The
Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) system is dynamic and complex, involving many
binding proteins,
binding-protein-related
proteases, and receptors. It has emerged in time as a powerful defence to life processes of many cytotypes, tissues and systems. Mainly in body metabolism, diabetes and cardiovascular system, but also in brain and kidney,
IGF-1 plays a key role in maintaining homeostasis, increasing progenitor cell potential, and improving physiologic performance both in rest and stress conditions. Its vasculoprotective and
insulin sensitizing ability exerts a protective role on flow-metabolism coupling and organs function. Therapeutical human use of recombinant human
IGF-1 (rhIGF-1) has been widely applied only in
Laron syndrome, while being verified in many randomized controlled trials to improve
glycemic control in type 1 and
type 2 diabetes, and proposed in neurological disease such as
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,
multiple sclerosis and
Alzheimer disease. Sparse evidence exists moreover about rhIGF-1 use in
insulin resistance,
burns, catabolic and post-surgery states, acute and
chronic renal failure, amyotrophic lateral and
multiple sclerosis,
brain injury, and immunoincompetence. Along with these data, results are available on cardiovascular benefit of administration of other
growth factors, such as
erythropoietin and
vascular endothelial growth factor, or on cardiovascular side effects of
growth factor antagonists such as
trastuzumab in
cancer therapy. We intended therefore to summarize in this review available human and animals evidence about rhIGF-1 effects on different systems with insights on rhIGF-1 cardiovascular effects. In view of its ability to improve flow-metabolism coupling,
IGF-1 could indeed represent a new
cardiovascular disease treatment option for many
cardiac disorders such as
ischemic heart disease and
heart failure.