title: Cell-based assays for IGF-I bioactivity measurement: overview, limitations and current trends.
abstract: Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is an important growth promoting protein that is involved in numerous cellular responses and multiple biological systems. Although the molecular structure, function and recombinant production of IGF-I in various hosts have been the subject of much researches over the recent past, methods to determine the bioactivity of this protein have not been fully explored. Several assays have traditionally been used to measure IGF-I bioactivity, but have not become a routine laboratory practice due to the high cost involved and technical problems. Thus, there is still a need for a rapid, technically simple and accurate assay to determine IGF-I bioactivity. This review highlights the various cell-based assays currently commercially available for measuring the bioactivity of IGF-I along with their limitations. This is aimed at presenting the modern-day IGF researcher with a holistic overview of the current trends and future prospects regarding IGF-I bioactivity determinations.
authors: Discipline of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban , Republic of South Africa.
authors: Charlotte
authors: C
authors: Ramadhin
authors: Balakrishna
authors: B
authors: Pillay
authors: Ademola O
authors: AO
authors: Olaniran
mesh_terms: D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D003940:Diagnostic Techniques, Endocrine / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
keywords: CyQuant; IGF-I; KIRA; rezasurin; tetrazolium