Insulin-like Growth Factors in a clinical setting: Review of IGF-I

• Main Authors: Zdenek Frysak, Jan Schovanek, Maurizio Iacobone, David Karasek
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Palacký University Olomouc, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry 2015-09-01
• Series: Biomedical Papers
• Subjects: somatomedins; insulin-like growth factor i; ii; igf-i receptor; human growth hormone; recombinant human growth hormone; acid labile subunit; igf binding proteins; mecasermin; insulin receptor isoform a; acromegaly; growth hormone deficiency
• Online Access: https://biomed.papers.upol.cz/artkey/bio-201503-0002_Insulin-like_Growth_Factors_in_a_clinical_setting_Review_of_IGF-I.php

Background and Aims: Interest in growth hormone (GH) is inextricably linked to the need for in depth understanding of the somatomedins (insulin-like growth factors) which are polypeptides structurally similar to insulin and with broad physiological activity. To date, the most commonly known is Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (IGF-I). Despite considerable current knowledge of IGF-I, however, its bioactivity is incompletely understood. Measurement of IGF-I is of the utmost importance in the diagnosis and treatment of, for example acromegaly and growth hormone deficiency. The development of recombinant IGF-I, has allowed its use in such cases. Clinical practice, however, shows that few young/adult patients will benefit from treatment with the rIGF-I, mecasermin, given the number of adverse effects found. This review focuses on current knowledge mainly related to IGF-I and the use of its recombinant form (rIGF-I) in clinical practice. Several functions of IGI-II have been elucidated but their clinical significance is unclear.