Neurodevelopmental effects of insulin-like growth factor signaling.
Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling greatly impacts the development and growth of the central nervous system (CNS). IGF-I and IGF-II, two ligands of the IGF system, exert a wide variety of actions both during development and in adulthood, promoting the survival and proliferation of neural cells. The IGFs also influence the growth and maturation of neural cells, augmenting dendritic growth and spine formation, axon outgrowth, synaptogenesis, and myelination. Specific IGF actions, however, likely depend on cell type, developmental stage, and local microenvironmental milieu within the brain. Emerging research also indicates that alterations in IGF signaling likely contribute to the pathogenesis of some neurological disorders. This review summarizes experimental studies and shed light on the critical roles of IGF signaling, as well as its mechanisms, during CNS development.
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 1M9.
John
J
O'Kusky
Ping
P
Ye
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D017527:Receptor, IGF Type 2 / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D017527:Receptor, IGF Type 2; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1