In vitro studies of insulin-like growth factor I and bone

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) stimulates osteoblastic cells in culture to proliferate and to synthesize bone matrix proteins. However, local IGF-I action is modulated by a family of IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) that, in turn, are modified by specific IGFBP proteases. All these components of the IGF-I regulatory system are present and operative in bone cells in vitro.