What is IGF-2?
Insulin growth factor 2 (IGF-2), also called somatomedin A, is a hormone produced by the human body. This molecule gets its name from chemical similarity to insulin. IGF-2 plays its most important role in the pregnancy process.
IGF-2 supports cell division in different tissues. It prepares the uterus for pregnancy and causes embryonic growth after conception. It develops its function primarily by linking to the IGF-1 receptor. The hormone also ties to the IGF-2 receptor; It seems that the function of this receptor usually cleans the IGF-2 molecules and returns them to the Golgi apparatus. There they are packed and ready for reuse.
The IGF-2 gene is printed with information about which alleles come from which parents. The imprint is done by molecular marks that are added to the DNA. This process is controlled by a genetic sequence called the printed Center 1 (ICR-1), found near Chromosome 11. In practice, the only of the father's allele is expressed. The failure of this print may cause excessive expression of protein andIt can be involved in several diseases.
Theexcess IGF-2 is associated with various diseases, especially Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS). BWS is a congenital state involving hypoglycaemia, excessive growth and increased risk of cancer. These symptoms are predictable results of IGF-2 that promote cellular growth and use of glucose. People who have this situation often show problems with growth at birth because the condition is based on a problem with this specialized hormone. The risk of cancer usually takes only the first few years of life, so these people usually grow like children and adolescents. Some studies have found that BWS is more likely to occur when pregnancy is technologically assisted.
Excessive production of IGF-2 may also be the result of cancer.Syndrome Doege-Potter is a condition of hypoglycaemia-absorbent blood sugar-developing levels of IGF-2 tumor cells. DOEGE-POTT SyndromeER is a relatively rare-dokonce rarer than BWS-A is the result of only extremely large fibrous tumors. Removal of the tumor eliminates the syndrome.
Russell-Silver Syndrome, a growth disorder associated with a dwarf, may result from the lack of IGF-2. Intermediate changes in height and weight, usually not characterized as pathological, may be the result of changes in the IGF-2 gene.
IGF-2 is often studied and discussed in conjunction with insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Both of these molecules have similar structures and bind the IGF-1 receptor. IGF-1 appears more often and has a more direct connection with human growth hormones.