IGF-1
Insulin-like Growth Factor 1, a downstream mediator of growth hormone signaling produced primarily in the liver that drives anabolic and growth effects.
Definition
Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) is a 70-amino acid single-chain polypeptide structurally related to insulin. It is produced primarily by the liver in response to growth hormone stimulation and circulates both in free form and bound to IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs). IGF-1 mediates many of the growth-promoting and anabolic effects historically attributed to growth hormone, including skeletal muscle protein synthesis, bone mineralization, and cellular proliferation. IGF-1 signals through the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R), a receptor tyrosine kinase that activates the PI3K-AKT and MAPK pathways upon ligand binding.
Research Context
IGF-1 is a critical downstream biomarker in growth hormone axis research and is routinely measured in preclinical studies examining growth hormone secretagogues. Circulating IGF-1 levels in rodent models reflect the integrated GH secretory output over the preceding period and provide a more stable indicator of GH axis activity than pulsatile GH measurements. Compounds such as Tesamorelin and CJC-1295/Ipamorelin have been shown to increase IGF-1 levels in preclinical studies, consistent with their GH-stimulating activity. IGF-1 is also independently studied for its cellular signaling properties in muscle, bone, and nervous system research.
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