Insulin-like growth factor 1
Insulin-like growth factor 1 (pronounced: in-su-lin-like growth fak-tor one), also known as IGF-1, is a hormone that, along with growth hormone (GH), plays a key role in childhood growth and continues to have anabolic effects in adults.
Etymology
The term "insulin-like growth factor 1" is derived from its structural similarity to insulin, a hormone that regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and protein by promoting the absorption of glucose from the blood into liver, fat, and skeletal muscle cells.
Function
IGF-1 is primarily produced by the liver as an endocrine hormone and plays an influential role in virtually every system from muscle, bone, and connective tissue growth and repair, to the selective regulation of various aspects of metabolic control. It is also produced in target tissues, where it functions as an autocrine/paracrine growth factor.
Related Terms
- Growth hormone: A hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction, and cell regeneration in humans and other animals.
- Liver: A large, meaty organ that sits on the right side of the belly which produces IGF-1.
- Metabolism: The set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms.
See Also
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