Insulin-like growth factor II stimulates cell proliferation through the insulin receptor

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.94.8.3777
• Publication Date: 2002-07-26T14:35:50Z
• Authors: Andrea Morrione; Barbara Valentinis; Shi-qiong Xu; Gladys Yumet; Angeliki Louvi; Argiris Efstratiadis; Renato Baserga
• Keywords: 3T3 cells

R− cells are 3T3-like fibroblasts generated from mouse embryos nullizygous for a targeted disruption of the genes encoding type 1 insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor (IGF1R). These fail to proliferate in serum-free medium supplemented with purified factors, contrast their wild-type counterparts. However, when overexpress insulin stably integrated plasmid, R−/IR cells, they become capable growing solely or IGF-II, but not IGF-I. Moreover, introduction into an additional plasmid expressing IGF-II causes these without supplementation. From results, we conclude that can stimulate cell proliferation only through its cognate IGF1R also receptor.