IGFBP-2 partly mediates the early metabolic improvements caused by bariatric surgery

Justine Faramia, Centre de recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
Zheng Hao, Neurobiology of Nutrition & Metabolism Department, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA.
Michael B. Mumphrey, Neurobiology of Nutrition & Metabolism Department, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA.
R Leigh Townsend, Neurobiology of Nutrition & Metabolism Department, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA.
Stéphanie Miard, Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
Anne-Marie Carreau, Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Centre de Recherche du CHUS, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
Mélanie Nadeau, Centre de recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
Frédérique Frisch, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Elizabeth Cauffman, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA.

Abstract

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein (IGFBP)-2 is a circulating biomarker of cardiometabolic health. Here, we report that circulating IGFBP-2 concentrations robustly increase after different bariatric procedures in humans, reaching higher levels after biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS) than after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG). This increase is closely associated with insulin sensitization. In mice and rats, BPD-DS and RYGB operations also increase circulating IGFBP-2 levels, which are not affected by SG or caloric restriction. In mice, deficiency significantly impairs surgery-induced loss in adiposity and early improvement in insulin sensitivity but does not affect long-term enhancement in glucose homeostasis. This study demonstrates that the modulation of circulating IGFBP-2 may play a role in the early improvement of insulin sensitivity and loss of adiposity brought about by bariatric surgery.