Section on Growth and Metabolism

Head: Carolyn A. Bondy

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) deficiency results in dwarfism, mental retardation and infertility. We study the biological mechanisms whereby IGF1 promotes normal somatic growth, brain development and reproductive function, using in vivo and transgenic models to elucidate IGF1 function in complex systems at the cellular level. We have shown that IGF1 activates common anabolic signaling pathways in cells such as epiphysial chondrocytes, projection neurons and oocytes, suggesting a conserved mechanism of growth promoting action in diverse tissues. We aim to identify the unknown, tissue-specific determinants of IGF1 expression so as to be able to selectively amplify or repress tissue anabolic activity in a therapeutic manner, for example, increasing brain IGF1 expression in premature infants or patients with cerebral palsy, and decreasing its expression when cancer arises.

Resources

• Employee Listing
• E-Mail the Lab: bondyc@mail.nih.gov