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Horm Metab Res 1999; 31(2/03): 192-202
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-978719
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Cellular Actions of Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins

R. J. Ferry Jr. , L. E. L. Katz, Adda Grimberg, P. Cohen, S. A. Weinzimer
  • Division of Endocrinology/Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
This work was supported by grants NIH 1P50 HL 56398, NIH 2RO1 DK47591, NIH R01 AI40203, and an American Cancer Society Idea Development Grant (PC); an NIH CAP Award (LELK); a PHS National Research Service Award (RJF); fellowship grants from Eli Lilly & Co. and Pharmacia & Upjohn (RJF, AG, SAW); The Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society Lilly Fellowship Award (AG); and The Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society Pharmacia-Upjohn Fellowship Award (SAW).
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Publication History

1998

1998

Publication Date:
19 April 2007 (online)

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The insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs), and the IGFBP proteases are involved in the regulation of somatic growth and cellular proliferation both in vivo and in vitro. IGFs are potent mitogenic agents whose actions are determined by the availability of free IGFs to interact with the IGF receptors. IGFBPs comprise a family of proteins that bind IGFs with high affinity and specificity and thereby regulate IGF-dependent actions. IGFBPs have recently emerged as IGF-independent regulators of cell growth. Various IGFBP association proteins as well as cleavage of IGFBPs by specific proteases modulate levels of free IGFs and IGFBPs. The ubiquity and complexity of the IGF axis promise exciting discoveries and applications for the future.

Key words

IGF - IGFBP - IGF-Independent - IGFBP Protease - Apoptosis - Cancer