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

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997 Apr 15;94(8):3777-82. doi: 10.1073/pnas.94.8.3777.

Abstract

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

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Animals
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Humans
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / metabolism
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Plasmids
  • Receptor, Insulin / agonists*
  • Receptor, Insulin / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor II
  • Receptor, Insulin