Function
The major role of IGF-2 is as a growth promoting hormone during gestation.
IGF-2 exerts its effects by binding to the IGF-1 receptor. IGF2 may also bind to the IGF-2 receptor (also called the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor), which acts as a signalling antagonist; that is, to prevent IGF2 responses.
In the process of Folliculogenesis, IGF-2 is created by Theca cells to act in an autocrine manner on the theca cells themselves, and in a paracrine manner on Granulosa cells in the ovary. IGF2 promotes granulosa cell proliferation during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, acting alongside Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH). After ovulation has occurred, IGF-2 promotes progesterone secretion during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle together with Luteinizing Hormone (LH). Thus, IGF2 acts as a Co-hormone together with both FSH and LH.
A study at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine found that IGF-2 may be linked to memory. The study found that it may play a key role in memory and could potentially be used to treat Alzheimer's Disease. A study at the European Neuroscience Institute-Goettingen (Germany) found that fear extinction-induced IGF2/IGFBP7 signalling promotes the survival of 17–19-day-old newborn hippocampal neurons. This suggests that therapeutic strategies that enhance IGF2 signalling and adult neurogenesis might be suitable to treat diseases linked to excessive fear memory such as PTSD.
Read more about this topic: Insulin-like Growth Factor 2
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