The clinical or physiological elevation of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1), a polypeptide hormone primarily synthesized in the liver in response to Growth Hormone (GH) stimulation. IGF-1 acts as the main mediator of GH’s anabolic effects, playing a crucial role in cell growth, tissue repair, and muscle hypertrophy. Appropriate increases are essential for maintaining lean body mass and bone density, particularly as part of an anti-aging strategy.
Origin
The term originates from endocrinology, following the discovery that GH’s effects were largely mediated by a secondary factor, initially called ‘sulfation factor’ and later identified as IGF-1. The measurement of IGF-1 provides a more stable and clinically useful index of GH status than measuring GH itself.
Mechanism
Growth Hormone binds to receptors in the liver, stimulating the transcription and secretion of IGF-1 into the circulation. IGF-1 then acts locally and systemically by binding to its own tyrosine kinase receptors on target cells, activating intracellular signaling pathways like the PI3K/Akt cascade. This cascade promotes protein synthesis, inhibits apoptosis, and drives cellular proliferation, leading to the anabolic effects associated with an optimized hormonal environment.
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