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Review
. 2009 Jan;25(1):3-12.
doi: 10.1002/dmrr.919.

The role of insulin-like growth factor-I and its binding proteins in glucose homeostasis and type 2 diabetes

Swapnil N Rajpathak  1 , Marc J Gunter, Judith Wylie-Rosett, Gloria Y F Ho, Robert C Kaplan, Radhika Muzumdar, Thomas E Rohan, Howard D Strickler
Affiliations
Review

The role of insulin-like growth factor-I and its binding proteins in glucose homeostasis and type 2 diabetes

Swapnil N Rajpathak et al. Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2009 Jan.

Abstract

This review addresses the possible role of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-axis in normal glucose homoeostasis and in the etiopathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. IGF-I, a peptide hormone, shares amino acid sequence homology with insulin and has insulin-like activity; most notably, the promotion of glucose uptake by peripheral tissues. Type 2 diabetes as well as pre-diabetic states, including impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance, are associated cross-sectionally with altered circulating levels of IGF-I and its binding proteins (IGFBPs). Administration of recombinant human IGF-I has been reported to improve insulin sensitivity in healthy individuals as well as in patients with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Further, IGF-I may have beneficial effects on systemic inflammation, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, and on pancreatic beta-cell mass and function. There is considerable inter-individual heterogeneity in endogenous levels of IGF-I and its binding proteins; however, the relationship between these variations and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes has not been extensively investigated. Large prospective studies are required to evaluate this association.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation for the role of IGF-axis in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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