The IGF-1 Biomarker, or Insulin-like Growth Factor 1, is a key polypeptide hormone synthesized predominantly by the liver in direct response to circulating growth hormone (GH) stimulation. It functions as the principal endocrine mediator of many of GH’s anabolic and growth-promoting effects on the musculoskeletal system, connective tissues, and various other peripheral organs. Clinically, the concentration of IGF-1 in the blood provides a stable, reliable, and integrated reflection of overall growth hormone secretion and action over time, making it an indispensable diagnostic tool for assessing growth disorders and monitoring the efficacy of GH replacement therapy.
Origin
The name is descriptive of both its chemical structure and its biological function: “Insulin-like” due to its structural homology to proinsulin, and “Growth Factor” because of its potent mitogenic and metabolic actions. The term “Biomarker” denotes its utility as a measurable indicator of a specific biological or pathological state. IGF-1 was definitively isolated and characterized in the 1970s, establishing its crucial role within the somatotropic endocrine axis.
Mechanism
Growth hormone, secreted in a pulsatile manner from the anterior pituitary gland, travels to the liver and stimulates the production and subsequent release of IGF-1 into the systemic circulation. IGF-1 then acts on target tissues by binding to the specific IGF-1 receptor, initiating an intracellular signaling cascade, predominantly through the PI3K/Akt pathway. This complex signaling promotes cellular proliferation, differentiation, and survival, leading to tissue growth and metabolic changes, which is the functional basis for its role as a key biomarker.
Sermorelin scientifically stimulates the pituitary gland to release endogenous growth hormone, recalibrating the body's natural rhythms for enhanced vitality.
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