Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is a pleiotropic protein hormone and has become an attractive therapeutic target because of its multiple roles in various physiological processes, including growth, development, and metabolism. IGF-1 is a pleiotropic factor, which is found in the circulation (endocrine IGF-1) and is also produced locally in arteries (endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells). IGF-1 exerts a variety of effects on these cell types in the context of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In fact, there is an increasing body of evidence suggesting that IGF-1 has beneficial effects on the biology of atherosclerosis[1-2].
GF-1 exerts its effects via activation of the IGF-1 receptor. This receptor is widely distributed, which enables blood-transported IGF-1 to coordinate balanced growth among multiple tissues and organs. In contrast, autocrine/paracrine IGF-1 can stimulate local, unbalanced growth independently of systemic GH.
