Targeting growth hormone function: strategies and therapeutic applications

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Molecular Biology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Human growth hormone (GH) is a critical pituitary hormone regulating postnatal growth and influencing multiple physiological systems.
• GH also exhibits localized autocrine/paracrine functions in extrapituitary tissues.
• GH hypersecretion leads to acromegaly, with GHR antagonists forming the basis of current medical therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current and emerging strategies for antagonizing GH function.
• To explore the potential therapeutic applications of GH receptor (GHR) antagonism beyond acromegaly, including in cancer and diabetic microvascular complications.
• To address the limitations in studying GHR antagonism in vivo due to challenges in accessing appropriate therapeutic tools.

Main Methods:

• This review synthesizes existing literature on GH and GHR biology.
• It examines various strategies for inhibiting GH signaling, including GH release blockers and GHR antagonists.
• The review discusses the pharmacological challenges and advancements in developing tools for in vivo studies.

Main Results:

• Current therapies primarily focus on blocking GH release or GHR activation for acromegaly.
• Overproduction of GH is implicated in cancer development and diabetic microvascular complications.
• Research into GHR antagonism for these conditions is limited by the availability of suitable in vivo research tools.

Conclusions:

• GHR antagonism represents a promising therapeutic strategy for acromegaly.
• Further research and development of in vivo tools are needed to explore the potential of GHR antagonism in treating GH-related conditions like cancer and diabetic complications.
• Targeting GH signaling pathways offers potential for novel therapeutic interventions in endocrine and metabolic diseases.