmed greater expression of IGF1Ec isoform in normal tunica albuginea. CONCLUSION The expression of all IGF1 alternative spliced isoforms is decreased in patients with PD, suggestive of its possible participation in the pathophysiology of PD.