Insulin‐like growth factors I and II

• Published in: European journal of biochemistry Vol. 190; no. 3; pp. 445 - 462
• Main Author: HUMBEL, René E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 05.07.1990; Blackwell
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genes; Humans; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - genetics; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - pharmacology; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - physiology; insulin-like growth factor II; Molecular Sequence Data; Protein hormones. Growth factors. Cytokines; Proteins; reviews; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Somatomedins - genetics; Cell proliferation; Signal transduction; Membrane receptor; Somatomedin C; Molecular structure; Review; Cell differentiation; Localization; Insulin like growth factor 2; Growth factor
• ISSN: 0014-2956; 1432-1033
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1990.tb15595.x

This chapter will serve as a mini-review of the field of IGF, presenting the most prominent biochemical and clinical aspects of IGF, in which only review articles will be cited. IGF I and II are single-chain polypeptides of about 7.5 kDa which occur in blood plasma at concentrations of 20-80 nM and at lower concentrations in most if not all tissues of the body. IGF circulating in the blood is probably produced by the liver, whereas tissue IGF is produced to a greater part locally. The significance of endocrine vs paracrine/autocrine actions is at present not clear. The expression of IGF I and, to a lesser degree, of IGF II is under the control of GH. IGF I acts as feedback inhibitor at the pituitary level of the GH release and/or GH gene transcription. IGF I can mimic most, but probably not all, effects of GH.