Open AccessThe IGF Axis and Placental Function
Author(s) -
Karen Forbes,
Melissa Westwood
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
hormone research in paediatrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.816
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1663-2826
pISSN - 1663-2818
DOI - 10.1159/000112585
Subject(s) - regulator , microbiology and biotechnology , growth factor , insulin like growth factor , function (biology) , receptor , negative regulator , endocrinology , placenta , biology , medicine , chemistry , signal transduction , biochemistry , fetus , pregnancy , genetics , gene
It is well known that the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis is an important regulator of foetal growth and in recent years, it has been suggested that the ligands IGF-I and IGF-II may, in part, mediate this effect by promoting proper placental development and function. In other tissues, IGF effects on metabolism, proliferation and differentiation are primarily mediated via IGF binding protein-regulated interaction of IGFs with the type 1 IGF receptor and therefore here, we review the placental expression and postulated role, of each of the IGF axis components and discuss the cellular mechanisms through which these effects are exerted.