Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins in Autoimmune Diseases

Huihua Ding; Tianfu Wu

doi:10.3389/fendo.2018.00499

Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins in Autoimmune Diseases

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2018 Aug 30:9:499. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00499. eCollection 2018.

Authors

Huihua Ding¹, Tianfu Wu²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
² Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States.

Abstract

Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) are a family of proteins binding to Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), generally including IGFBP1, IGFBP2, IGFBP3, IGFBP4, IGFBP5, and IGFBP6. The biological functions of IGFBPs can be classified as IGFs-dependent actions and IGFs-independent effects. In this review, we will discuss the structure and function of various IGFBPs, particularly IGFBPs as potential emerging biomarkers and therapeutic targets in various autoimmune diseases, and the possible mechanisms by which IGFBPs act on the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.

Keywords: IGFBPs; autoimmune diseases; biomarkers; metabolism; therapeutic targets.

Publication types

Review