Dietary or pharmacological inhibition of insulin-like growth factor-1 protects from renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice

One-week protein restriction (PR) limits ischemia-reperfusion (IR) damages and improves metabolic fitness. Similarly, longer-term calory restriction results in increased lifespan, partly via reduced insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1. However, the influence of short-term PR on IGF-1 and its impact on IR are unknown. PR was achieved in mice via one-week carbohydrate loading and/or through a low-protein diet. PR decreased IGF-1 circulating levels as well as renal and hepatic expression. Upon renal IR, serum IGF-1 positively correlated with renal dysfunction and tissular damages, independently of sex and age. Exogenous IGF-1 administration abrogated PR benefits during IR, while IGF-1 receptor inhibition with linsitinib was protective. IGF-1 was associated with a reduction in forkhead box O (FoxO), and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathways previously demonstrated to improve IR resilience in various organs. These data support dietary or pharmacological reduction of IGF-1 signaling to mitigate IR injury prior to solid organ transplantation and beyond. [Display omitted] •IGF-1 levels positively correlate with severity following renal IR injury•Pharmacological inhibition of IGF-1 signaling protects against renal IR injury•Exogenous IGF-1 increases IR injury and abrogates protein restriction benefits•IGF-1 downregulates FoxO and AMPK signaling pathways in the kidney Pharmacology; Natural sciences; Biological sciences; Biochemistry; Physiology; Cellular physiology