Oral Insulin-like Growth Factor-I Combined Alters Intestinal Protein Synthesis in Parenterally-fed Piglets

Partial enteral nutrition (PEN) supplemented with insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) to neonatal piglets receiving parenteral nutrition increases lactase-phlorizin hydrolase (LPH) activity, but not LPH mRNA. The goal of the current study was to investigate the mechanism by which IGF-I up-regulates LPH activity. We hypothesized that IGF-I regulates LPH synthesis post-transcriptionally. Methods: Newborn piglets (n=15) received 100% parenteral nutrition (TPN), 80% parenteral nutrition + 20% PEN (PEN), or PEN + IGF-I (1.0mg/kg/d). On day 7, two stable isotopes of leucine, [$^2 H_3$]-leucine and [$^{13}C_1$]-L-leucine were intravenously administered to measure mucosal protein and brush LPH (BB LPH) synthesis. Results: Weight gain, nutrient intake and jejunal weight and length were similar among the treatment groups. PEN increased mucosal weight, villus width and cross-sectional area, LPH activity, mRNA expression and the abundance of proLPHh compared to 100% TPN (p<0.05). IGF-I further increased mucosal weight, LPH activity and LPH activity per unit BB LPH ~2-fold over PEN alone (p<0.05), but did not affect LPH mRNA or the abundance of proLPHh or mature LPH. Isotopic enrichment of [$^2 H_3$]-leucine and [$^{13}C_1$]-L-leucine in plasma, mucosal protein and LPH precursors, and the fractional and absolute synthesis rates of mucosal protein and LPH were similar among the treatment groups. Total mucosal protein synthesis was increased 60% (p<0.05) and LPH synthesis tended (p=0.14) to be greater in the IGF-I treated animals compared to the other two groups. Conclusions: The primary mechanism by which IGF-I up-regulates LPH may be post-translational, either via reducing LPH turnover, or by specifically altering LPH activity.