Insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-1 has been shown to alter cellular responses to insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Human IGFBP-1 undergoes serine phosphorylation, and this enhances both its affinity for IGF-1 by six- to eightfold and its capacity to inhibit IGF-1 actions. To investigate the physiological role of IGFBP-1 in vivo, transgenic mice have been generated using ei...

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system includes IGF-I and IGF-II, the type I and type II IGF receptors, and specific IGF binding proteins (IGFBP-1 to IGFBP-6). These factors regulate both normal and malignant brain growth. Enhanced expression of IGF-I and IGF-II mRNA transcripts has been demonstrated in gliomas, meniningiomas, and other tumours. Abnormal imprinting of IGF-II occurs in glio...

BACKGROUND Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A2 (PAPPA2) is an insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) protease expressed in the placenta and upregulated in pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia. The mechanism linking PAPPA2 expression and pre-eclampsia and the consequences of altered PAPPA2 expression remain unknown. We previously identified PAPPA2 as a candidate gene for a qua...

BACKGROUND Mammographic breast density is a significant risk factor for breast cancer. Women with dense tissue accounting for more than 60-75% of the area of the breast have a 4- to 6-fold increase in their risk of breast cancer, compared to women with little or no breast density. A high circulating level of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and low IGF binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) level have...

IGF-I regulates islet beta-cell growth, survival, and metabolism and protects against type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, the therapeutic efficacy of free IGF-I may be limited by its biological half-life in vivo. We investigated whether prolongation of its half-life as an IGF-I/IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 complex affords increased protection against T1D and whether this occurs by influencing T ce...

Recent evidence suggests that genetic variations in the IGFBP-3 gene may impact susceptibility to colorectal cancer, but individually published results are inconclusive. Our meta-analysis was aimed at providing a more precise estimation of these associations. An extensive literature search was conducted for appropriate articles published before May 1, 2013. This meta-analysis was performed usin...

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding proteins (IGFBPs) were initially identified as carrier proteins for IGF-I and IGF-II in a variety of biologic fluids. Their presumed function was to protect IGF peptides from degradation and clearance, increase the halflife of the IGFs, and deliver them to appropriate tissue receptors. The concept of IGFBPs as simple carrier proteins has been complic...

Cumulative evidence suggests that insulin-like growth factors (IGF) play an important role in the etiology of breast cancer. The IGF binding proteins regulate the action of IGFs, and >90% of circulating IGFs are bound to IGFBP-3. We evaluated the associations of five (A-202C, G227C, C3804G, 5606InsA, and C5827T) genetic polymorphisms in the IGFBP3 gene with breast cancer risk and the blood IGFB...

Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) were characterized in bovine anterior pituitary tissue, pituitary conditioned media, and serum collected during the preovulatory and early luteal phases of the estrous cycle. Effects of in vitro treatments of pituitaries with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH), estradiol, and progesterone on IGFBP secretion were also evaluated. Pred...

BACKGROUND Higher insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and lower IGF binding protein (BP)-3 levels have been associated with higher commoncancer risk, including breast cancer. Dietary factors, genetic polymorphisms, and the combination of both may influence circulating IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 serum concentrations. METHODS From September 2011 to July 2012, we collected demographic, reproductive and di...