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IGF Binding Proteins

Meaning

A family of six structurally related proteins (IGFBP-1 to IGFBP-6) that circulate in the blood and reside in the extracellular matrix, serving as the primary modulators of the biological actions of Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) and IGF-2. These proteins regulate the bioavailability, half-life, and tissue-specific delivery of the IGFs, fundamentally controlling their anabolic and mitogenic effects on growth, metabolism, and cellular proliferation. The balance between free and bound IGF is a critical determinant of growth factor signaling.