Levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3, CRP, metabolic factors, and immune cells

Serum levels of Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-Binding Protein 3 (IGFBP-3) were determined at the Endocrine Routine Laboratory (University Hospital of Würzburg). Measurement of IGF-1 (L2KIGF2) and IGFBP-3 (L2KGB2) was performed according to the manufacturer’s instruction, using the Immulite 2000 system - an automated solid-phase, Electrochemiluminescence-Immunoassay (ECLIA) from Siemens Healthcare (Germany). Levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglyceride, lymphocytes, leukocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils were measured within the clinical diagnostics facility of Berlin, Labor28. Serum concentrations of cholesterols and triglyceride were measured using enzymatic colorimetric tests (Roche, Basel, Switzerland). Counts of the immune cells were determined by flow cytometry (Sysmex, Norderstedt, Germany).