Description
The IGFs are mitogenic polypeptide growth factors that stimulate the proliferation and survival of various cell types including muscle, bone, and cartilage tissue in vitro via stimulating the uptake of glucose, fatty acids and amino acids. The liver predominantly produces IGFs, although a variety of tissues produce the IGFs at distinctive times. The IGFs belong to the insulin gene family, which also contains insulin and relaxin. The IGFs are similar by structure and function to insulin, but have a much higher growth-promoting activity than insulin. IGF-I binds to Type I IGF receptor, a homolog of the insulin receptor