Insulin-like growth factor physiology: what we have learned from human studies.
Although very similar to insulin and its receptor; the modus operandi of the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) within the body is very different from that of the traditional peptide hormone. The IGF-binding proteins bind the IGFs with greater affinity than the cell surface receptors, enabling them to tightly control tissue activity. In addition to their role in fetal and childhood growth, IGFs play an important role in metabolic regulation. This article describes the basic underlying human physiology of IGFs, how this differs from that of experimental models, and why some information can only be learned from human clinical studies.
School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, IGFs & Metabolic Endocrinology Group, Learning & Research Building, 2nd Floor, Southmead Hospital, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK. Jeff.holly@bristol.ac.uk
Jeff M P
JM
Holly
Claire M
CM
Perks
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000502:physiology*; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D017451:Receptors, Somatomedin / Q000502:physiology; D057185:Sedentary Behavior
D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D017451:Receptors, Somatomedin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II