title: Human conditions of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) deficiency.
abstract: Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is a polypeptide hormone produced mainly by the liver in response to the endocrine GH stimulus, but it is also secreted by multiple tissues for autocrine/paracrine purposes. IGF-I is partly responsible for systemic GH activities although it possesses a wide number of own properties (anabolic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective actions). IGF-I is a closely regulated hormone. Consequently, its logical therapeutical applications seems to be limited to restore physiological circulating levels in order to recover the clinical consequences of IGF-I deficiency, conditions where, despite continuous discrepancies, IGF-I treatment has never been related to oncogenesis. Currently the best characterized conditions of IGF-I deficiency are Laron Syndrome, in children; liver cirrhosis, in adults; aging including age-related-cardiovascular and neurological diseases; and more recently, intrauterine growth restriction. The aim of this review is to summarize the increasing list of roles of IGF-I, both in physiological and pathological conditions, underlying that its potential therapeutical options seem to be limited to those proven states of local or systemic IGF-I deficiency as a replacement treatment, rather than increasing its level upper the normal range.
authors.affiliation: Applied Molecular Medicine Institute, School of Medicine, Department of Medical Physiology, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Puche
authors.forename: Inma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Castilla-Cortázar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004194:Disease; D048788:Growth and Development; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000737:chemistry / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity
chemical_list: D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I