IGFBP-2: The dark horse in metabolism and cancer

The insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF-I and IGF-II) are growth-promoting peptides [1,2], that are expressed in most tissues from early in embryonic development, with IGF-II being highly expressed in utero and IGF-I prevalently expressed during postnatal life [2–4]. Local/peripheral IGF-I expression is regulated by tissue-specific factors and acts in autocrine/paracrine fashion at the sites of production [5]. Circulating IGF-I, secreted by the liver, is mainly regulated by growth hormone (GH), associated with insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs), and mediating GH action, as initially described by the somatomedin hypothesis [6].

Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews - December 18, 2014 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: V.C. Russo, W.J. Azar, S.W. Yau, M.A. Sabin, G.A. Werther Tags: Survey Source Type: research