The insulin-like growth factor system in kidney diseases
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Updated: Oct 4, 2026

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Whole Kidney, Medulla, and Cortical Tubules in Diabetic Pathogenesis of Kidney Injury in Mice
Published on: May 2, 2025
E J Richmond1, A Uzri, A D Rogol
1Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. er7m@virginia.edu
The insulin-like growth factor system is intimately involved in renal development, growth, function and the pathophysiology of several disease states. Exogenous IGF-I increases GFR and RPF, perhaps mediated by nitric oxide (NO). In chronic renal failure, IGF-I, the binding proteins and their fragments decrease bioavailability. After transplantation, the levels of bioactive IGF-I increase likely due to better nutrition and increased clearance of the binding proteins and their fragments. In the nephritic syndrome, a similar mechanism may be active, in that the binding proteins and their fragments may inhibit IGF-I action.
The insulin-like growth factor system is intimately involved in renal development, growth, function and the pathophysiology of several disease states. Exogenous IGF-I increases GFR and RPF, perhaps mediated by nitric oxide (NO). In chronic renal failure, IGF-I, the binding proteins and their fragments decrease bioavailability. After transplantation, the levels of bioactive IGF-I increase likely due to better nutrition and increased clearance of the binding proteins and their fragments. In the nephritic syndrome, a similar mechanism may be active, in that the binding proteins and their fragments may inhibit IGF-I action.
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