There is currently widespread interest in the IGFs (IGF-I and IGF-II) and their roles in the regulation of growth and differentiation of an ever increasing number of tissues are being reported. This selective review focused on the current state of our knowledge about the structure of mammalian IGFs and the multiple forms of mRNAs which arise from alternative splicing and promoter sites which arise from gene transcription. Current progress in the immunological measurement of the IGF is reviewed including different strategies for avoiding binding protein interference. The results of measurements of serum IGF-I and IGF-II in fetus and mother and at various stages of postnatal life are described. Existing knowledge of the concentration of these peptides in body fluids and tissues are considered. Last, an attempt is made to indicate circumstances in which the IGFs are exerting their actions in an autocrine/paracrine mode and when endocrine actions predominate. In the latter context it was concluded that an important role for GH action on skeletal tissues via hepatic production of IGF-I and endocrine action of IGF-I on growth cartilage is likely.

中文翻译：

---

胰岛素样生长因子I和II。肽，信使核糖核酸和基因结构，血清和组织浓度。

目前，对IGF（IGF-I和IGF-II）有广泛的兴趣，据报道它们在调节越来越多的组织的生长和分化中的作用。这篇选择性综述着重于我们对哺乳动物IGFs的结构和由基因转录产生的选择性剪接和启动子位点产生的多种形式的mRNA的知识的当前状态。综述了IGF免疫学测量的当前进展，包括避免结合蛋白干扰的不同策略。描述了胎儿和母亲以及产后各个阶段的血清IGF-I和IGF-II的测量结果。考虑了这些肽在体液和组织中的浓度的现有知识。持续，试图指出IGF在自分泌/旁分泌模式下发挥作用的情况以及内分泌作用占主导地位的情况。在后一种情况下，可以得出结论，GH可能通过肝脏产生IGF-I和IGF-I对生长软骨的内分泌作用，对骨骼组织产生GH作用。