Growth hormone receptor antagonists.
Growth hormone (GH) has profound effects on vertebrate growth and cellular differentiation in diverse tissue types. Sexually dimorphic levels of circulating GH vary during development and throughout the lifespan. The synthesis and secretion of GH by the pituitary gland are precisely controlled. Abnormal levels are pathological; hyposecretion in children results in dwarfism while hypersecretion results in acromegaly. This review provides an overview of GH and the GH/insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) axis and highlights a GH receptor antagonist (i.e. Somavert(R), pegvisomant). This antagonist competes with endogenous GH for the receptor and results in suppression of serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). Pegvisomant is important for the treatment of acromegaly and may have therapeutic implications for certain types of cancer and end organ damage due to diabetes.
Kohn
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Edison Biotechnology Institute, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701, USA. kopchick@edison.biotech.ohiou.ed
Kopchick
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JJ
D000172:Acromegaly / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000188:drug therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D054439:Ghrelin; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008954:Models, Biological; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D051381:Rats; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D054440:Receptors, Ghrelin; D011986:Receptors, Somatotropin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D054439:Ghrelin; D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D054440:Receptors, Ghrelin; D011986:Receptors, Somatotropin; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone; C406545:pegvisomant; C051815:somatotropin-binding protein