Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF) refers to a family of peptide hormones that play crucial roles in cellular development, growth, and metabolism, exhibiting structural and functional similarities to insulin.
Context
IGFs, primarily IGF-1 and IGF-2, are produced mainly by the liver under the stimulation of Growth Hormone (GH) but also locally in various tissues. They are key mediators of GH action and are involved in regulating numerous physiological processes, including growth, cell proliferation, and differentiation.
Significance
IGFs are vital for normal growth during childhood and adolescence and continue to play roles in tissue maintenance and repair throughout adulthood. Their levels are important indicators for diagnosing growth disorders, acromegaly, and assessing metabolic health.
Mechanism
IGFs exert their effects by binding to specific IGF receptors (IGF-1R) on cell surfaces, initiating intracellular signaling cascades, most notably the PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways. These pathways regulate protein synthesis, glucose metabolism, cell survival, and differentiation.
Application
Clinical assessment of IGF-1 levels is standard in evaluating growth hormone status. Therapeutic applications include the use of recombinant IGF-1 (e.g., mecasermin) for specific growth hormone insensitivity syndromes. Research is ongoing into their role in aging and metabolic diseases.
Metric
The primary metric for assessing IGF activity is the measurement of serum IGF-1 levels, often accompanied by measurements of Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 (IGFBP-3), which stabilizes IGFs in circulation and modulates their bioavailability.
Risk
Excessive IGF-1 levels can lead to conditions like acromegaly in adults or gigantism in children. Chronically elevated IGF-1 has also been associated with an increased risk of certain cancers due to its potent mitogenic effects. Conversely, deficiency impacts growth and development.
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