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Published on: December 30, 2016
Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor regulation in activated human T lymphocytes
María Eugenia Segretin1, Adriana Galeano, Alicia Roldán
1Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Insights
T lymphocytes showed dynamic changes in insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) expression upon activation. IGF-1R levels decreased initially then increased, indicating its crucial role in T cell proliferation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) plays a role in cell growth and survival.
- T lymphocytes are critical components of the adaptive immune system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamic changes in IGF-1R expression in T lymphocytes following activation.
- To understand the kinetics of IGF-1R regulation in stimulated T cells.
Main Methods:
- T lymphocytes were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA).
- IGF-1R protein and mRNA levels were quantified using flow cytometry and RT-PCR, respectively.
- Measurements were taken over a 48-hour period post-activation.
Main Results:
- Following activation, rapid internalization of cell surface IGF-1R was observed.
- IGF-1R levels and its corresponding mRNA decreased significantly within 1-6 hours.
- Re-expression of IGF-1R on the cell surface and increased mRNA levels were noted by 48 hours.
Conclusions:
- The observed down- and up-regulation of IGF-1R suggests a process involving receptor recycling and de novo synthesis.
- These dynamic changes highlight the critical importance of IGF-1R for T lymphocyte proliferation.
Objective:
To investigate the kinetics of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) expression in PHA-stimulated T lymphocytes.
Methods:
IGF-1R protein and mRNA were detected by flow cytometry and RT-PCR respectively, between 0 and 48 h after cell activation.
Results:
Few minutes after T lymphocytes were activated, internalization of the IGF-1R from the cell membrane was observed, achieving the lower level between 1 and 6 h and was accompanied by a reduction in its mRNA. This was followed by re-expression of IGF-1R on the cell surface and an increase in IGF-1R mRNA levels in the cytoplasm, reaching levels higher than those recorded initially after 48 h activation.
Conclusion:
This down- and up-regulation suggests that restoration of IGF-1R would be the result of receptor recycling and de novo synthesis and highlights its importance for T lymphocyte proliferation.
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