Insulin-like growth factor II (IGF2) (IGF2)

Insulin-like growth factor II (IGF2) is a potent mitogenic peptide hormone primarily involved in fetal development and growth regulation (UniProt P01344). It functions as a ligand that activates the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and the insulin receptor isoform A (IR-A) to stimulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival (PubMed: 25635863). In adults, IGF2 is implicated in metabolic processes and is often overexpressed in various cancers due to the loss of genomic imprinting, a phenomenon where both alleles of the gene are expressed instead of just the paternal one (NIH: PMC3118518). This overexpression contributes to tumor progression, angiogenesis, and resistance to certain therapies. Therapeutic interventions, such as the monoclonal antibodies xentuzumab and dusigitumab, aim to neutralize IGF2 to inhibit its oncogenic signaling pathways (PubMed: 26156614). Additionally, IGF2 plays a role in the regulation of glucose metabolism, and its dysregulation is linked to growth disorders like Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. The complex regulation of IGF2 expression and its interaction with multiple receptors make it a challenging but significant target in oncology and endocrinology.

Other names

IGF-IISomatomedin-APreptinIGF-2

Neutralization of the IGF2 ligand to prevent binding and activation of the IGF-1 receptor and insulin receptor isoform A.