The insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), their receptors, and their binding proteins play key roles in regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP3, OMIM #146732) is one of the proteins that bind to the IGFs. IGFBP3 is a modulator of IGF bioactivity, and direct growth inhibitor in the extravascular tissue compartment. We identified twenty-two ...

Paracrine and autocrine actions of the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are inferred by local expression within the bowel. CCD-18Co cells, IEC-6 cells, and immunoneutralization were used to analyze whether IGFs have direct autocrine or paracrine effects on proliferation of cultured intestinal fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Growth factor expression was analyzed by ribonuclease protection as...

The study was aimed at determining the age-depended changes in insulin-like growth factors 1 and 2 (IGF-1 and IGF-2) mRNA levels in relation to the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development in newborn calves. Twenty four male calves (5-day-old) were randomly allocated to 4 groups which were slaughtered at day 5, 12, 19 and 26 of their life, respectively. Tissue samples from the rumen, abomasum, ...

Estrogens and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) act as mitogens promoting cell proliferation in normal breast tissue as well as in breast carcinomas. Both hormones have been shown to play a role in the development of breast cancer and were found to activate multiple signaling pathways leading to proliferation of human breast cancer cell lines in vitro. Originally, it was considered that these ...

BACKGROUND Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are important for the proliferation of cancer cells. One of their binding proteins, known as insulin-like growth factor binding protein -4 (IGFBP-4) is well known for its inhibitory action on IGFs in vitro. We assessed the effect of IGFBP-4 in prevention of development of colon cancer in vivo. METHODS Nude mice were subcutaneously inoculated with ...

Severe chronic metabolic acidosis (CMA) in rats is associated with poor food intake and downregulation of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), and liver receptors; the administration of recombinant GH (rGH) fails to improve the growth failure. In mice with carbonic anhydrase II deficiency (CAD), a model of moderate CMA with food intake close to normal, we studied serum level...

Lymphangiogenesis is an important process that contributes to the spread of cancer. Here we show that insulin-like growth factors 1 (IGF-1) and 2 (IGF-2) induce lymphangiogenesis in vivo. In a mouse cornea assay, IGF-1 and IGF-2 induce lymphangiogenesis as detected with LYVE-1, a specific marker for lymphatic endothelium. Interestingly, IGF-1-induced lymphangiogenesis could not be blocked by a ...

Insulin and insulin-like growth factors I and II are closely related protein hormones. Their distinct evolution has resulted in different yet overlapping biological functions with insulin becoming a key regulator of metabolism, whereas insulin-like growth factors (IGF)-I/II are major growth factors. Insulin and IGFs cross-bind with different affinities to closely related insulin receptor isofor...

Estrogen sensitizes the MCF-7 estrogen-responsive breast cancer cell line to the mitogenic effect of insulin and the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs). This sensitization is specific for estrogen and occurs at physiological concentrations of estradiol. Dose-response experiments with insulin, IGF-I, and IGF-II suggested that the sensitization is mediated through the type I IGF receptor. Binding...