The presence of classical insulin-like growth factor (IGF) type-I and -II receptors on mouse osteoblasts: autocrine/paracrine growth effect of IGFs?

Abstract

ABSTRACT Specific binding to and proliferative actions of insulinlike growth factors-I and -II (IGF-I and -II) on fetal mouse osteoblasts were tested. Membranes of mouse osteoblasts were shown by binding competition studies to possess specific binding sites for IGF-I and IGF-II. When IGF-I was used as a tracer, half-maximal displacement was obtained with 1·11 μg IGF-I/1 and with 14 μg IGF-II/1. Displacement of 125I-labelled IGF-I was accomplished with 2·33 μg IGF-II/1 and with 55 μg IGF-I/1. Affinity cross-linking showed bands of 130 kDa 125I-labelled IGF-I and 260 kDa 125I-labelled IGF-II under reducing conditions, further indicating the presence of classical type-I and -II receptor sites on mouse osteoblasts. Mitogenic effects of IGFs were weak; a combination with epidermal growth factor or fibroblast growth factor showed strong synergistic action however. The possibility of autocrine/paracrine actions of IGFs is discussed. Journal of Endocrinology (1990) 125, 271-277