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IGF-1 Provides Protective Role in Arteriosclerotic Cerebral Small Vessel Disease
Xiangming Xu, Ming Yi, Chi Xiao, Jing Yang, Jiayu Guo, Wenli Zhou, Kun Zhou, Liuting Hu et al.. Hypertension, 2025-04-18
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Serum IGF-1 concentration was significantly reduced in patients and rats with arteriosclerotic cSVD. Lower serum IGF-1 was associated with an increased cSVD burden and cognitive impairment. Compared with cSVD rats, IGF-1-treated rats had lighter white matter lesions, greater global cerebral blood flow, greater cerebrovascular density, less blood-brain barrier leakage, and better cognitive function. In vitro, IGF-1 administration promoted endothelial proliferation, migration, tube formation, and barrier function. Mechanistically, IGF-1 exerts neuroprotective effects by activating the IGF-1R (IGF-1 receptor)/Wnt7b (Wnt family member 7b)/β-catenin pathway in vivo and in vitro. Low serum IGF-1 was associated with greater arteriosclerotic cSVD severity. IGF-1 treatment improved cerebral perfusion, blood-brain barrier integrity, and cognitive function in cSVD rats by activating the IGF-1R/Wnt7b/β-catenin pathway, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with arteriosclerotic cSVD, particularly those with low IGF-1 levels.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Xu, X., Yi, M., Xiao, C., Yang, J., Guo, J., Zhou, W., et al. (2025). IGF-1 Provides Protective Role in Arteriosclerotic Cerebral Small Vessel Disease. Hypertension. https://doi.org/10.1161/hypertensionaha.124.24341
Vancouver
Xu X, Yi M, Xiao C, Yang J, Guo J, Zhou W, et al. IGF-1 Provides Protective Role in Arteriosclerotic Cerebral Small Vessel Disease. Hypertension. 2025. doi:10.1161/hypertensionaha.124.24341. PMID: 40248881.
BibTeX
@article{xu2025-40248881,
author = {Xu, Xiangming and Yi, Ming and Xiao, Chi and Yang, Jing and Guo, Jiayu and Zhou, Wenli and Zhou, Kun and Hu, Liuting and others},
title = {{IGF-1 Provides Protective Role in Arteriosclerotic Cerebral Small Vessel Disease}},
journal = {Hypertension},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1161/hypertensionaha.124.24341},
pmid = {40248881},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1161/hypertensionaha.124.24341}
}
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Key findings
- Serum IGF-1 concentration was significantly reduced in patients and rats with arteriosclerotic cSVD.
- Lower serum IGF-1 was associated with an increased cSVD burden and cognitive impairment.
- Compared with cSVD rats, IGF-1-treated rats had lighter white matter lesions, greater global cerebral blood flow, greater cerebrovascular density, less blood-brain barrier leakage, and better cognitive function.
- In vitro, IGF-1 administration promoted endothelial proliferation, migration, tube formation, and barrier function.
- Mechanistically, IGF-1 exerts neuroprotective effects by activating the IGF-1R (IGF-1 receptor)/Wnt7b (Wnt family member 7b)/β-catenin pathway in vivo and in vitro.
Why it matters
In this study, lower serum IGF-1 was associated with greater arteriosclerotic small vessel disease burden and cognitive impairment, and IGF-1 treatment improved cerebral perfusion, blood-brain barrier integrity, and cognitive function in rats through the IGF-1R/Wnt7b/β-catenin pathway. The therapeutic suggestion is based largely on animal and in-vitro work and has not been established as a treatment for patients.
Study details
- Participants26
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 42/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Hypertension) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Hypertension: journal h-index 369 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 26 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 9 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 3.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 9 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Yuhua Fan: h-index 32 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Sun Yat-sen University: institution h-index 851 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40248881) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 42 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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