Abstract: The present study was designed to investigate the repairing effect of insulin-like growth factors-I (IGF-I) on acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)-induced damage of intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6). The cell damage model was induced by ASA. The CCK-8 assay was used to evaluate the proliferation of IEC-6. After being treated with ASA and IGF-I, the cells were collected for determining the activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and the culture supernatant for analysis of Na+,K+-ATPase and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and the contents of total protein and malondialdelyde (MDA). We found that compared with the control group, IGF-I at all concentrations tested promoted cell proliferation (P < 0.05). IGF-I increased the cell survival rate, decreased the LDH activity in the culture supernatant and reduced the ALP activity and MDA content in the cells, as well as elevated the total protein content and Na+,K+-ATPase activity. According to our results, IGF-I can promote the proliferation of IEC-6 damaged by ASA, inhibit membrane lipid peroxidation, maintain the morphological integrity and consequently repair cell damage.

Key words: insulin-like growth factors-I, acetylsalicylic acid, intestinal epithelial cells, injury, proliferation