Definition |
Bound to IGFBPs in the circulation, Insulin-Like Growth Factors (IGFs, Somatomedins) are a family of extracellular signaling peptides (potential autocrine ligands) involved in mediation of growth hormone action, stimulation of insulin action, and growth and development. The three main somatomedins are Somatomedin C (IGF1), Somatomedin A (IGF2), and Somatomedin B. Single chain IGFs I and II share about 47% amino acid homology with insulin (INS) and 31% with relaxin.
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